Aggies' coach: Success relative

— Texas A&M will bring the nation's top-ranked offense into Saturday's game against Arkansas in Arlington, Texas.

No Aggie joke.

With junior quarterback Jerrod Johnson directing a Spread attack, Texas A&M (3-0) is averaging 574.3 yards to lead all 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in total offense.

Aggies Coach Mike Sherman, though, isn't bragging about it.

"We don't put a whole lot of stock in that," Sherman said. "You have to keep it in perspective."

The Aggies - who also rank No. 4 nationally in scoring offense (45 points), No. 6 in passing offense (330.3 yards) and No. 7 in rushing offense (244 yards) - have put up their big numbers with home victories over New Mexico, Utah State and Alabama-Birmingham. "We haven't played a team the likes of Arkansas yet, or any of the Big 12 opponents," Sherman said. "So it's a little bit skewed that way."

The Aggies still have to be feeling pretty good about their start considering they opened last season with a 18-14 loss to Arkansas State and finished 4-8.

"I feel like we've turned a complete 180," Texas A&M sophomore cornerback Trent Hunter said, "as far as chemistry goes, as far as how we bounce back from certain situations, and how we keep leads and keep momentum going.

"I felt like last year we couldn't do that. Any of that was asking for too much last year. This year, through our off-season and our spring and summer, I feel like that's just there now."

To turn things around, Sherman has gone with a major youth movement.

The Aggies have tied a school record by playing 16 true freshmen this season. Their 44-man two-deep roster has 14 true freshmen, 2 redshirt freshmen, 10 sophomores, 9 juniors and 9 seniors. Four true freshmen are listed as starters.

"We've made such an effort, and continue to in recruiting, to get the guys in here that can help us win championships," Sherman said. "The sooner you can put them on the field, the faster they grow up and mature."

Sherman added that having a two-deep with a combined 26 freshmen and sophomores isn't easy.

"To be honest with you, I don't sleep great the night before the ballgame, worried about every single one of them," he said. "But at the same time, in order for what we want to accomplish long term, it's the best way for us to go about our business."

Johnson, a second-year starter, is averaging 385.7 yards in total offense to lead the Big 12 and rank third nationally. He has passed for 961 yards and 9 touchdowns and rushed for 196 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Junior Von Miller, listed at the Aggies' "Jack" position as a hybrid linebacker/defensive

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end, has 7 /2 sacks to lead the nation.

But the statistics put up by Johnson, Miller and their teammates are against teams with a combined 2-9 record.

"Like I told the players this morning ... they've done everything I've asked them to do. I'm proud of them for that," Sherman said. "But I realize we haven't played a top 20 or 25 team in our three wins.

"The speed of the game ... is going to be greatly enhanced when we line up against Arkansas. I think I have a pretty clear perspective of where we are and where we're trying to get.

"This certainly will be a big challenge for us."

Sports, Pages 13, 18 on 09/29/2009

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