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Lobwedgephil

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Posts posted by Lobwedgephil

  1. 10 minutes ago, crash_davis said:

    Costco TMobile has a $430 off the new S20 5G FE with trade in. I traded in my S8. I got the new S20 5G FE for $200 (involves trade in and then getting a debit card for the $430ish). No new line required. Just upgrade an existing line.

    I really like the S20 FE. It's the same size as my OnePlus 6T. Camera is great. Snappy and fast as hell with the 865 chip. This is my first 120Hz screen. I can DEFINITELY see a difference. Hard to explain but it just make everything smoother. Definitely not a must have but after having it, I notice the difference when I use my OP 6T 60Hz screen. I wouldn't complain if I had to use a 60Hz screen again, it's just nicer to have the 120Hz.

    Anyway, if you have TMO, you might want to check out the deal.

    https://membershipwireless.com/tmobile-samsung

     

    Also, if you don't like the bloat on the Sammie hardware, you can easily uninstall or disable the system apps via ADB. I froze all the Knox and Bixby shit. I've frozen 60+ bloatware apps. Did this on my S8. Makes the phone run so much smoother. Let me know if you want to know more about how to ADB. I believe ABD commands also works on most other Android phones.

    Well, Apple is introducing the new models tomorrow. No S20 Fan Edition though from Apple. 

  2. Spoiler

    Where's Demond Demas!?

    I thought we'd see more of him last week and we did. However, he did see just a couple of plays as opposed to zero.

    He did some nice things in practice this week on their first full day (Tuesday). Mond and the offense had probably their best day of the fall (guys...don't you DARE do either of the things you're tempted to do here haha), so that's encouraging.

    Demond has to be prepared to play before he's out there regularly (in all areas, from on-field play to preparation), and he's getting there quickly, just not as quickly as we'd all like (including Demas himself).

    It's been two games, and I absolutely expect we'll see more of him (and perhaps even Moose) this weekend. I think folks are forgetting that this is a truly gifted WR, but one who hadn't played football in nearly two years. He was going to be a raw talent to begin with. I think he's really close and is going to have an impact similar to DeMarvin Leal from last year. I think he's easing into it and will become a much greater factor as the season progresses: A little more each week and a lot more coming out of the upcoming bye. That's why it's important to get his feet wet this Saturday and against Mississippi State, IMO.

    Well, that and you're probably going to need some points. If Demond is ready to be a deep threat, it would really help.

    Score prediction?

    Texas A&M 27, Florida 24.

    Is Jimbo frustrated by Monds complete lack of deep vertical passing attempts?

    I'd have to imagine he's frustrated with the entire formula that isn't resulting in passes being completed or attempted down the field, but I'd be willing to bet that there are more points of frustration than just Kellen.

    For example, there are certainly times when the QB probably doesn't pull the trigger on a favorable deep shot or misses an open receiver down the field (we've seen that a couple of times this year already), but there are also probably times when Mond makes the right decision because the designed shot simply wasn't there. I think that's exactly what happened Saturday when Demas wasn't able to get off the line to the short side. I think that was going to be a shot judging by how Kellen reacted when he looked to his right, and there was nothing to be found.

    How does the secondary not have a game like that again? That is about the worst I've ever seen us get torched for long scores.

    See below. Dalton needs to be a little more selective to avoid questions that are too similar. See a couple of questions below. And I agree, those deep shots by Bama and their success rate was alarming, even considering the caliber of the opponent.

    Is Jaylon Jones fast/quick-twitch enough to be an elite SEC corner?

    Yes. It's not the strength of his game, but he's not slow or lacking twitch.

    He's kind of in the middle ground. Jones is not a 'big corner' who gives you tremendous size but can't move well enough, and he’s not one of those 5-10, super twitched-up guys. He's fine at corner.

    Could he grow into a safety one day? I wouldn't rule out the possibility, but I absolutely think he could be just fine on the island. Getting beat over the top on that first play was all about technique and making a mistake in HOW he covered Metchie, IMO. It was also the dude's second college football game against Alabama's receiving corps. Growing pains, while unfortunate, weren't all that shocking.

    At what point does Elko need to be willing to sacrifice run yards to defend the pass better?

    I don't think it's that at all. I think everyone would be complaining about the defense getting gashed for long runs like they were doing at times last year. I think it's a matter of continuing to add speed on the back end (and there are ways to continue to do that this year in-season). I think they need to eliminate 'biting' by the safeties, at least to a degree that you're not getting devastating mistakes on the back end of the defense.

    The blitzing thing will be interesting to watch. Does Elko use dial-up more pressure or does that worry the defensive staff in terms of putting the Aggie secondary even more at risk than otherwise? That's the wildcard for this weekend against UF and next weekend at MSU because Kyle Trask and K.J. Costello are probably the most cerebral quarterbacks the Ags will face the rest of the way.

    With Ohio State out of contention, how do you feel about A&Ms chances of landing Tywone Malone‍?

    I think the Ags have a solid chance here. I'm never going to doubt the Elijah/Elko combination in the Northeast. Especially when it's in New Jersey, and when it's for an interior defensive lineman. I feel like folks away from this site and nationally are sleeping on the Ags' chances here much like they did with McKinnley Jackson last year.

    With Young and Chattman out, who do you think mans the nickel for the next few games?

    I will double check on this one. Obviously, Devin Morris is going to be one of the main guys, but there are a couple of other interesting options for Elko, and he's shown he's never afraid to get creative there. Brian George had a brief look during camp, so he could also factor in.

    One of the topics of conversation in the Post Game Wrap was the inability of the team to take advantage of opportunities. With local competitors, t.u. and Oklahoma, both having miserable starts to their seasons, how much of a fantastic opportunity is this season to firmly establish us as the pre-eminent program in Texas if we were able to finish on a high note?

    I think it's as good an opportunity as the Ags have had since the 2013 season, and they let that one slip away.

    Thing is, the road to capitalizing is littered with so many more tough obstacles than we expected. Still, it's an opportunity nonetheless, especially if you can gain momentum by surprising Florida (and the country) this weekend while either OU or Texas goes away for good (as far as this fall is concerned). Beating LSU would be incredibly impactful, as well. The Tigers are going to lose to both Florida and Bama, IMO. If you beat them, that's at least four Ls for Ed O, and maybe a little bit of doubt seeps back in as to whether he's all he was cracked up to be last year or not. Need to make it happen on the A&M end, however, which hasn't been the easiest of tasks.

    Do OU’s losses help with Bryce Foster‍?

    Doesn't hurt to see some of that shine come off of Lincoln Riley and OU. The myth that Bedenbaugh is infallible as an OL coach has been shattered a bit when you see how terrible a group of four returning highly-touted starters has looked so far this year.

    However, they can certainly turn it around on that heinously bad schedule and still have a lot to sell in terms of excitement, recent tradition and their storied history.

    I think it's important to understand something, though. Tennessee would have been BY FAR the best team OU played this year if they were still on the Sooner schedule. The Vols are probably no better than third and could be as low as sixth on the Aggies' 2020 slate. As I said, it doesn't hurt, but the Sooners are still going to be a formidable foe here.

    What do you think of Linebacker depth next year?

    I love it. Doyle and Cooper are going to be really good.

    Doyle doesn't play around out there at 6-3 and over 240. He'll hit you and let you know about it. Doyle brings it regardless if he’s working with the backups or the scout team. Cooper is absolutely elite in terms of speed, athleticism and instincts.

