Issue date: 8/29/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Rodrigo Huerta [Click to enlarge]

Expect breakout runs, corner cut-ups and end zone romps Saturday when Texas A&M begins the Sherman era at Kyle Field against Arkansas State. But don't expect the Aggies to be the only ones opening up the ground attack. Arkansas State is from a non-BCS conference, and the Red Wolves are not a particularly good team among their peers. But what they can do well is run the ball.

If the Aggies have struggled with anything defensively in recent years, it's stopping the run. From 2005 to 2007, the Aggies have ranked eighth, sixth and ninth in the Big 12 in rushing yards allowed, with more than 140 rushing yards a game allowed during that period. In 2007, A&M allowed a whopping 160.9 yards a game and 20 rushing touchdowns. Even against cupcakes like Montana State and Louisiana-Monroe, the Aggies struggled stopping the run early in the game.

It should be a cause for concern for head coach Mike Sherman, and he said as much in a press conference Monday. Aside from a well-formulated running philosophy, the Wolves have a deep and experienced offensive line, with 10 upperclassmen returning. Sherman said he was keying in on sophomore tailback Reggie Arnold, who has had rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons.

Sherman said Arnold is compact and strong at 5 foot 9 inches and 220 pounds. He also has a second gear that helped him average 6.5 yards a carry in 2007. Junior quarterback Corey Leonard will also be seasoned after two years with the starting job. A year ago he threw for 16 touchdowns and 2,235 yards and was second on the team in rushing yards with 547. He will be the focal point of the offense and will provide problems for A&M's secondary even if the Aggies jump out to a quick lead.

Sherman and the players (Stephen McGee and Mike Goodson) emphasized that they are not overlooking Arkansas State and that they will be playing a good team. Sun Belt Conference teams have had a penchant for troubling and even defeating big name schools in recent years.

Conference powerhouse Troy soundly defeated Oklahoma State and Louisiana-Monroe upset Alabama. These teams are I-A and are not pushovers. Sherman said the Wolves are not afraid to march into Kyle Field and steal a win from a favorite, especially with the regime change during the offseason. The Aggies have changed nearly all of their schemes in every facet and unless they are ready to hit the ground running, the Sherman era will start on a sour note.

That said, Sherman said he and his staff have done everything they can to make them ready, and it's not like A&M has a bad squad either. The Aggies have one of the deepest backfields in the conference and quarterback Stephen McGee will be in his fourth year as a starter. Goodson said McGee looked like a "totally different guy" during the preseason, and McGee said the coaches see NFL potential in him.

The Aggies will be doing plenty of running of their own. Goodson will be featured and Sherman said he would continue to use him in pass catching and open field situations. But the Aggies also have Bradley Stephens, Keondra Smith and freshman standout Cyrus Gray loaded at the gates. It's unsure how Sherman will use his fullbacks, particularly converted fullback Jorvorskie Lane, but because he is still recovering from a neck stinger and a concussion, expect his use to be limited, especially if the Aggies jump out to a quick lead.

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