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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 2004)
I 6B 2004 FOOTBALL PR[| Monday, August 30, 2004 THE BATTA1 :„2oo Defensive backs make gains through school of knocks By Jonathan Wall THE BATTALION Linebackers tryin to re-enroll into 1 The Texas A&M secondary is out to prove that last season’s problems were a fluke. “I think we’ve gotten better,” said junior safety Jax- son Appel. “We came into camp in the spring to reclaim the ‘Wrecking Crew’ title, and that’s the way we’ve been practicing every day — to make sure we never get embar rassed ever again.” The Aggie secondary will rely heavily on Appel, a preseason All-Big 12 defensive selection, to anchor the Aggie defense this season. Appel, who played all of last season hurt with one injury after another is feeling great after sitting out of contact hitting in the spring while his repaired left elbow healed. The gutsy safety should con tinue his incredible play of last season where he set a school record with 135 tackles and led the team with four interceptions. Safeties coach Melvin Smith said his players are up to the task after making some corrections in the off-season. “We asked each position to reduce missed tackles,” Smith said. “If we miss one less tackle at every position, we make big- time improvement.” Small improvements such as this should help the Aggie secondary to gain some confidence in big games against pass-happy squads. By Jordan Meserole THE BATTALION JOHN C. LIVAS • THE BATTALION Jaxson Appel takes down Kansas receiver Lyone Anderson Nov. 1, 2003, in College Station. See DBacks on page 7B There was once a time when Texas A&M known as “Linebacker U”, because it produced the best and toughest linebackers in the NCAA. I last season’s defensive woes turned ugly and thenich “Wrecking Crew” was erased, so was “Linebacker!], For those who have forgotten or weren’t inthest of Kyle Field last year, A&M’s defense was lessthans lar. Of all the teams in the Big 12, the Aggies allow'd most touchdowns, most rushing yards and had the lei number of sacks. And just as easily as the fansaren'i getting those telling statistics, the players aren’t forget either. But they’re not forgetting for different reason! “We lived last year, and now we’re trying to mow from it,” said junior linebacker Archie McDaniel something none of us will ever forget and thafsonr tivation to not let it happen again.” McDaniel returns as the top starting linebacker!: last year. McDaniel led the squad with 78 tackles,ill which were solo tackles and eight for losses. There the linebacker crew returns three starters andbii; four junior college transfers. Head coach Dennis Franchione said the junior col transfers have looked good in spring and fall practicesE: making quick progress in learning the defensive scheme ‘The j.c. guys are definitely pushing the guys 4 F(] HE B W OKI CO Special teams ready to start season off on right foot By Kyle Davoust THE BATTALION Special teams are often overlooked when assessing a football team. Many view them as a minor part compared to offense and defense. The coaches and players at Texas A&M, however, realize that a dramatic improvement in special teams must occur for their team to enjoy success in this up coming season. “We need to be more solid across the board, and that’s emphatic,” said special teams coach Mark Tommerdahl. “Obvi ously we can point to the turnover situation, but if we really want to get this program where we want it to be, we need improve ment across the board — the coverage, the kicking, the whole nine yards.” To fix the punt return game, the Aggies will look to senior Terrence Murphy to han dle many of the duties. Already established as one of the nation’s most dangerous kick off returners, the coaches feel that putting the ball in his hands more often can only lead to good things. . “We look at that as one more touch for Terrence Murphy,” said head coach Dennis Franchione. “You can’t sit around in this game and worry about injury all the time. You’ve got to use your weapons, and we’ll try to make sure that Terrence gets to touch the ball as a receiver; maybe on a reverse or in different ways, as well as in punt return and kick return.” In the kicking game, the Aggies believe that its best asset is experience. Todd Pe- gram, now a junior, has been through two years of kicking in front of tough crowds and in big situations. “I’m fortunate enough to be a junior with two years under my belt, so that’s a huge advantage coming into this season,” Pegram said. “I don’t even think about nervousness POSITION REPORT SPECIAL TEAMS RETURNING Todd Pegram (JR) Jacob Young (SR) Terrance Murphy (SR) Pegram LOST Cody Scales Don Muhlbach NEWCOMERS Richie Bean Layne Neumann See Special on page 7B Young were already here,” Franchione said. “They’re get: better with every day.” Headlining the transfers is junior Aaron Brown,. transferred from Compton Community College. Bit; broke his arm in spring practices, but has hilly recovered; is ready to vie for a starting position. Brown said Ail losing record last season didn’t deter him from signing* the University because of the sense of a team he noticed: a visit and is anxious to start the season. “The way the team looks right now, you would: think this team went 4-8,” Brown said. “Welookgt; right now.. .there’s no telling what we can do.” After a few injuries last season to key lineback thinned out the starting squad, many young and inexpr enced players such as Justin Warren were thrown outo: the field. Warren, now a sophomore, said he was nerv as a freshman but gained valuable experiences. “It was a grind, but I’m seeing the benefits no* Warren said. “It should pay off for me and someoftko other guys too this year.” As far as re-earning the nickname “Wrecking Cre* or “Linebacker U”, all the defensive players saidlij wanted the title back and feel they have a chance to|| it back this year. “We’re on the right track to get it back,” McDai; said. “We have to get it back not just in one game,! every game. And once we get that ‘Wrecking Cre* title again, it will earn this ‘d’ some respect back.” OKI REG. BIG 12 COW )Ba< BED BATH & Beyond any store of its kind*. FOR ALL OF YOUR BACK-TO-COLLEGE NEEDS VISIT US AT: EOUIR <YOUR> 3RAOEL EGlUiR <YOUR> 3RACEL 1430 Texas Avenue South College Station, TX (979) 696-2699 or call 1-800-60 BEYOND® (1-800-462-3966) for locations Coast to Coast. $ 5 OFF BED BATH & $5 off any purchase of $15 or more.* Present this certificate. 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