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Back in the spring, when Texas A&M football coaches were experimenting with fresh wrinkles on both sides of the ball, quarterback Jerrod Johnson raised some eyebrows. With his words.
"Anything is realistic," Johnson said, when asked about the possibility of the Aggies improving on last year’s 4-8 record. "You come to A&M to win. Our realistic goal is to win the Big 12. ... As long as we come together, the sky is the limit for us."Johnson uttered those words after a Maroon-White spring game in which the first-team offense managed only one touchdown drive longer than 30 yards against a defense that collected lots of sacks (seven) and forced turnovers (five).Yet that same group, directed by Johnson, leads the nation in total offense (589.5 yards per game) heading into Saturday’s game against UAB (6 p.m., College Station). A&M (2-0) joins Arizona State on the short list of NCAA teams that have yet to lose a fumble or throw an interception this season.Yes, it is still September. And, yes, the Aggies’ victories have come against teams with a combined record of 0-5.But this offense, which is awash in freshman playmakers and offensive linemen learning new positions on the fly, definitely seems to be coming together. Much of the credit for that should go to Johnson, a junior who would be the early frontrunner to be named the Big 12’s Most Improved Player of 2009 if the league bestowed such an honor.That is because Johnson (6-foot-5, 239 pounds) is raising eyebrows with his actions, rather than his words, this fall. Johnson ranks second nationally in total offense, at 403 yards per game, and is the only Big 12 quarterback ranked among the league’s top 10 in rushing (67.5 yards per game). His pass efficiency rating (156.3) is the best among any of the league’s eight returning starters at quarterback and represents a huge jump from last season (137.4)."J.J. has really come into his own as a passer," said A&M free safety Trent Hunter. "His passes are falling right on point now. Not a little short. Not a little long. They’re right on point."Most important, of course, is the improved ball security. Not only did Johnson throw 10 interceptions last season, but he also lost a boatload of fumbles that contributed to A&M finishing 104th nationally in turnover margin (minus 10). He’s turnover-free this season, which excites coach Mike Sherman and shows Johnson has a better grasp of his primary role."In this West Coast offense, it’s my job as a quarterback to get the ball out of my hands as quickly as possible to the guys who make plays around me," Johnson said. "Last year, I had some indecision on plays. So did everybody. Now, it’s my second year [as a starter] and that indecision is going away a little bit. I’m playing faster. I feel like I’m worlds ahead of where I was last year."Sherman has noticed. During Monday’s news conference, Sherman said Johnson is doing a "much better job" of getting the ball to the open receiver — even if it is his third or fourth option — rather than locking in on a target shortly after taking the snap. He also cited a couple of exceptions in last week’s 38-30 victory over Utah State, where Johnson threw deep into danger rather than taking a shorter, safer option.
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