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Updated 4:27 PM on Sunday, October 14, 2007

Cessna: Grades the Aggies

By ROBERT CESSNA
Eagle Columnist

OFFENSE

What went right: A&M ran through Tech for a 7-0 lead. QB Stephen McGee (14 carries-89 yards) was A&M's most effective runner.

What went wrong: With the wind at their back in the third quarter, the Aggies mustered 32 yards on 12 plays. A&M threw eight passes, completing three for 30 yards. A&M ended with 133 yards passing on 30 attempts; the 4.4 yards per attempt was a yard less than A&M averaged on 43 rushes.

Bottom line: You're in trouble scoring only seven points against Tech.

Grade: D-

DEFENSE

What went right: A&M sacked QB Graham Harrell once and often applied good pressure. The Aggies kept WR Michael Crabtree out of the end zone and held the Red Raiders without points in the first and third quarters. The Aggies' alignment forced Tech into 29 rushes.

What went wrong: Crabtree still tormented the Aggies with eight catches for 170 yards, including 54 yards on a wide receiver screen after A&M's second missed field goal, which led to a touchdown. Another screen to Crabtree for 47 yards led to Tech's final touchdown. Tech running backs Shannon Woods and Kobey Lewis combined for 115 yards rushing as Tech was patient against the wind. A&M cornerback Danny Gorrer had an interception go through his hands on third-and-12 that was caught by Tech's Danny Amendola for a first down. Tech eventually had a field goal blocked but took 5 minutes off the clock. Had Gorrer just knocked the ball down, Tech would've been forced to punt from its 17-yard line into the wind.

Bottom line: A&M's defense didn't play that poorly, keeping what was supposed to be a track meet respectable. Still, A&M's defense eventually got lapped as it kept getting the baton further and further behind.

Grade: C

SPECIAL TEAMS

What went right: Red Bryant blocked a field goal. Kerry Franks, pressed into returning punts because of an injury to Jordan Peterson, recovered his own fumble after taking a jarring hit.

What went wrong: Everything in the first half. Matt Szymanski missed two field goals. Justin Brantly shanked a 27-yard punt, and Peterson allowed a Tech punt to hit the turf and bounce to the A&M 7.

Bottom line: It's bad enough trading field goals for touchdowns against the high-powered Red Raiders, but A&M put itself in a bigger bind by getting two nothings after 134 yards, and Tech answered with 140 yards for two touchdowns.

Grade: F

COACHING

What went right: The offensive game plan was solid as A&M rushed 10 times for 73 yards for a 7-0 lead. A reverse to wide receiver Roger Holland went for 19 yards on the second drive. The defensive schemes were solid, but A&M couldn't force a turnover and had trouble getting off the field - Tech was 7 of 11 on third downs.

What went wrong: A&M threw a pair of incompletions on second-and-6 from the Tech 23 on its second drive and missed its first field goal. A&M had rushed the ball 15 times for 118 yards to that point. A&M got penalized 5 yards for breaking the huddle with 12 men. The Aggies eventually missed a 34-yard field on fourth-and-5.

Bottom line: A&M was inside Tech territory only once after missing the second field goal.

Grade: D

OVERALL

What went right: A&M got off to a good start but missed a slew of chances to make big plays.

What went wrong: A&M was 31 of 33 in the red zone through six games but 1 of 3 against Tech.

Bottom line: It was another loss in Lubbock. Sure, it didn't have the feel of A&M's previous blowouts in Lubbock - 59-28 and 56-17 - but the end result was the same, and this is supposed to be a better A&M team. The Aggies needed something good to happen after the school released the findings of the internal investigation into head coach Dennis Franchione's secret newsletter Thursday, which included reporting NCAA violations and athletic director Bill Byrne giving a letter of admonishment to Franchione. Instead, it was just another four quarters on the South Plains that the Aggies have to try and forget.

Grade: D