Texas A&M on Saturday will debut a new era and a new offense.

Gone will be failed coach Dennis Franchione’s zone-read option, one the last remnants of the 1960’s.  Mike Sherman, who spent more than a decade coaching in the NFL, will showcase his West Coast offense in Aggieland.   

The Aggies open against a Sun Belt Conference team from Arkansas State on Saturday at Kyle Field.

It’s not expected to be a laugher.  When Sherman rolls out his offense, Aggies may be shocked to see that it’s on training wheels.

Last year, this same Red Wolf team took the University of Texas to the limit before falling 21-13 in Austin.  A busted call by a Big 12 referee gave the Longhorns the ball at a critical moment in the fourth quarter.  Knowing what they can do to a Big 12 opponent playing before 80,000 fans gives the Red Wolves confidence.

 Whereas the Arkansas State players are full of hope, the Aggies are loaded with talent and big question marks. 

First, who will play fullback on Saturday?   Sherman told reporters Monday he doubted that Aggie all-time touchdown leader Jorvorskie Lane will be ready to play.  Lane has head and neck injuries.  Second teamer senior Nick LaMantia is favoring an ankle.  That leaves sophomore Anthony Vela, the only healthy FB, as a likely starter although Sherman believes LaMantia will be ready.

Senior Stephen McGee will start at quarterback.  McGee has spent a career running the option and making zone reads.  He has no resume playing under center and dropping back to pass, but he is confidence he can adapt.  That’s exactly what this game may prove, too.  McGee’s leadership abilities are not in doubt.

The Aggies are expected to shine when tailback Mike Goodson touches the ball.  Goodson believes that this offense will give him the ball in open field situations.  Goodson is capable of taking it all the way.  Another big question mark is freshmen Cyrus Gray, who has looked good in practice running and catching the ball.  Gray is believed to be a true break away threat.

The frontline receivers have practically no resume.  The tight ends do not have a single collegiate catch.  Two of the three listed are freshmen.   The wide receivers include freshman Jeff Fuller and junior Howard Morrow who is coming back from a wrist injury.  The only experienced receiver is backup Pierre Brown, a senior, who has 19 career catches.

The offensive line is new.  Sherman said he spent summer camp looking for eight core linemen.   He thinks he found them.  The only problem: they haven’t played together in a game.  The lineup is full of juniors and a senior or two who have played.   Beyond the first team, the backups are dominated by red-shirt freshmen and high school freshmen. 

The defensive line is expected to be better.  It is dominated by juniors and seniors.  It’s the linebacker corps that is bare.   The Aggies switched from a 4-2 scheme to a 4-3 scheme.  Both linebackers in 2007 graduated. 

Sophomore Von Miller was moved from defensive end to linebacker.  He’s listed as a backup probably because he has had problems adjusting to that position.  Middle linebacker Matt Featherston, a junior, will have to make big plays before fans will forget a glaring missed tackle in a summer scrimmage.  That play may haunt him all season.

The defensive backs are solid with junior Jordan Pugh and senior Arkieth Brown.  The safeties are all juniors are seniors.

The game is expected to be a near sellout.  The new look is expected to bring out a renewed spirit at Aggieland.