Tex A&M (8-5/3-5 SEC)
15 returning starters (8* Offense/7 Defense and 53 lettermen)/2 NFL Draftees
Last Year: Offense 35.2 ppg #28/Defense 28.1 ppg #77
Last season’s been quite an emotional rollercoaster for Texas A&M going from an SEC
contender and national ranking #5, after 5-0 start, to losing 3 straight games including
a humiliated 0-59 loss to Alabama. Kenny Hill, the starting QB, had the same fate going
from "Johnny who??" and Heisman early favorite to being benched in that same stretch.
Aggies offense truly suffered "life without Johnny", declining by 9 points and 84 YPG
last year while Defense only inched ahead. The result is not pretty as Aggies tasted the
first losing interconference season in SEC at 3-5 since 2012. Coach K. Sumlin made a swift
move, hiring away J. Chavis from LSU and added Dave Christensen to oversee OL and
the running game.
OFFENSE
The Offense was fine until they were crushed by the Tide. It indicated a much bigger
problem than just a Hill's bad game. The offense was never the same after Hill was
benched and replaced with QB Kyle Allen. Aggies managed a mere 243 total yards vs
a bad UL of Monroe. Allen recovered and appeared in control but the team lost 2 of
3 remaining games with a lone (Could say it was lucky) win at Auburn. A good Bowl
win certainly helped the Aggies going into off-season with some confidence.
QB Allen is the presumed starter but he still has to fight off highly touted freshman
Kyler Murray. The latest from fall camp indicates K. Allen will be the signal caller.
In his freshman season Kyle Allen was thrusted into the starting role in November,
and threw three touchdown passes against Missouri and four against Auburn and
W. Virginia, after a horrid performance in his first career start vs ULM. If Allen can
keep focus and improve he could be one of the top QBs in the SEC by year end.
Allen is blessed with a full receiving corp. returning but Malcolm Kennedy. The Aggies
have one of the deepest and most talented receiving corps. in the conference, with
Josh Reynolds (52 recp.), Ricky Seals-Jones (49 recp.), Edward Pope (30 recp.) and
especially with Speedy Noil (46 recp.) back from suspension. A new comer, Christian
Kirk, has impressed coaches in Spring and could take up a starting slot.
While the passing attack could be one the best in the nation, the rushing attack has
regressed significantly, going from 242 rushing yards per game (rk # 11) in 2012
to a mere 150 rush ypg (rk #84) last year. Sr. Trey Mason (581 yds) will be the featured
back this year along with the explosive So. James White (7.0 ypc) in the backfield. More
production is desperately needed from senior Tra Carson especially in short yardage
situations where Aggies converted only around 40% on 3rd down (55% in 2012) That
abysmal number is by far the worst performance under K. Sumlin tenure as head coach.
Losing Trey Williams (560 yds at 6.9 ypc) to early NFL draft will certainly hurt the running
game particularly Aggies now without a dual-threat QB.
The OL could be blamed for its subpar performance failed to pass protecting (27 sacks)
and establishing running lane. This year the Line welcomes back three starters in
C Mike Matthews, Sr. RG Joseph Cheek and Jr. tackle Germain Ifedi. The two seniors
Avery Gennesy and Jermaine Eluemunor major contribution will be critical for 2015
success as the depth is so thin and lack of game experience after these five starters.
DEFENSE
A woeful defense has been Aggies problem for years. Coach Sumlin went out of the
way and got a defensive guru in J. Chavis. How good is Chavis? He turned LSU defense
into a defensive juggernaut. First year taking over LSU defense in 2009, he turned the
unit which had a depleted DL and a #56 ranking, into a near top ten defensive unit.
Can he duplicate that outstanding achievement? There is no doubt he will instill
toughness, physicality, and DISCIPLINE. He inherits a lot of talents that just need
the right coaching to blossom into a great unit. His defense builds around a strong
Line and he should have plenty to work with. It begins with Ends Myles Garrett with
his 11.5 sacks (#2 in SEC) and Daeshon Hall anchoring the Line. Tackles Alonzo Williams
and Hardreck Decker are solid inside. Two-deep are solid with ten linemen returning.
The back seven could be in trouble with the top three tacklers (combined 176 tackles)
left. The LB unit is the weakest link on Defense. Sophomore Otaro Alaka has great potential
and Jr. Shaan Washington, LB leader, is solid on the strong side. Depth is a big concern.
The Secondary lost its top two, a CB and a Safety, but could be better this year with
several play-makers; Armani Watts and Devonta Burn manning the Safety positions,
De'Vante Harris, Victor Davis, Nick Harvey and Tavares Garner provide adequate
coverage including nickel formation.
PREDICTION
A good passing and an average rushing attacks are good enough though the defense
improvement remains to be seen. J. Chavis certainly can make it much better, but
It will take time to adapt to new defensive schemes and be more disciplined.
Aggies are 9-7 in last 16 games held back by youth and an awful defense, and
while both could improve, Aggies won't be able to climb to the top SEC West yet.
The overall schedule is very favorable with Miss St, and both Auburn and Alabama
at home. Road trips to Ole Miss and LSU will be tough battles. Neutral site tilts
are as hard as they can be with Arizona St. for season opener and a trip down the
road to Jerry's Palace vs a dangerous and improving Hogs. The luck of draw has
given the Aggies two SEC cross division winnable games vs South Carolina and
at Vanderbilt. The Aggies can go any where from 3-5 to 5-3 in SEC. With a tough
non-conference against Arz St., the Aggies is more likely ends up with a 8-4
overall record, but things are looking up for 2016.