 "Photo: Rodrigo Huerta")
One of the major concerns for Texas A&M football in 2008 is the youth along the offensive line. Only two starters from the 2007 team returned, senior Travis Schneider and junior Michael Shumard, while every other lineman is entering the season with little or no game experience.
Head Coach Mike Sherman, who has been an offensive line coach at both the NCAA and NFL level, was vocal about the status of the line during the weekly press conference held Monday.
"I certainly have a few more gray hairs than when I started," Sherman said about the progress of the offensive line. "[Offensive line coach Jim] Turner has done a phenomenal job with them, and I think they are making progress. It's going to take game experience to get to the level we need to get and we'll find more about the group once we get into the ballgame."
"They are a good group collectively," he added. "They work well together, communicate well together and have good chemistry amongst themselves. They will be a work in progress, though."
Still the team has taken an approach of cautious optimism with the state of the offensive line.
"I'm not worried about it," said senior Aggie quarterback Stephen McGee. "There's going to be times when protection will probably break down or we may have an opportunity for a big run and someone misses a block. I think that's just going to be part of the growing pains we go through. But I think they are great talented guys and they are going to do a great job."
McGee's optimism may be fed by A&M's recent history of having successful offensive linemen. The 2007 season's line, which featured four All-Big 12 selections and two NFL draft picks in center Cody Wallace and tackle Corey Clark, was considered among the best in the nation.
Schneider, the veteran anchor of the line, acknowledges the past and believes that this unit can forge its own powerful identity in time.
"The past few years we've had lots of experience and had played lots of games," Schneider said. "The guys that left, they left some pretty big holes and uncertainty. We're looking to show people though that this season we can play well in the Big 12. The guys we have are young but they are talented like Lee Grimes, Kevin Matthews, and Brian Thomas."
While juniors Grimes and Matthews saw game time in six and five games respectively in 2007, freshman Thomas is completely new to the squad.
"It's pretty rare for a guy to come out of high school and start right away, especially on the line," Schneider said. "I know that when I was coming out of high school my head was spinning, so for him to accomplish that is something else."
The switch from former head coach Dennis Franchione's option offense to Sherman's pro style attack also has the potential to bring a breath of fresh air to the line.
"We are going to keep a lot of defenses on their toes," Schneider added. "Now we get to line up and block. Because there is no more option we can be much more aggressive. We have an incredible backfield and if we can do our part our offense should be great."
Still Schneider stressed the team's weakest point, lack of experience.
"We need lots more game experience," Schneider said. "We have three guys [making their first start] and as a team it's all about experience. We still hold ourselves to a high standard and we can't lower that standard just because we lack the experience." ?
Their first test against Arkansas State will not be easy, though. The Red Wolves defense held last year's opponents to only 165 rushing yards a game and allowed only 14 rushing touchdowns.
"Arkansas State's defensive line is still intact," Schneider said. "Last year they almost beat Texas and Tennessee. They returned all four starters and lots of aggressive defenders. Their front seven is good, but we'll be ready for it."
Be the first to comment on this article!