Aggies get ready for high-powered Wildcats

Mike Sherman coached Brett Favre and faced Peyton Manning in the NFL. So he knows what to expect when his Texas A-M squad plays Josh Freeman and Kansas State today.

The Wildcats (3-2, 0-1 Big 12) are averaging 43.2 points and Freeman has averaged 255 passing yards per game. Those numbers would lead most conferences, but in the high-scoring Big 12, they’re merely in the middle of the pack.

That doesn’t leave Sherman any less impressed. Freeman, for starters, can make throws through sheer arm strength that most quarterbacks — college or pro — can’t pull off.

“The problems he presents are multiple in the sense that there’s not a throw on the field that he can’t make,” Sherman said. “If you’re on this hash over here, he can throw the out over there. Most college kids don’t have that arm strength. And a fair amount of NFL players, if they were put on this hash over here, they would struggle to throw that out.”

Sherman, who was head coach in Green Bay and an assistant with the Houston Texans, said the Wildcats try to emulate the Indianapolis Colts’ offense, with its quick-strike capability and pass-first mentality. It’ll be another difficult test for the Aggies (2-3, 0-1), who rank last in the Big 12 and 99th nationally in scoring defense, giving up 31 points per game.

“They’re a great play-faking team and then go for the explosive play,” Sherman said. “They will spread you out, very typical of spread offenses, but they have a little different nuances in their offense that other teams don’t. They want to throw the football.”

Adding to the challenge is the Aggies seeing their third different offensive system in three games.

Two weeks ago, they had trouble stopping Army’s ground-oriented triple-option. Last Saturday, it was Oklahoma State’s run-reliant, zone-read option. Now, it’s a pass-happy spread offense, with receivers cutting all over the field.

“We’ve gone from a wishbone to a spread-option to a bazooka-armed quarterback,” said A-M defensive coordinator Joe Kines. “We have our work cut out for us to stop a really strong passing game. They’re hitting on a lot of cylinders.”

Meanwhile, Sherman once again isn’t saying who his starting quarterback will be. Senior Stephen McGee sat out last week’s 56-28 loss to Oklahoma State as he continues to nurse a sprained throwing shoulder. Sophomore Jerrod Johnson again started in his place, and went 24-for-43 for 218 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.

Sherman would not commit to Johnson as the starter Monday and said McGee’s health would be evaluated throughout the week.

Kansas State coach Ron Prince is preparing to see both quarterbacks. He said Johnson reminds him of Freeman.

“He is a big guy and to this point, he has stood fearlessly in the pocket, and I am really impressed with his pocket awareness and the fact that he keeps his eyes down the field,” Prince said. “He can run with the football and do all the things that you would expect. I really think he is a fearless competitor. He has taken some shots in the pocket and it really hasn’t fazed him at all.”

Like A-M, Kansas State’s defense has had its struggles. The Wildcats rank last in the Big 12 in total defense (421.6 yards per game) and second-worst against the run (192.4 yards per game).

Kansas State gave up 626 yards in last week’s 58-28 loss to Texas Tech, and senior defensive tackle Ian Campbell said he was going to talk to some of the team’s veterans this week to confront some of the issues.

“I think the biggest problem right now is guys being able to make plays, myself included, and knowing how to win,” said Campbell. “I think the thing that provides the most hope for this team right now is that everybody wants to keep working. There was effort given on Saturday, whether people outside realize it or not.”

Special teams, an area of needed improvement for the Aggies, could play a pivotal role today.

The Aggies gave up a 78-yard punt return to Oklahoma State’s Dez Bryant and now have to corral Kansas State’s Deon Murphy, who has an 86-yarder this season. The Wildcats also lead the nation with five blocked kicks — three punts and two extra points. Each of the blocked punts was returned for a touchdown.

Texas A-M is giving up a league-high 11.5 yards per punt return and is averaging only 6.4 yards on its punt returns.