    Add in Andre White and Chris Russell to round it out, plus several 'depth' options in the younger classes. I really like it, and I'm not so certain there isn't a big safety back there they could spin down if they thought you could create a starting LB out of it. It's not necessary, but it's doable.

    Next year is where losing Hines hurts a little for me. I don't think he was going to be a difference-maker this fall, but I did think next year, as a senior an third-year starter, he could have been a really good player.

    Which Kyle has a better day? Kyle Trask? Kyle Pitts? Or Kyle Field?

    I'm actually going Kyle Field, but I do fear the Florida Kyles against that A&M secondary. If UF wins, it's going to be because those two had a field day, particularly Trask. With that said, I'm actually picking the Aggies to score the major upset and Trask to toss at least one pick.

    Is this the biggest game of Jimbo's tenure at A&M?

    I don't think it's a make-or-break game at all, but I do think it's the biggest to date.

    I'd actually put it up there alongside LSU to end his first regular-season in Aggieland when the Ags desperately needed a signature home win and to finally slay the Bayou Bengal beast.

    This feels equally as important in terms of changing a couple of national narratives that folks are tripping over themselves to paint regarding Fisher and the Aggies (without pointing out things like the Ags having played eight top-4 teams since Fisher has arrived — nearly 1/3 of their games — and UF and Mullen playing all of TWO). No one cares if it's going to get in the way of a 'hot take.’ All you can do is shut them up.

    I also think the players in that locker room need to reward themselves with a win for all of the work they're putting in and the incredibly difficult climb up the SEC. On days like last weekend in Tuscaloosa, the mountaintop sometimes probably feels so far off in the distance.

    With continued struggles at safety, should we expect to see Antonio Johnson pick up some game reps?

    I think all options are probably on the table for Elko, but yes, I expect we'll see the true freshman work his way into the mix fairly shortly. I’m not saying he's ready to start or anything like that, but getting him on the field a little and possibly ready to crack the lineup in a few weeks isn't too crazy a scenario at all. He adds a lot of what you're lacking back there except experience, but where did that experience pay off on Saturday at Bryant-Denny? Certainly not in the way of coverage mistakes and miscalculations.

    Does our OL build off a definitely above-average performance and continually get better like 2018?

    I believe so.

    The first two weeks have been encouraging from a pass-pro standpoint. I want to see them open up more holes in the running game, but taking the top off a bit throwing the ball will help in that area, as well. Look, Kellen throwing for 315 yards and three touchdowns at Bama doesn't hurt the cause. Early returns have been positive up front, especially considering the last opponent. Now the key is continued progress. The unit needs to take a step FORWARD this week against another good opponent and not back.

    Do you think we can still make a New Year’s Six bowl? After Bama, I think we can. I think we were close to really competing and making it a battle Saturday. Just missing those last few inches but the team is growing.

    Get back to me after Saturday's game. I think to reach that NY6 status this year, it'll take 7-3 with a couple of wins over the teams you're competing against for those spots.

    Beat UF and that suddenly looks possible. Even losing a very close one where Mond and the passing game click and you give the No. 4 team all it wants (in other words, players gain a ton of confidence and a lot of the concerns begin to be alleviated by getting noticeably better each of the next three weeks) would give you at least a shot at saying, "Hey, maybe they can win at Starkville, go into the bye week and come out and close with a 5-1 kick."

    With Tennessee, Auburn and LSU still out there and no gimme games the rest of the way, I think the short answer to your question is: They'll have to knock off Florida, and even then, it'll be a daunting challenge but one they could pull off.

    When the Ags take care of Florida on Saturday, and Mond "redeems" himself, who will the angry mob target next?

    I don't think anyone will be angry after that. They'll probably take the week off and be ready to reassemble by the time the Ags kick things off in Starkville.

    What's more important to fix? Rank them in order: pass Rush, secondary deep coverage, QB play, WR, OL

    For THIS year: Deep coverage, QB play, WR, OL, pass rush.

    I mentioned this elsewhere but would love your opinion. How long can we ride the recruiting wave from the Jimbo hire? Eventually on field results will slow that down?

    I think that usually lasts two classes. Regardless, he's still an elite recruiting head coach.

    But yes, it will slip if you're not winning enough games or enough big games when you're trying to recruit with the best of the best.

    You're selling SEC championships and coming into a program en route to establishing itself as a top-10 outfit. Winning a couple of these the rest of the way that will get the attention of recruits is big. Next fall will be even bigger as he'll be fielding a team almost exclusively his own.

    How soon can we expect to see Harris and Mowry?

    And Diggs. Don't forget him. He and Antonio Johnson (and perhaps even Harris) have been unavailable for the past couple of Saturdays but are back in the mix.

    Harris was really beginning to make moves at the end of fall camp, and Diggs has been impressive thus far. I think we may see them get a couple of snaps as early as this week. We'll see.

    If not, then I’d say absolutely after the bye, and then the rest of the way (the final six games plus bowl). They'll gradually be worked into some of Elko's packages and the rotation.

    Do you see us trying to hold 3-4 scholarships back instead for 2 for grad transfers or if the one-time transfer rule is implemented?

    I don't think you want to cut into your scholarship numbers TOO much.

    I do see the need at OL for a grad transfer next year after losing four senior starters and maybe at a couple of other spots, but you don't have many 'ships left and have real needs to fill there.

    It probably depends on two things: Does the NCAA adjust the 'initial counter' rule to not include transfers or at least a couple of free ones that don't count against it AND how well is recruiting going in terms of are you still landing the guys you have pegged at the very top of your list?

    Any insight on Zach Calzada and how he is doing? Is he behind Haynes, from what you hear? What kind of intel have you heard about that competition behind the scenes?

    See a couple of questions down.

    Zach is a team player all the way, and I don't think that battle is done by a longshot, barring the scenario I lay out in my answer two or three questions from now. He's going to be in a legitimate battle for the job this spring, so he doesn't need to get down in the slightest. He also could have four full years of eligibility left AFTER this year if he needs it, so there's actually nothing at all to get discouraged about other than feeling like he may need to elevate in order to regain even footing with the guy he's going to be competing against.

    Do you have any insight into why the coaching staff is calling for fair catches on ALL kickoffs? We finally have some speed on this team and this approach seems it could send a message to our team that we don't have faith in anyone making a play - only mistakes.

    As I've said, I'm hoping that was just for the Alabama game. I know Banks was a big fan of the high hangtime kickoff while he was here, and it was tough to tell if that's what he was doing on Saturday. Maybe they saw that trend and just figured getting it at the 25 every time was the best play.

    I don't expect we'll continue to see that at all, to be honest. I think it's just the approach against teams that opt to hang it high. Look, Bama's hope in doing that is not to start a team at the 25, and it's not because they're scared of the return over there. They actually WANT it fielded, so their coverage teams can stop teams inside the 15 or 10.

    Scheme, players or game plan: What's the biggest reason for a lack of vertical passing game?

    I think they all tie in together. Too many variables to just settle in on one.

    What does the coach think of his players at QB, WR and OL and their ability to handle certain elements of the playbook? Are the gameplans too conservative? Is Kellen not pulling the trigger often enough on shots downfield? Is the blocking not there a handful of times per game when they want to push it downfield? Are the WRs not getting off of man coverage? Would more tempo help open things up?

    Again, a lot at play here, but the bottom line is that things need to open up, or it's going to be a struggle all fall on offense.

