Junior quarterback Stephen McGee has thrown four touchdowns and four interceptions in 2007.

Football | Franchione hopes for improvement

By: Bryan McAnally

Posted: 10/17/07

After three weeks of conference play, Texas A&M, with a 2-1 record, is in a three-way tie for first place in the Big 12 South. A&M has one of these opponents remaining (Oklahoma), and has already played the other two (Oklahoma State and Texas Tech). A&M lost to Tech Saturday 35-7.

"I came out of that game with a great respect for Graham Harrell and [Michael] Crabtree. And their running back ran just hard enough to make it work," said Defensive Coordinator Gary Darnell. "If we could have controlled just one of those three it would've been a different ball game."

The Aggies face the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who are 4-3 overall, on Saturday, and the match-up was the focus of Tuesday's press conference. The series record favors the Cornhuskers 10-2. To make matters worse for A&M, it is a road game. The last two games played at Nebraska's Memorial Stadium have resulted in an 85-12 Cornhuskers edge.

But Nebraska has been struggling, especially at home, where the Huskers have lost two of the last three games.

"(Nebraska) had a few up and down games, and we can't explain all of them," Franchione said. "This is still a talented team."

Even with Nebraska struggling, the coaches addressed issues that the team has been facing, including the production of the offense.

"[The Tech game] was probably one of the games where we had the least amount of explosives," said Offensive Coordinator Les Koenning. "We just need to get more plays, and get into situations where we don't make mistakes."

Koenning defined 'explosives' as rushing plays that result in the gain of ten yards or more, and passing plays that result in the gain of 15 yards or more. The Aggies have had few of both in 2007.

However, Franchione said that junior Stephen McGee will remain the starting quarterback. He based this decision on the lack of readiness of freshman backup Jerrod Johnson.

"I don't think [starting Jerrod] would help our team be better yet," Franchione said. "Jerrod has made strides, but he's still not as far along as we want him to get yet."

The Aggies' woes are not limited to offense. Franchione and Darnell admitted that A&M's defense is not as far along as they would like it to be.

"I don't worry so much about sacks, but the stat I worry about is the third down conversion," Darnell said. "We act like we're blitzing but we just don't get there."

The coaches focused on weaknesses, but A&M has weapons.

A&M has allowed the fewest points in conference. And A&M has three top-100 rushers who will be used against a Nebraska defense that allow 209 rushing yards a game.

"I think sometimes you try to play to where your strength is, and we are trying to do this with three guys who run the ball real well," Franchione said. "We just need to do a good job with balancing those strengths."