Vol.4 No.10

Final Review Texas A&M vs. Southern Mississippi By Homer Jacobs

COLLEGE STATION - Somewhere Chet Brooks is talking loud and often, just like he did when he nicknamed Texas A&M's defense the "Wrecking Crew" in 1986.

Somewhere Aaron Wallace and John Roper are in their three-point stances, rushing past lounge chairs in the living room.

Quentin Coryatt is rewinding "The Hit," and Kevin Smith is backpedaling through the memories of a Rice game in 1990, in which he took two interceptions back for touchdowns.

Indeed, the sacred fraternity of defensive football that has been passed down through the ranks at Texas A&M has been holding a lengthy reunion that now dates back three games in 1999.

A&M's 23-6 victory over Southern Mississippi before 65,264 was just the latest example of the revving up of the Wrecking Crew, a mandate that began last spring when the Aggie coaching staff began to assess a new season.

"I thought that was vintage Wrecking Crew," said R.C. Slocum, the original architect of the pressure, blitzing defense that has been this program's staple for 15 years. "It was a great team effort on defense."

The Aggies swarmed the Golden Eagles like locusts, forcing four interceptions, including two by Jay Brooks and Michael Jameson for touchdowns. Jameson's pick in the fourth quarter sealed what had been an uncomfortably close game thanks to hiccups on the offensive side of the ball.

There are three reasons why the Aggies have been so impressive defensively this season:

First, the secondary play has been outstanding - save for a 54-yard touchdown pass by USM in the third quarter - with eight interceptions in two games.

Secondly, the A&M pressure from the linebackers has been ruthless, with Jason Glenn looking every bit like former No. 23's who wore the maroon and white. While Wallace and Keith Mitchell wore the number well, Glenn is quickly establishing himself as an all-conference terror, if not an All-America candidate.

And finally, the A&M defensive staff is applying the old philosophy on opponents, cranking up the pressure defense that had been missing in the Aggie defense for several years.

It all adds up to the sharks feeding in Kyle Field's tank once again.

"We want a great defense," said Glenn, who finished with a sack and two tackles for losses. "We want the old Wrecking Crew back. We want to go back when we had Johnny Holland, John Roper, my brother, Quentin Coryatt and Marcus Buckley. I think we're getting there in due time."

Glenn recalled when he and his brother Aaron were sitting together watching A&M baffle Florida State in the 1992 Cotton Bowl, and both said they were enamored with the blitz right and blitz left packages that the Aggies employed under then defensive coordinator Bob Davie. In fact, Glenn, along with several of the current Aggie defenders, said that style of play hooked them in the recruiting process.

After A&M toyed with a 4-3 look under defensive coordinator Tommy Tuberville, a bend-but-don't break theme under Phil Bennett, and a cautiously aggressive scheme under Mike Hankwitz the last two years, the 1999 season has seen the green light once the Louisiana Tech gimmick offense faded into a box score.

"We've really established a blitz mentality," said A&M redshirt freshman linebacker Brian Gamble. "We want to get a team on their heels, and that's what the Wrecking Crew defense is all about."

A&M allowed just 129 total yards against a solid USM squad, and once again the rushing yardage was laughable. The Golden Eagles gained a paltry 18 yards against the nation's top rush defense.

While Glenn is wreaking havoc at outside linebacker, you can't forget the play of Jason Webster. The soft-spoken senior is playing magnificently, as he picked off a pass in a second straight game and led the team with 10 tackles in the Aggies (3-0) 15th consecutive win at Kyle Field.

While the Aggie offense misfired for much of the game - often just by inches - and the special teams were often brilliant (Terence Kitchen's 62-yard field goal) and yet bumbling (two blocked field goals two bobbled snaps), the A&M defense finally will receive the headlines heading into the Big 12 opener with Texas Tech.

Imagine that... the A&M offense is giving way to some glory for the Aggie defense.

"It was good for the offense to get respect for putting up some good numbers," said Sedrick Curry, who also intercepted a USM pass. "But we know where we are as defense. There's no real superstars on the team. We're just a collective group."

A collective group of outside linebackers with defensive back speed. A group of defensive backs with big-play potential and a defensive line that isn't flashy, just as deep as a six pack.

Does it sound familiar? Somewhere Johnny Holland and Alex Morris are huffing and puffing at the line of scrimmage.

And the Longhorns still won't snap the ball.



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