    Watched the Post Game Wrap, and it seemed you were sold on King being the future. Can you elaborate on that at all at this point? What are you hearing from players/coaches? Thanks.

    That's a tough one because I think Calzada has as live an arm as I've seen, and I hate it coming off as me (or the entire message board community, for that matter) writing a kid off early. We've seen it play out in favor of a guy like that too many times to count.

    Am I sold on Haynes King? I have been since the moment the Aggies started recruiting him. I think he just has that special, "It" quality that isn't easy to find. That’s something you need to win in this league.

    You'll see it Saturday with Trask. Well, hopefully not, but he's proven to be that guy at UF against all odds.

    Back to Haynes. I do think he's a special talent at the position, yes. However, I also stand by what I said in that I think Kellen Mond — who was better against Bama than I think most are giving him credit for (not great by any stretch but played a solid game) — gives you your best chance to win on Saturday against Florida and on the road at Mississippi State. I'm going to be very interested to see if Kellen can build on his game against Alabama.

    This is a little different matchup than the ones A&M has played in the past against teams ranked in the top-4: Bama and Clemson twice, UGA and LSU last year with the way they were playing. Those were ELITE defensive football teams. Hell, you could even include Auburn at least from the standpoint that defense was their clear strength.

    In this one, it's Florida's offense that has been carrying the day. Mond needs to play well and the offense has to show it can put up enough points to win. He's obviously the catalyst there.

    Getting back to the 'sold on Haynes' thing, barring Mond losing his job later this fall (still absolutely an 'if' and far from a 'when') and King taking over and playing really well as a true freshman in the SEC, there will be an open battle for the job between King and Calzada this spring. Even then, QB2 would enter 2021 one play away or one struggling QB away from being an SEC West starter with multiple years of eligibility remaining. Remember, this year doesn't even count if those guys don't want it to, so King would have four years left to play AFTER this year if need be, as would Zach.

    Your thoughts on how bad OU, t.u. and the rest of the BDF is?

    Here's how bad: OU would have lost to Tennessee at home, IMO.

    Texas at LSU would have been an interesting one, but I still think LSU would have beaten them since TCU went into Austin and turned the trick, and Tech outplayed them decisively for about 58 minutes (and Tech is REALLY, REALLY bad).

    That league has some real issues this year. It's probably a good thing it's a shortened season because they'll write it off as a "we're just happy we got the games in" type of thing.

    It will be very interesting to see how this season plays out in the Big 12 after this weekend.

    Could we possibly have a year with neither Texas nor OU in the title game? One of them will surely be out after this weekend, right? The loser of Saturday's game is in big trouble for this season. Either the shine is COMPLETELY off of Lincoln Riley. Folks might begin to realize Grinch was an overrated hire and Riley was feeding off of Stoops' players and transcendent QB talents. It’s either that OR Tom Herman is locked in to enter 2021 on a scorching hot seat and will do so with his security blanket, Sam Ehlinger.

    And wouldn't it be fascinating to see The Mullet win his first Big 12 title following the most tumultuous off-season of his very tumultuous tenure in Stillwater?

    And I'm all in on Matt Campbell, by the way. Dude is just a flat out ball coach who gets it.

    Fav TexAgs thread: Ranger 65 unmasked? Sideline Guy at Alabama? Aggie Grant and OU? I'm sure you have a few.

    Ranger65 all the way. Followed by Grant and OU. Those were my two favorites.

    I do check the 'Longhorn tears' thread semi-regularly, as well, and who isn't a fan of MFBarnes

    I’m also a big fan of 'drunk guy after a loss' blaming me for everything. Those are fun.

    Who do you think would win in a fist fight between Jimbo and Tom Herman, and why?

    Jimbo. Zero doubt. Even the Horns would have to admit that one. You saw Herman throw punches at that video game, right? The West Virginia country boy ain't losing a fight to anyone who swings a sledgehammer like THAT.

    Will Johnny get his statue next year?

    I've said many times my window to have it done is ten years. At this point, why not do it literally to the week of the 2012 Alabama game (hopefully a home game weekend at Kyle Field)? Still, I'd have zero problem if they did it sooner than that. It's happening, so why wait? A ten-year anniversary would be really cool, IMO.

    Have you had a chance to check out Formula 1 Drive to Survive on Netflix? Not really an F1 guy, but I found it fascinating.

    No. I'm not an F1 or racing guy, either, so hearing you put it that way means I'll give it a watch. Just started Homeland finally, and I'm excited for that one.

    At what point in the year will Gabe admit he loves Ainias Smith as much as his own son?

    I think that honor is reserved for my man Gaston Lamascus.

    Little-known fact: He nearly named Easton "Gator." The real question is when will he admit Dalton and OB have taken over TexAgs Radio, and that Clay Taylor is a better singer than he is?

     

  3. Spoiler

    Fans don't always agree with media, and coaches don't typically agree with either. Why? Because as those watching the game from the stands or press box, it's our job, our right, our hobby to second-guess. We live in a world where overreaction, hyperbole and pushing the panic button are the norm. All of us. Hell, the very website this story will appear on, owned by yours truly? The currency we deal in is providing the very platform for folks to come together after a result like yesterday's — getting rolled by the Tide in Tuscaloosa yet again — to vent, discuss, debate and explain why 'it's over' or tell your fellow Aggies why Texas A&M will never get this ‘winning at football’ thing figured out. It's what we do.

    And by we, I mean we, so please indulge me as I do a little bit of the same.

    No, I'm not jumping off the cliff with many of you right now. What I am doing is keeping it as real as I can as I look over the edge and see the canyon this 2020 season could fall into in a hurry.

    Unfortunately, the SEC reality is that you simply cannot judge your team based solely on how it performs against Alabama. After all, the Tide is 104-11 in the eight years and two games since A&M joined the conference.

    The Ags were out of yesterday's game by halftime, just moments after it seemed like the game would go into the locker room still very much a contested affair. Unfortunately, we've been there, done that. Probably about a half dozen times in the nine SEC meetings with the Tide. All three of Jimbo's matchups with his former boss have been essentially decided during a late first-half stretch in which Bama's superior speed, physicality and playmakers flexed their talent and separated.

    Craig Bisacre

    Mac Jones led a lethal passing attack that pushed Bama out to an early two-score lead.

    That's what happened yesterday at Bryant-Denny. Nice drive to open things up by the A&M offense and a normally reliable kicker shanks a field goal attempt. Bama goes up top on their third offensive play. Touchdown. One drive later, and it's 14-0.

    The Ags fight back to tie the game in stunning fashion and seem to settle in. Then, a deep pass for a score to a future first-round receiver, a mistake by your quarterback turns into six points the other way and you're down by two touchdowns again, just like that. Fisher's squad regroups again, marches down the field and looks ready to cut the lead to 28-21 just before halftime. Then, on a pivotal fourth-down play, your senior QB passes on a wide-open running lane to move the sticks and instead drops an easy pass to the best player in Maroon & White that day. He makes his one mistake of the afternoon and drops the chain-moving grab. A few plays later, the Tide finds the end zone again. Instead of a 28-21 halftime score, we're at 35-14 and the game is, for all intents and purposes, over.

    Frustrating doesn't even begin to describe it, does it? Let's forget about Bama for the moment, though, shall we?

    The key for Jimbo FIsher and the Aggies right now is to make sure that their season doesn't go the way of Saturday's game. In other words, the season has quickly reached a tipping point. Do you capitalize on the opportunity or let things spiral out of control en route to whatever the equivalent of 52-24 looks like in the form of a ten-game SEC record?

