August 17, 2004
The Texas A&M football team held its first, full-scale scrimmage Tuesday morning at Kyle Field.
The scrimmage pitted the first-team offense versus the first-team defense, followed by the second teams versus each other, and the third teams as well. The workout lasted more than two and a half hours in full pads.
"I did think the defense did some good things and there were not a lot of missed tackles," A&M coach Dennis Franchione said. "They got to the ball pretty quickly and they played physically."
As compared to last year's defensive unit, Franchione said there is a degree of difference.
"I think it will be different," Franchione said. "The degree of difference is hard to put a finger on. There was no doubt today in watching that there was a step faster because of the confidence, they're older, and more experienced, stronger. I think we'll be improved, how much remains to be seen."
Franchione was mixed about the offense.
"Offensively, I do not think we ran the ball very well, we threw the ball ok and protected," Franchione said. "We did not have a lot of penalties or turnovers."
Franchione noted an interception by sophomore defensive back Melvin Bullitt in the endzone. Bullitt picked off a pass thrown by returning starting quarterback Reggie McNeal.
"It was a play-action pass," Franchione said. "They got pressure on him. He probably should not have thrown it."
Portions of the scrimmage were focused on the kicking game.
"We did a lot things in the kicking game with a lot of different movements," Franchione said. "It was the first live kicking they've had."
When describing Tuesday's kicking action at the scrimmage, Franchione recalled that during Monday's workout, sophomore placekicker Layne Neumann completed a drive during the "Mayday" drill with a 53-yard field goal. Neumann previously connected on a 56-yard field goal late in the Maroon and White Game last April.
"Right now I would guess that Todd (Pegram) would be our inside a certain yard line kicker and Layne would be our outside a certain yard line kicker," Franchione said.
Overall, Franchione said much could be taken from the results of the scrimmage.
"It was a good tape to show, teach, and learn from," Franchione said.
The Aggies will practice twice on Wednesday as preparations continue for the season opener at Utah on Sept. 2 in a game being televised by ESPN.