Aug. 23, 2010
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Monday's workout was the first for the Aggies since last Saturday's scrimmage at Kyle Field, and head coach Mike Sherman thought the defense had the upper hand after reviewing the scrimmage's game film.
"Overall I thought the defense played well," Sherman said. "They won most third down situations. We also participated offensively in helping them because we dropped three balls on third down. I was more impressed after watching the tape with how our defense played and how they tackled. The biggest problem we had in the scrimmage was that sometimes we didn't `fit up' on the run and that allowed some gaping holes. Overall I thought we played good run defense. I watched the tape several times and came away feeling like the defense played pretty well."
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After the workout, head coach Mike Sherman was asked if he was trying to build offensive line depth by rotating his offensive tackles, but the longtime offensive line coach had other reasons for the switches.
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"No, we were just `firing' guys," Sherman said. "If a guy jumps offsides or doesn't do something the way we like it, we're going to `fire' them and give somebody else a chance. The last two weeks was about installation and learning it; now it's about detail. Some of those guys made it through the unemployment line and got back in and got a job. We want it done exactly the right way and they are going to learn to do it that way."
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The reporters watching the workout noted that junior college transfer Jonathan Mathis, who had been lining up at defensive end, saw action inside at noseguard.
"We want to get (Mathis) on the field and he's playing behind Lucas Patterson," Sherman said. "Luke doesn't get tired and he's playing great football, so I wanted to put (Mathis) in a position to get some reps. We still want him to learn defensive end, but I really think he can help us at noseguard and it's a critical position in our defense.