    Through two games, I know what the common-sense answer to that question looks and feels like, especially with No. 3 Florida on deck. And I'm also not saying that the next two — the Gators at home and Mississippi State in Starkville — are going to define Jimbo Fisher's tenure in College Station. In fact, I've read too much of that crap since Fisher's first (and very successful) season in Aggieland. Folks in the national and state media are waiting, wanting and practically willing to let A&M's $75 million coaching coup to fail and are tripping all over themselves to measure Texas A&M against legitimate top-3 teams, playoff contenders or national title finalists each year. Even in year three under Jimbo, that's an unreasonable litmus test.

    ...there's clearly been nothing in the way of progress on the ‘beating Bama for the first time since 2012’ front. The information we don't yet have is how the Aggies are going to run the upcoming gauntlet of games in this unprecedented 10-game SEC season.

    What's not unreasonable, however, is measuring progress. It's also not unfair to stack the Aggies up against top-15 opponents and programs and check the record. Or to gauge where Fisher and the Ags stack up versus first-year coaches at places with fewer resources or guys like Dan Mullen and Jeremy Pruitt in year three at Florida and Tennessee.

    Despite a few moments that provided glimmers of hope on Saturday afternoon, there's clearly been nothing in the way of progress on the “beating Bama for the first time since 2012” front. The information we don't yet have is how the Aggies are going to run the upcoming gauntlet of games in this unprecedented 10-game SEC season.

    Here's where I start going all message board fan/ranting media guy on you...except I'm absolutely convinced this isn't hyperbole but me speaking the truth.

    No, the next two games won't determine whether Fisher ultimately succeeds or fails in Aggieland. However, I do believe that the contests between now and the bye week might be the most important he's coached in Maroon & White. It's the beauty and the beast of the SEC, right? Get dusted by No. 2 Bama on Saturday, return to work on Monday in preparation for No. 3 Florida. At your house. A chance to completely change the season outlook and "Fisher, A&M versus top five teams" narrative one short week later. You'll also get other chances in November and on into December, particularly against Tennessee, Auburn and LSU.

    However, those games will carry a hell of a lot less weight and be a hell of a lot more difficult to win if Jimbo, Mike Elko and the Aggies didn’t start shaking things up as soon as the team plane landed at Easterwood last night. The cold, hard truth is that the team that has taken the field in each of the first two weeks — and the one that finished last season — simply isn't good enough. Did the Aggies show progress in several areas on Saturday at Bryant-Denny? Yep. The o-line was better. Ainias Smith had his best day as an Aggie. The young receivers grew up a little. The d-line held its own against what will easily be the best offensive front the Ags see all year. Kellen Mond played much better than he did in the opener against Vandy. The problem, of course, is that resulted in a four-touchdown loss to No. 2, and No. 3 is on deck.

    Is Florida on Bama's level? No, they're not, but the Gators are very good. They're rolling into Kyle Field as a supremely confident group and a legitimate CFP contender. That improved effort we saw yesterday? It probably won't result in a four-touchdown loss, but it certainly wasn't good enough to knock off a team of Florida's ilk.

    The Tuscaloosa News-USA TODAY Sports

    Kellen Mond was improved in week two, but A&M is still struggling to produce big plays.

    In order to turn things around, Fisher and Co. are going to have to shake things up sooner than they probably wanted to. And, no, I'm not talking exclusively about the quarterback position, but the head coach certainly needs to honestly evaluate things there, as well. I'm talking across the board. There are a lot of areas in which I'd imagine Fisher has reached a point that he's seen enough to know it just isn't going to work. To survive and thrive in today's SEC (and by today, I mean now...as in this weekend and next), the Ags have to get faster on defense, take more risks on offense and really take a hard look at the makeup of the starting lineup and playing rotation. What you've seen in the first two weeks of play should carry infinitely more weight than what you saw during fall camp.

    It's tough because you don't want to put too much stock into yesterday's blowout loss because you know that Bama features the best WR corps and OL in college football by a longshot and probably one of the three best defenses in the game. At the same time, an awful lot of the same, nagging issues are what kept A&M from keeping things a hell of a lot closer yesterday in T-Town. The Aggies were way too slow on the back end and had busts at safety, giving up incredibly easy deep touchdowns while watching Mac Jones rack up the fourth-most passing yards in a single-game in Alabama history (just think about that for a moment). A&M held up well against Bama's vaunted ground game but put very little pressure on Jones in the way of a pass rush. Not enough playmakers to keep pace with an elite team. Not enough team speed.

    Kellen Mond played a solid football game against the best D the Ags will see in 2020, consistently moving the team down the field and actually made some terrific throws. But he also chose not to run and move the chains on fourth down and made a game-changing mistake when he tossed a second-quarter pick-six. In addition, there were not enough plays by Aggie pass-catchers to help the quarterback out. You want to win in Tuscaloosa? Make the back shoulder catch on the game-opening drive for a touchdown and hang on to the fourth-down dump off. Don't want to find yourself in fourth-and-4? Turn 2nd-and-1 into a first down and don't lose three yards because multiple o-linemen get shoved into the backfield.

    It doesn't have to be Bama. It can be Florida or State. As Mike Leach has quickly learned, it can be anyone in the SEC. If the margin for error is as thin as it seems to be for the Aggies, the odds at times seem insurmountable.

    The time to empty the chamber is already upon us. Yes, even at 1-1 with the one loss coming at the hands of the best program in college football history.

    In a normal season, the September schedule would have afforded Fisher and his staff time to sort through this stuff and figure things out. That's obviously no longer the case, but it's also not the case for anyone in the conference. The time to empty the chamber is already upon us. Yes, even at 1-1 with the one loss coming at the hands of the best program in college football history.

    Fisher and his staff have done a remarkable job on the recruiting front. In a perfect world, you could let that talent marinate and work it in gradually as the season progressed, much like last year. Without forcing the issue a little sooner than you'd like this fall, things could very well get away from the Aggies.

    On defense, Donell Harris, Fadil Diggs, Antonio Doyle, Chris Russell, Edgerrin Cooper, Antonio Johnson and Brian George probably need to factor into a mix that is already featuring a lot of McKinnley Jackson and Andre White as new faces on a defense that has endured two of its worst days in 30 games (and really the only two truly 'bad' showings) under Mike Elko since last year's date with LSU. I'm sure they're not all ready, but that's a whole lot of names for a unit that could still use the speed and raw athleticism as an upgrade.

    On offense, the line looked better on Saturday afternoon, but there has to be a point along the way where one of your talented true freshmen or a youngster like Layden Robinson represents an upgrade somewhere among the starting five, or at least you'd think so.

    As I said last week, Fisher's offense is going to have to help the defense out and start scoring more points. They're not going to do that by grinding out several 11-play, 75-yard drives per game. Not against SEC defenses. With SEC offenses trending the way they currently are, big plays are a must, and outside of Ainias Smith and Jalen Wydermyer, the Ags simply aren't getting them in the passing game. Since lighting up Mississippi State and South Carolina last fall, the Ags have produced 13, 7, 24, 17 and 24 points. Let's see more of some of the receivers who made some tough grabs in traffic against Bama, but guys like Demond Demas, Moose Muhammad, Devon Achane and Dylan Wright all represented big recruiting wins because they're really talented skill guys. Fisher and Darrell Dickey need to make sure those guys are up to speed. The Ags must be getting contributions from a couple of names off of that list as soon as possible.

