| Texas A&M finished just 3-5 in Big 12 play last | | | | touchdowns with just eight interceptions. Johnson |
| season, but don't be surprised if the Aggies | | | | is also a capable runner, adding eight more |
| compete with the likes of Oklahoma and Texas | | | | touchdowns on the ground. He has no shortage of |
| for a spot in the Big 12 title game this year. Led | | | | weapons at his disposal. Led by Jeff Fuller, the |
| by quarterback Jerrod Johnson, A&M put one of | | | | receiving corps is easily one of the best in the Big |
| the most explosive offenses in the nation on the | | | | 12. Fuller is physically gifted to say the least, and |
| football field in 2009. The Aggies ranked No. 2 in | | | | he was terrific in last season's battle with Texas, |
| the Big 12, and No. 5 in the country, in terms of | | | | coming up big with 132 yards and three |
| total offense with a 465.8 yards per game | | | | touchdowns. The Aggies ranked No. 2 in the Big |
| average. A&M also ranked No. 3 in the Big 12 | | | | 12 in rushing offense a season ago, averaging |
| (19th nationally) in scoring offense with a 32.9 | | | | 184.2 yards per game. With Christine Michael and |
| points per game average. A&M was an | | | | Cyrus Gray back there is no reason to think they |
| inconsistent football team because of its defense, | | | | can't climb to the top of the league in that |
| but I was very impressed with the way it | | | | category. |
| competed against the likes of Oklahoma State, | | | | Defense - The defense will be better under Tim |
| Texas Tech and Texas. The 39 points A&M | | | | DeRuyter and his attacking 3-4 scheme. The |
| scored on Texas were the most the Longhorns | | | | Aggies played not to get beat far too often a |
| allowed all season. The offense will again be one | | | | season ago, and that just doesn't work against |
| of the best in the country, so the defense must | | | | the talented offenses in the Big 12. DeRuyter |
| make major strides if the Aggies want to enter | | | | wants to see an aggressive defense capable of |
| the Big 12 title discussion. Texas A&M was the | | | | making game-changing plays. Yes, these kinds of |
| worst defensive team in the Big 12 in 2009. The | | | | defenses can be susceptible to the big play, but |
| Aggies ranked 12th in scoring defense, allowing | | | | A&M can't afford to take the passive approach |
| 33.5 points per game, and 12th in total defense, | | | | again. One guy more than capable of making |
| giving up 426.3 points per game. With a new | | | | game-changing plays is Von Miller. He led the |
| defensive coordinator and almost the entire | | | | country with 17 sacks in 2009. |
| starting unit back, there is reason to believe | | | | Prediction - 3rd Big 12 South - I have little doubt |
| improvement is on the way. If A&M can become | | | | the defense will be better, but I'm not sure it can |
| a middle-of-the-pack defensive team, the offense | | | | improve enough to beat Texas on the road and |
| is good enough to validate the Aggies as a | | | | an Oklahoma team that put 65 points on the |
| sleeper to win the Big 12 South. | | | | board against them last season. I have the Aggies |
| Offense - Johnson has a chance to become | | | | finishing the season at 8-4, but I wouldn't be at all |
| A&M's first quarterback to earn first-team | | | | surprised if they ended up little better than that. |
| all-league honors since Bucky Richardson did it in | | | | Find out how I see the rest of the league playing |
| 1991. He is coming off an outstanding season in | | | | out in my 2010 Big 12 football predictions. |
| which he threw for 3,579 yards and 30 | | | | |
