Published: October 08, 2009 03:44 pm      

Protection issues plague Aggies in loss

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Texas A&M allowed a Big 12-worst 39 sacks in 2008 and pass protection re-emerged as an issue in last week’s 47-19 loss to Arkansas.

A&M (3-1, 0-0 Big 12) gave up two sacks and nine tackles for loss against the Razorbacks. Junior quarterback Jerrod Johnson was repeatedly on the run and completed only 25 of 49 passes after the first quarter, when the Aggies built a 10-0 lead.

“I thought our quarterback was put under duress way too many times in order for us to be successful in the game, and obviously the offensive line plays a part in that,” coach Mike Sherman said.

A&M’s offensive front was ravaged by injuries last season and more players are getting hurt this year, forcing Sherman to patch up holes with inexperienced reserves.

Senior right tackle Lee Grimes has been bothered with bruised ribs and senior left guard Michael Shumard sprained his right ankle in the Arkansas game. If Shumard can’t play in Saturday’s Big 12 opener against No. 15 Oklahoma State (3-1, 0-0), Sherman said he would move junior Matt Allen or sophomore Evan Eike over from right guard.

Freshman Stephen Barrera was already starting at left tackle and the backups at the other four positions on the line are underclassmen.

Shumard said the line only missed two blocking assignments against Arkansas, but acknowledged that all the linemen need to clean up their fundamentals.

“It really all comes down to technique,” Shumard said. “We’re doing a great job of staying on target, we’re doing a great job of knowing who we’ve got. We just miss a lot of the technique part of it. We struggled at certain positions, at certain times throughout the game, and it forced our offense to sputter.”

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MILLER BREWING: Junior Von Miller leads the nation with nine sacks after tackling Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett in the first quarter of Saturday’s game.

But the Razorbacks double-teamed the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Miller much of the game and he couldn’t get to Mallett again.

“I was trying my hardest to get back there,” Miller said. “It’s a good learning experience. I haven’t really been double-teamed all year. They had really good offensive linemen. I feel good about the way I played, but I can use this film and the schemes they showed and apply it to the next teams we face.”

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LATE HIT?: Sherman regrets sending in Johnson and calling a pass play in the closing seconds of Saturday’s loss. A&M got the ball on the Arkansas 37 and on second down, Johnson took a hard hit from defensive end Tenarius Wright and fumbled with 13 seconds left.

“If I were him, I probably would have come off the field after that last sack and punched me in the face for having him out there and getting hit like that,” Sherman said.

Johnson isn’t holding a grudge.

“I wanted to come back in and try to score again,” Johnson said. “I’m sure coach Sherman thought the same thing. I wasn’t surprised at all. It’s part of football, it happens.”

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EXTRA POINTS: Texas A&M has won seven of the last 10 meetings with Oklahoma State, including five of the last six games at Kyle Field. ... Sherman expects sophomore receiver Jeff Fuller to return in 2-3 weeks after he broke his right fibula against Utah State on Sept. 19. ... Texas A&M is 9-4 in Big 12 home openers. ... Texas A&M and Missouri are the only two teams nationally that haven’t thrown an interception.

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QUOTABLE: “I’ve broken things before. You can usually hear like a bone snap or some sort of popping or something like that. I’ve sprained many ankles before. It’s not a new feeling.” — Shumard, on the moments after his injury in Saturday’s game.