    Because of the lack of playmakers on offense (in a league loaded with game-changers) and speed on both sides of the ball, A&M will be exposed by several more opponents this season if the issue isn't addressed in the way of sweeping changes.

    The Tuscaloosa News-USA TODAY Sports

    Haynes King saw his first action Saturday and offered a glimpse of his potential.

    And that's also true at quarterback. Unpopular opinion, but I still don't think it's time to make a change at QB1. Not after seeing Mond look much more comfortable against Bama and making better decisions and throws than he did in his last two starts against far lesser opposition. There were the mistakes, however, and Kellen just hasn't provided the energy or spark this unit desperately needs. I'm not going to put too much stock into a garbage-time fourth-quarter drive that ended in an interception, but I've always liked what I've seen from Haynes King. I do think he has true star potential and flashed that 'juice' late in the game yesterday. Thing is, I don't think it's now, as in this weekend against the Florida Gators. But, as a head coach, you have to make the very tough decisions, and that's another reason why I say these next two weeks will be pivotal for Fisher and the Ags.

    We've seen it in recent seasons at places like Bama (Hurts and Tua), Clemson (Kelly Bryant and Trevor Lawrence), OU (Baker Mayfield and our own Trevor Knight) and even at A&M more times than I'd care to recount (but I will in this week's Offense In Review). It would be neither unfair, unprecedented nor unwarranted to enter the next couple of games with the intention of starting Mond and seeing if he can build on his week one to week two improvement while also giving King a pre-determined drive here or there, regardless of how the game is going. Kellen is mature, and he's a team guy who can handle it and still trot back out there focused on the task at hand. I also still believe he gives Fisher and the Aggies their best shot at knocking off the Gators on Saturday, but I also saw Reggie McNeal enter a game against No. 1 Oklahoma years ago after Dustin Long threw one interception too many, and the rest is history. You have to at least be prepared to win even the biggest of showdowns if an in-game change proves necessary.

    It's a little ironic that we're talking about all of this with Florida coming to Kyle Field. In year three, Mullen has the Gators at No. 3 in the country and certainly looking the part. They're also doing it with a Texan at quarterback. Kyle Trask didn't even start at Manvel High School (backing up Miami star D'Eriq King) and took over in Gainesville last year for the Gators following an injury to current Arkansas starter Feliepe Franks. He's gone from off-the-radar recruit to Heisman Trophy candidate in less than a year.

    Kim Klement/USA Today Sports

    The Aggies and Gators have played two SEC games decided in the fourth quarter.

    Mullen, hired in the same off-season as Fisher, inherited more talent and had the benefit of playing in the East (and avoiding four games against Bama and Clemson in his first two seasons at the helm). It's a pretty significant difference in terms of who walked into a tougher situation, but three years in, no one is going to research the backstory. All they see is No. 3 Florida and an A&M program in significant need of a noteworthy win. The last two times the Ags played the Gators, both games were decided late in the fourth quarter, with Will Muschamp outlasting Kevin Sumlin in A&M's SEC debut and Johnny Manziel's first collegiate game and then Tyrel Dodson's last-possession interception clinching an Aggie win in The Swamp in 2017.

    The winning quarterback that night? Kellen Mond.

    Mond will have to channel some Manziel magic, the moxie he displayed in the fourth quarter that night in Gainesville and play better than the week before in order for the Ags to have a chance to play with a Florida team that hasn't been overly impressive on defense to date. There's really no justifiable reason A&M and UF shouldn't be locked in a tight game in the fourth quarter at Kyle Field this weekend.

    If not, Fisher and the Aggies will find themselves facing a pretty desperate situation heading into Starkville against a State team that's impossible to get a read on at this point. The Bulldogs beat LSU in Baton Rouge and lost to Arkansas in front of the cowbells...just Mike Leach doing Mike Leach things. Considering the Ags' questions in the secondary and A&M's SEC history in Starkville, it's another daunting challenge. It's also a challenge that the Aggies should be expected to overcome. Sam Pittman did it at Arkansas in his second game as a head coach, after all.

    Along those same lines, for as improved as the Hogs, Bulldogs and Ole Miss Rebels look in year one under new leadership, Fisher has a two-year head start, fields a more talented roster and is at a place with much more in the way of resources.

    A lot of looking ahead here, but the big-picture point is that the Aggies are up against it just two games into a ten-game season. That's the thing about playing in the SEC: You can reclaim momentum just as quickly as you lost it. We know all about the challenge the next two weeks and the remainder of the 2020 slate presents, but there's a world of opportunity staring the Ags in the face, as well.

    That's the thing about playing in the SEC: You can reclaim momentum just as quickly as you lost it. We know all about the challenge the next two weeks and the remainder of the 2020 slate presents, but there's a world of opportunity staring the Ags in the face, as well.

    A&M isn't alone right now. LSU and Auburn (the Ags' last two opponents and a pair of pretty freaking big games standing out on the holiday horizon) plus Oklahoma and Texas are each already trying to figure out how things have gone so wrong so early. The Ags are currently somewhere in between, having beaten the worst team in the SEC and lost to the best one.

    The truth about this place we all hold so dear is that there's typically too much meddling and not enough patience when it comes to football. Texas A&M is also unmatched in the commitment department, and they made a (very) well-publicized long-term commitment to Fisher. Having high expectations in year three? That goes without saying, doesn't it? Perfectly reasonable, but I also think we're in a situation where, for the first time in as long as I've been doing this, the Aggies have essentially forced themselves to give a head coach plenty of time to build his program and turn the corner.

    Fisher is putting together an SEC title-contending roster in the younger classes, and I imagine we're going to see the number of '20 and '21 signees on the field and making plays in big moments increase by the week. What the Ags need now is an SEC title-contending mindset and culture. That's been slower in coming, and A&M got yet another up-close-and-personal lesson in what that looks like yesterday at Bryant-Denny.

    They'll see it again on Saturday at Kyle Field. Another opportunity to silence the critics and alter the entire outlook of the season. The status quo won't get it done, but with a few bold moves, Fisher and the Aggies have the potential to close yesterday's glaring gap in the span of a week.

     

     

  4. Spoiler

    Will Kellen Mond start every remaining game on the schedule?

    There are way too many variables here to answer that question. I don’t think ‘benching’ him is something being considered at this time, if that’s what you’re asking.

    He’s obviously got to play better and, more than anything else, protect the football or there will come a time when the Ags’ record and lack of offensive production (assuming Mond is playing poorly because if he’s playing well, Fisher won’t sit him ‘to prepare for the future’) converge to force a change.

    Number of snaps for Demas? Achane?

    No idea on the number of snaps, but I think we’ll see at least Demas in the first half of this one.

    Snaps will depend on how well the young guys do when they’re in there, especially in a game like Bama on the road and against that defense. They’ll both eventually be legitimate offensive weapons for the Ags (as in this year, and early this year), but I think Demas’ path is clearer because things are so wide open at the receiver position.

    Any indication from Bright yesterday/today of how concerned or disappointed coaches are regarding the offense?

    Nothing earth-shattering other than they were indeed pretty disappointed because the unit had looked much better during camp. And try — at least make an effort here, guys — to understand what that means rather than just saying, “Well, it’s practice.”

