The Texas A&M Aggies have had a very nice couple of years in the SEC, but now they will take on the league without Johnny Manziel and their top 2 WRs from last year. 54 lettermen and 14 starters are back from this team, but will it be enough to get them back to a bowl game. Preview & schedule are below.
The Offense that was nearly unstoppable the last 2 years took some hits as Johnny Manziel and his top two targets and their top RB all depart. Just 5 starters are back to an offense that will be led by freshman QB Kyle Allen, who was the #1 Prep QB last year. He does have a few decent weapons, including Malcome Kennedy, who was 2nd on the team in receptions last year with 60, while also having 7 TD catches as well. Ben Malena was the top RB last year, but he is gone, which will leave the job up to former Oregon transfer Tra Carson, who ran for 340 yards and 7 TDs last year for the Aggies. There is some depth here, but still this is a below average RB corp. The OL is the strength of this offense, which should help an inexperienced set of skill players and QB ease into the offense. The defense was very leaky last year, but they will be relied on this year until the young offense comes around. The do have 9 starters back on this side of the ball, but still it looks like they could struggle. The secondary is the strength of this group, with 3 of 4 starters back, including Howard Mathews and Deshazor Everett, who combined for 13 PBUs and 5 INTs last year. The front 7 is a different story, as both the DL and LB corps are rated among the worst in the SEC.
The Aggies are not dead at all this year, but they are also not a 9 win team either. The Offense is greatly weakened with the loss of Johnny Manziel and the return of just 24% of their yards from last year, which is 123rd in the nation. Very hard to see this team coming close to putting up the numbers they have the last 2 years. The defense has 9 starters back and 25 lettermen, but still it is not a very good defense, which means the Aggies will not just be able to outscore teams like the last 2 years. The schedule is tough for this team with road games vs South Carolina, Alabama, Auburn and Mississippi State, plus home games vs Ole Miss, LSU and Missouri. The Aggies should get to bowl eligibility, but barely. KEY TREND: 10-2 ATS at home off BB SU losses
2014 Texas A&M Football Schedule
Aug. 28 at South Carolina
Sep. 6 Lamar
Sep. 13 Rice
Sep. 20 at SMU
Sep. 27 at Arkansas
Oct. 4 at Miss State
Oct. 11 Ole Miss
Oct. 18 at Alabama
Oct. 25 OPEN DATE
Nov. 1 ULM
Nov. 8 at Auburn
Nov. 15 Missouri
Nov. 22 OPEN DATE
Nov. 27 LSU
Info gathered From Phil Steele's CFB Preview and Athlon Sports
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