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.”
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