    These coaches are professionals that have done this their entire lives. They understand the difference better than anyone on this board (including any of the TA staff), so yes, when they feel good about how practices and camp have gone, they are basing it on the comparison to past camps (both as a unit and as far as individuals go), knowing what the units are going up against on the other side of the ball (in this case, a solid SEC defense) and generally as it pertains to how ready they think either side of the ball is to play well on Saturday against conference opposition. Based on all of that, the expectations for the A&M offense and Kellen were higher than what was shown on Saturday night.

    There’s a lot of work to do, obviously, but hopefully, the read folks on the inside had turns out to be a more accurate representation throughout this 10-game season than we saw in Game One.

    Did you see any improvement in the offensive line compared to the end of last season?

    Go check out the OIR segment. Yes, I saw some improvement. I’d recommend listening to Hunter on this week’s Liucciast, as well.

    There was some improvement, but I don’t think they were dominant by any means. I’m concerned heading into Saturday’s date with Bama for apparent reasons, but particularly on the inside. If there are any changes in the short-term future to the front five, I think you’d see it happen on the interior. They were not good enough for what the Ags have coming up in terms of SEC opposition.

    If Mond were to miss any time (whatever the reason), do you have any feel as to which backup QB would get the nod at this point? Any feedback from insiders at practice?

    I think — if for any reason that happened — you’d go with the veteran to start with (Calzada), but he’d have a very short leash. I think it would be more of “let the young guys play and see who rises to the occasion” type of thing. If Mond struggled enough to where there had to be a change or if he were injured, I think you’d really want to find out what both guys could do, and then make the decision.

    My answer: There isn’t a clear No. 2, and I don’t think there will be until either this spring (at which time I guess it would be No. 1) or if both see the field later this fall. It could also very well depend on the circumstances in the game or what have you. Maybe if it’s a tight game, it’s King, or if it’s the second half or something on Saturday or in a couple of weeks, it’s Calzada. I think that’s still TBD.

    Bigger picture... How much stock do you put in week 1? Do believe Mike Leach is taking over the SEC, or do you need to see more?

    Need to see a LOT more.

    LSU LIVED in man coverage and did so without Stingley. They also returned THREE starters on defense and one on offense. How good was that LSU offense (or bad) because Brennan and the Tigers did score in the 30s against the State defense.

    What about the Ole Miss/Florida game? How bad is Ole Miss defensively, and how good (or average) are they on offense because they put up 600 yards on UF’s defense? A lot still to be determined.

    For example (and I know what the Aggies looked like on offense against Vandy, and it’s a REAL concern), how about the retooled Auburn defense? They’ll play a BAD UGA offense one week after playing Terry Wilson and UK, where it looks like Wilson still can’t pass the football. We won’t know much about the Tigers’ defense, but I do think we’ll learn a lot more about their offense this Saturday against the Dawgs. A lot still to sort out.

    Does Mond’s lack of success with the deep ball thus far have a negative impact on the run game, or is that more on the offensive line?

    I think it certainly hurts it, along with some issues in the trenches. Still, if he were able to complete some shots down the field (and if the Ags would take a few more), it would help back the safeties up and (eventually) maybe open some things up not only for the running game but for the shallow to intermediate stuff over the middle (which he typically does a nice job of throwing).

    Billy, on a scale of 1 - 10, what is your level of confidence the Ags can go into Tuscaloosa and not only compete, but come out with a win? Or is Bama just that much better, and we have no chance?

    Low confidence on the win. I’ve actually liked the matchup more in previous years than this one.

    Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t ‘liked’ it as in thought it was favorable since about 2013, but I’ve liked it better than this particular one multiple times in the past. If they show up as the team I think they are, give the Ags a puncher’s chance. If last week’s team shows up, I put the odds at zero. I absolutely believe they’re better than they looked on Saturday night at Kyle Field.

    Think Clemons can break eight sacks this season?

    Possibly, but I also think we’re jumping ahead based on what he did against Oklahoma State and Vandy. Two pretty bad o-lines.

    I’ve been the one saying Micheal Clemons has made a significant improvement. Seeing him in the range of a half dozen sacks wouldn’t surprise me at all. With two already in the opener, I guess eight is in play. Man, if he could come out and play impactful football this weekend — win or lose — how freaking good would you feel about the Aggie defensive line the rest of the way? Especially as guys like McKinnley Jackson, Donell Harris and Fadil Diggs continue to work their way in and add juice while Clemons, DeMarvin Leal, Jayden Peevy, Bobby Brown and Co. continue to progress as upper-classmen and future NFLers.

    Most talented starting defensive unit since...?

    Great question. Probably the best since the Ags have been in the SEC, but there might have been one under Sumlin that had close to as much on the first team at least.

    Myles Garrett, Daeshon Hall, Armani Watts, Justin Evans, Brandon Williams, Donovan Wilson and Otaro Alaka as some of the names in 2016? Nah, this one has more across the board in the starting lineup and terms of depth. There might not be a No. 1 pick among the group, but I do think you’re going to see several of these guys go in Rounds 1-3. You probably have to go back to the Slocum days.

    Another one-off might have actually been under Fran when guys like Melvin Bullitt, Kellen Heard, Jordan Pugh, Michael Bennett, Johnny Jolly and Red Bryant led the charge. Whatever the answer, by next year, I’d confidently say, “Not since Slocum and probably going back before the turn of the century.” (That’s 1999 or further, but ‘turn of the century’ is much more dramatic).

    Who would you say are the “heart and soul” leaders of this team? With the senior captain opting out, it feels like that mantle has passed to Ainias Smith and Leon O’Neal.

    I think guys like Buddy Johnson, Ainias and DeMarvin are the first ones that come to mind. I like what I’ve seen and heard from Peevy and Clemons as having a role there, as well. Leon has undoubtedly impressed and could become one of those guys if he’s able to prove himself as an on-field alpha in the coming three weeks. He’ll be tested as much as anyone on the field by the passing attacks in these upcoming games.

    Any feedback from Bryce Foster‍ after he attended the game against Vandy?

    Brauny had some. He had a great time, as he always does when he comes here. I said on the ‘In-Home Visit’ podcast, at the end of the day, it’s the Aggie Network and the entire ‘Aggieland experience’ that might be A&M’s most significant advantage in this thing. That doesn’t mean the Ags are going to win out (could absolutely still go either way), but it’s certainly one of the biggest pluses on the Maroon & White’s side of the ledger. Who knows, maybe OU continues to struggle and, man, that vaunted OL didn’t look very good at all against a K-State defensive front that got pushed around by Arkansas State.

    How dominant is Bama’s defensive line this year?

    Not nearly as dominant as past Bama d-lines, but their linebacking corps is filthy. That defensive front still might be the best that Texas A&M faces this season, so keep in mind that it’s all relative when talking about the Tide.

    Will we be told which, if any, players test positive for COVID, or would such information breach health privacy rules?

    I don’t think you’ll be hearing that. What’s interesting is that you’ll just see guys not play and probably wonder why. Then, they’ll be back out there in a game or two. You might hear the coach say, “He was out with COVID, so we’re happy to have him back,” but I doubt it.

    There have been plenty of guys with it this summer, and none of that has ever come out in the way of specifics, right? The good news so far this week is that there doesn’t seem to have been any sort of spike following the weekend after the first game action. I haven’t heard anything concerning out of Vandy, either. Usually, it’s the Tuesday test though (as opposed to Sunday) that will start causing alarms to sound in terms of potential rising cases. I haven’t heard any of that, so that’s encouraging on that front.

