Texas A&M Football Notebook

By ROBERT CESSNA
robert.cessna@theeagle.com
Practice Nos. 12 & 13: Texas A&M worked out Thursday in full pads in the morning for 2 hours, 20 minutes then came back in shorts and helmets for another 90 minutes in the afternoon with both sessions in the McFerrin Indoor Center.
A&M stressed situational work, focusing on the red zone, third downs and end-of-game situations in camp's last day of installation.
"We'll fine-tune things the rest of the way," A&M head coach Mike Sherman said. "Our tempo is not what it needs to be. When you are teaching it's hard to have tempo, but now we have to practice faster and really try to stretch the defense that way."
A&M has eight more practices scheduled before starting game-week preparations for SMU on Sept. 4.
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Tannehill on the money: Senior Ryan Tannehill was 5-1 as a starting quarterback last season with victories over Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas. He's built on that success during the spring and fall, Sherman said.
"I think the last three days are probably the best three days he's had as a quarterback since I've been here," Sherman said. "And he's practicing so fast and hard. He's a great example to everybody else with his demeanor on how he practices."
Tannehill was a redshirt freshman during Sherman's first season in 2008. When Stephen McGee was named the starter, Tannehill moved to wide receiver and caught 55 passes for 844 yards. He kept playing wide receiver as Jerrod Johnson replaced McGee but took over for Johnson during the middle of last season.
Tannehill is showing the same work ethic as the starting quarterback that earned him playing time at receiver.
"He really is practicing with great effort and intensity," Sherman said. "That's a great lesson to the younger players on how you take care of your business. He's definitely doing the things a leader does. I'm very excited about the progress he's made."
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Trading places: Linebacker Steven Jenkins, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound transfer from Coffeyville Community College, saw action at fullback during goal-line offense with freshman defensive back Howard Matthews (6-2, 210) getting carries along with junior tailback Christine Michael.
"[Matthews] gave he us a little extra punch down there when we needed it," Sherman said. "I just wanted to see what he could do.
"I think you create great chemistry on your team if you have guys who can cross over the lines."
Junior cornerback Dustin Harris played some wide receiver while Jameill Showers, who is battling fellow redshirt freshman Matt Joeckel to be the backup quarterback, took plays at slot receiver.
Showers did that primarily because some players are not practicing or are limited because of injury. Tannehill initially moved to wide receiver because the Aggies didn't have the talent and depth that they have now.
"Showers would have to be a heck of a receiver to beat out the guys," Sherman said, referring to Ryan Swope and Kenric McNeal who have missed time with injuries. "Is that a possibility that the Tannehill plan works for a Jameill Showers? Yeah, that is a possibility. [But] he was just filling in today. It wasn't any brainstorm."
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