Who’s hot, who’s hotter among Aggie coaches

Hot – Mike Sherman who came in late and has since caught fire. He has promised to turn the program around. He’s made it clear it’s not business as usual.

He installed the West Coast offense and told the receiving corps: “If you can’t catch, you won’t play!” To punctuate that, he’s installed backup quarterbacks Jerrod Johnson, Ryan Tannehill, and Tommy Dorman as receivers. Sherman’s chutzpah makes him hot!

Hotter –Tom Rossley coaches quarterbacks for Sherman. He brings with him professional and college experience. After the spring drills, Rossley said he didn’t see a clear frontrunner between last year’s starter, Stephen McGee, and Aggie favorite, Jerrod Johnson.

After 10 days of hot workouts, Rossley chose McGee because as he put it he saw something magic in McGee. Again this confirms that quarterbacking and leadership have a mystical magical quality that only a hot QB coach knows how to spot. That makes Rossley hotter!

Blazing Hot – Offensive line coach Jim Turner recognized that his depleted, youthful offensive line needs a simplified scheme.

Linemen in Sherman’s offense won’t have to flip-flop. This allows each lineman to use simpler mechanics and footwork. Recognizing that the plan should fit the talent makes Turner blazing hot!

White Hot – Offensive coordinator Nolan Cromwell has the offense running at a fever pitch. He discovered that backup tailback Cyrus Gray is a nifty pass receiver. Gray has done more than take the ball and run. He’s taken it all the way!

Starting fullback Jorvorskie Lane suffered a stinger and has been sidelined. The starter at tailback, Mike Goodson, missed some practice, too. Cromwell didn’t wait for injuries to heal. He shifted in backup Nick LaMantia at fullback. An unexpected surprise in the offense is red shirt freshman running back Colton Haverda. This gives the Aggies speed and depth in the backfield. For these reasons, Comwell deserves the moniker, white hot!

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Nuclear – Defensive coordinator is Joe Kines. He’s an elder statesman by some coaching standards, but he doesn’t let grass grow under his feet. He talks so fast players have to put their brains on “fast forward” to listen to him. He got linemen, linebackers, corners, and safeties jumping and hitting.

He has instilled a sense of urgency in the defense that was simply dismal in 2007. He’s changed the philosophy from bend-but-don’t-break to attack, attack, and attack! On every Aggie’s lips, the words, Wrecking Crew, are beginning to form. Rod Stewart described him in a song: He’s got passion! Passion makes Kines nuclear!

By Jay Goode
Big 12 Fans Texas A&M Correspondent

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