    Any chance Jimbo hands over play-calling one day?

    I wouldn’t expect that, no. I don’t think that means he won’t, can’t or doesn’t want to adapt the scheme, however. I just think he’s always going to be the play-caller.

    Which player has the hottest seat to lose their starting job?

    Well, I think it goes without saying that Kellen cannot continue to turn the ball over. Beyond that, I don’t think his seat is as hot as many believe. Sure, another game with some bad turnovers on Saturday or in any of the coming games could force Fisher’s hand, but I think that’s about it at this juncture of the season.

    As far as other spots, I still think we could see something along the offensive line if things don’t go well this weekend. The reason why is that someone like Layden Robinson might be close enough to where you might decide to give him a look to at least see how he responds.

    Do you think the offensive gameplan for Vandy was an aberration? Not controlling the LOS and pass on first down was weird to see.

    I do think the Ags kept things pretty simple, and I do think you’ll see them attempt to establish the run earlier in SEC games moving forward, as it seems to be A&M’s best chance (at least to me). Shortening the game against other opponents will be more necessary than you thought it might be versus Vandy. On Saturday, it was actually the other way around.

    Everyone keeps talking about getting Demas, Moose and Achane involved, but one big takeaway for me is the lack of focus on trying to get Wydermyer the ball. I loved how Mullen focused on their TE in the Florida/Ole Miss game. Do you think we can see him get that kind of attention in games going forward?

    Yeah, I definitely think we’ll see Jalen get the ball more moving forward. Look, he dropped two passes.

    Since everyone likes to point to last year (Ainias) as proof that there is reason to meltdown and crucify the head coach over Demas not playing, let’s apply that same logic here. Look at Wydermyer last year and Jace the year before. I’d expect 85 to see his workload increase each week moving forward, but he also has to catch the ball, which he didn’t do on Saturday night.

    A key against Alabama would be the run game. Give your confidence meter on if that O line can get the run game going?

    I think for it to really get going, Jimbo and the offensive staff will have to craft an incredible game plan, and it’s going to have to revolve around #11.

    QB draws. Options to Smith on the perimeter or Kellen keeping it and turning up into the teeth of that frightening LB corps. Spiller inside or Kellen pulling it on zone reads. Improvised scrambles by the QB when he’s in trouble.

    I think it absolutely has to start there, and then, things can evolve off of that. You’re not going to be able to line up and pound away at them for first down after first down. That’s just not a realistic option, but as you said, they HAVE to be able to run the football. This isn’t Georgia last year, where you can hold that Bama offense to 16 points and hang around without having a positive net rushing total for the game.

    How much of the playbook was kept on under wraps on the Vandy game?

    Oh, they didn’t open it up by any stretch, especially considering that they barely topped 50 snaps.

    Can we expect to spread the field more with deeper routes to allow Ainias room underneath? Give him some space to make some plays?

    I think you absolutely have to. This isn’t going to work without stressing the defense vertically on at least some level.

    Impact of losing Cupp, Ausbon, and Hines?

    It’s significant, but I continue to say it’s the Baylor Cupp/Blake Smith loss that really hurts because I think either would have given the A&M offense a pretty lethal 1-2 punch at tight end. Smith was going to be a very effective blocker, and he’s an elite pass-catching weapon. As for Cupp, we know what he could bring to the table as a receiving threat. The fastest tight end on the roster by a longshot.

    Jhamon Ausbon was clearly a significant loss, but not one the team can’t overcome, especially if Demas develops. The runway has been cleared to some degree to allow that to happen sooner.

    As for Anthony Hines, it’s a depth hit. He may have started, and if not, he would have played a ton. You could have used him in T-Town this weekend and over the next three weeks from an experience standpoint along with Buddy and Aaron Hansford. Really though, the issue is the aggregate of what A&M lost. 

    Are there any teams on the schedule you feel/better worse about now after opening weekend?

    Better (and this doesn’t mean I’m predicting wins or losses on any of these): LSU, Tennessee

    Worse: Mississippi State

    That’s based on how those particular teams looked. I’m not ready to go all-in with my judgment on what I saw from the Ags as of yet. I really don’t think I’m going to do that until Florida in terms of how I see the rest of the season playing out.

    Is there a December signing day this year?

    As of now: Yes, there still is.

    I actually think it’s going to remain that way, though I kept expecting it to change. Now we’re close enough that I don’t see how they’d adjust. I’ll be more interested to see what they do with the late signing period. With no visits until at least the start of 2021, what would it hurt to move the February signing date back a month? Would have no bearing on the 2022 cycle whatsoever (well, very minimal). It’s absolutely what they should do.

    If A&M blew a 15-point lead to t.u. with 3 minutes left, AT HOME, how many days after would it take you to post the following week’s “Ask Liucci” thread?

    I feel like I’ve seen that movie before. Maybe not to Texas, but quite possibly to Tech. Auburn wasn’t much different. Then again, I saw it shake out in the Ags’ favor back in ‘98.

    But, no, that was really, really bad. As bad as I’ve ever seen. The perfect meltdown from a disgracefully bad Tech team. Texas and their fans are running around like they’re a bona fide top-five program. They just went to OT and needed a MIRACLE to beat the team that gave up 600 yards and held off a two-point conversion to beat HBU the week before. Some buffoons (not all) in the media are buying that the team or QB have accomplished anything to date. And next up? Another awful team in TCU.

    But, yeah, we’d probably have to cancel the question thread for a while. Good thing it wasn’t around in 2011.

    Where would this team finish with Trevor Knight at QB?

    Interesting question. When healthy — and he had a shoulder issue ENTERING the 2016 season — Knight always seemed to find a way to get it done. With this A&M defense and the fact that Trevor did get to where he was an effective deep-ball thrower, I’d feel decent about this team reaching that 7-3 plateau or even 8-2.

    The problem is that it’s tough to sit here and compare a lot of receivers who have literally never played with Josh Reynolds, Christian Kirk, Ricky Seals-Jones and even Damion Ratley, all four of whom are still in the NFL and two who are starting. Throw in Trayveon and Keith Ford (I think Spiller and Ainias could definitely prove comparable). I would say the OLs were similar, though I think Knight’s may have had London, Sutherland, McCoy and Gennessy if I’m not mistaken. That’s actually significantly better.

    This would be fun to do with all of the recent QBs.

    Billy, I’ll pray for you to have patience this week!

    I initially thought you said you’d ‘pay for you to have patience,’ and it was instantly my favorite question on this thread! I would say the same for everyone else (including myself!).

    Were you shocked at how awful the LSU defense was?

    Yes, but I was also very impressed by MSU’s receiving corps. Not at all surprised with Costello and Kylin Hill. Those two are going to be a problem, and I expected as much. It will be really interesting to see things exactly how good is the State offense, and how bad is the LSU defense? Is the UF offense that good or is the Ole Miss defense that bad? What about a Gator D that gave up nearly 600 yards or whatever it was to Ole Miss?

    Only time will tell, but I’ve maintained throughout the off-season that LSU’s fall-off was going to be significant.

    Have the cliff-jumpers been around from the very beginning, or is this a recent phenomenon? Do you think it’s just a percentage of humans that have that personality?

    I think Gabe stole this one. It’s in the audio answers. He and Dalton crossed wires here. They’ve been around from the beginning. Twitter has only made things exponentially worse.

