August 21, 2004
Texas A&M's defensive unit played solid during a 90-minute scrimmage Saturday morning at Kyle Field.
It marked the second full-scale scrimmage of the training camp.
"Defensively I thought we played pretty solid most of the day today," A&M coach Dennis Franchione said. "Offensively, I don't think we ever got in a rhythm and didn't play very well. We held a couple of guys (out) today that would make a difference a little bit obviously.
"We just didn't get going. I hope that's because we are getting a lot better on defense. As a head coach you have to worry about both sides of the ball. When there's a positive, that creates a negative reaction, too."
Franchione noted the defense's on field position as a key to the unit's success.
"I did think the defense was in the right place and played solid," Franchione said. "I didn't see a lot of missed tackles. It's evident to me that there is a little more speed to the football out there right now and that showed a good bit today."
Freshman running back Samson Taylor (The Woodlands, Texas) and junior transfer wide receiver DeQawn Mobley (The Bronx, N.Y./San Francisco CC), received special mention by Franchione.
"Samson Taylor made a nice run or two," Franchione said. "He did not get to scrimmage the first time because he had a hamstring that kept him out."
Mobley returned a kickoff 96 yards down the right side of the field for a touchdown as part of his bid to join senior Terrence Murphy in the kickoff return role. The return was against the scout team kickoff unit.
"At least it shows that we are getting in the right place and making some blocks when someone has the ball in his hands and made something happen with it," Franchione said. "It was good for DeQawn being new to do something like that. We know what Terrence (Murphy) can do so we're looking for the number two guy and number three guy."
Franchione said Mobley's speed is a great asset.
"He's got great speed," Franchione said. "He may be the fastest player on the team, if not, he's in the top three or four."
The coaching staff limited the play of Murphy and senior full back Keith Joseph while holding out sophomore running back Courtney Lewis.
The scrimmage lasted approximately 70 plays plus special teams action.
The Aggies will take Sunday off before holding their fifth of five two-a-day sessions on Monday. A&M will kickoff the season at Utah on Sept. 2 in a game being televised by ESPN.