     

  5. Spoiler

    • The bottom line: A&M's showing on offense in the season-opener was just plain bad. There's a lot to talk about, but turnovers were the primary culprit here. On four separate occasions, the Aggies were on the move and shot themselves in the foot by giving the ball back to Vandy, three times via turnover and once when they fumbled an exchange on what probably would have been a walk-in TD run by Kellen Mond. That's four drives the Ags were unable to finish off (and on one of those possessions, a penalty wiped out a catch-and-run to the Vandy goal line) and the inexcusable safety that occurred during a punt return is a fifth.

    All told, the Aggies did average a very healthy 6.8 yards per play and really started to move the ball in the third quarter, but turnovers kept the Maroon & White from ever really settling into a rhythm and kept them at just 55 snaps for the entire contest. The Ags hurt themselves badly here, which made it tough to get a real read on what they otherwise might have done over the course of four quarters on offense.

    • I talked a LOT about the Ags' offensive struggles in this week's cover story so I'll keep the deep dive short and sweet in this bullet point: A&M certainly didn't appear to adjust in the way of playing with more tempo, as the calls are still very slow in coming in from the sidelines. The Ags also didn't take many shots down the field, with no more than one or two over the top throws among Mond's 28 attempts. A&M didn't produce a pass play producing a 30-yard gain or more. Last season, the Ags ranked outside of the top-100 nationally in that department, and if there was one thing I would have wagered a lot of money that we were going to see, it was going to be more throws down the field in 2020. To be determined.

    Texas A&M Athletics

    Fisher is counting on his offense living up to the promise it showed in fall camp.

    Here's the thing about this year's A&M offense: There was a lot more excitement coming out of fall camp this year than last year and perhaps even in 2018. I know insiders were disappointed with the season-opening effort, but those same folks are still more optimistic than the media or fans have sounded all weekend (and rightfully so) and are confident the Aggie offense is going to be a productive and more dynamic unit this fall.

    • Let's dive into the lone offensive bright spot for a moment here. Isaiah Spiller and Ainias Smith combined for 195 yards from scrimmage on 25 touches. That's some real deal production right there and falls right in line with everything we were hearing throughout fall camp. Spiller was sensational with 117 yards on just 8 carries (more on that in a moment). His 57-yard run was easily the most important offensive play of the game, as it not only set up what turned out to be the game-winning score, it also opened things up for an A&M offense that did move the ball much better after halftime (only to have the turnovers derail said momentum down the stretch). The thing about the long Spiller jaunt is that it wasn't blocked very well and the big back should have probably been brought down in the backfield. He did a great job at the beginning to get out of trouble and at the end to step off about another 20 yards. That one and his game-icing TD at Ole Miss are the two best runs I've seen by #28.

    As for Ainias, the sophomore sensation turned in the Ags' second-most impressive play of the night when he took a perfectly-timed option pitch from Mond and showed game-changing burst through a crease and scooted 25 yards into the end zone. Smith finished with a healthy 51 yards on 10 carries and added 27 on a pair of catches for 78 total yards. He also got open for what should have been a fourth-quarter touchdown on back-to-back plays, but Mond's pass missed the mark on both occasions. Otherwise, we're talking about a 2-TD, 100-yard night from #0.

    This duo has a chance to be one of the SEC's best.

    • Speaking of, let's talk about Spiller's number of carries. Eight was most certainly NOT enough on Saturday night, especially when you consider the fact that Spiller ran the ball just twice in the first half. His first touch of the third went for 57. Over the Ags' next two possessions, he had two carries before again breaking loose, this time for 30 more yards. The 30-yard run came on the final play of the third quarter. Spiller ran the ball just twice on 15 fourth-quarter snaps, with one of those touches going for 24 more. Certainly makes you wonder what Isaiah could have done had the Ags ridden the hot hand and fed him the ball more down the stretch (or started the game by running he and Smith with more regularity).

    Craig Bisacre/Texas A&M Athletics

    Spiller piled up over 100 yards despite touching the ball only eight times.

    Then again, working on a passing game complete with an all-new receiving corps was important, too, so I'm not going to spend too much time stressing over under-using a running back considering Fisher's track record at Florida State and A&M — a track record that includes sticking it out with Spiller last year despite early fumble issues and watching him develop into a 900-yard true freshman. Word of advice to Spiller and those wringing their hands on twitter: You're an important part of a TEAM and your career is off to a very nice start. You also lead the SEC in rushing after one week of action and are in as proven a 'running back's offense' as there is in the SEC this side of Athens. Patience is key here.

    • I agree with Leone that the Ags' most effective offense is going to feature Wydermyer, Spiller and Smith on the field together. I've felt that way since it was clear they weren't going to have Baylor Cupp or Blake Smith available and really dating back to the bowl game when Ainias looked like a true playmaker, versatile chess piece and outstanding blocker. I also thought the Ags implementing more QB run game and zone read after halftime was the way to go. The Ags tried it, but Kellen's fumble and the botched 'pull' on the 4th down cost the Aggies two drives and at least one long QB run for a touchdown, a la Oklahoma State.

    • I've said the entire off-season that I want to see more of #11 in the designed running game. Mond ran it six times, including a couple of scrambles. I'd have zero problem seeing that number climb to 10-12, provided he can hang on to the football of course. Because of what he can do running the option (see Smith's first quarter TD run) and the fact that he's still probably the Ags' biggest home run threat out of the backfield (he's produced several 40-plus yard runs in his career), Mond is not only someone that opposing coordinators DO still legitimately fear in the run game but he'll also open things up for Smith on the edges and Spiller between the tackles.

    Mond ran the ball just once in the first half, and the Ags adjusted with a few more designed carries in the third and fourth quarters. Again, the fumbles cost them a couple of drives and what looked like it was going to be a game-icing house-call by the QB, so maybe we'd have seen more of it had Kellen and Jalen Preston not been loose with the pigskin. Need to see double-digit QB draws, options and zone reads on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, IMO. If there's one way Mond has had success against Bama, it's as a runner. He's run for 90 and 98 yards in the Ags' last two matchups with the Tide and actually gained over a 100 in each outing before sacks were deducted.

    If there's one way Mond has had success against Bama, it's as a runner. He's run for 90 and 98 yards in the Ags' last two matchups with the Tide and actually gained over a 100 in each outing before sacks were deducted.

    • As far as Kellen's season-opening performance is concerned, he wasn't very good, and that's four games in a row dating back to last season that the Aggie quarterback has struggled. Three fumbles, two lost and one that led to a turnover on downs. I'm not sure two of the three were technically 'his fault' but the fact of the matter is, Mond lost the football three times, continuing a maddening trend of costly mistakes by the quarterback and the Aggie offense. As a passer, Kellen's performance left a lot to be desired, as well (just like in the bowl game, at LSU and for most of the afternoon at Georgia last fall). He was hurt by drops early and then was inaccurate on several throws during the middle portions of the game.

    Considering the buzz the senior quarterback was generating coming out of fall camp, how he played against Vandy on Saturday night was disappointing to say the least. I know this sounds like a stretch, but I get the sense that Jimbo FIsher is going to lean more on what he saw throughout the month of September than what he watched on Saturday night and expect improved quarterback play from his senior moving forward, yes, even factoring in the giant step up in competition. He needs it, because with this offense as inexperienced as it is at receiver and far from dominant up front, the unit is going to go as far as Mond will take it. That was good for all of two touchdowns on Saturday night against the team picked to finish last in the SEC. For more of my thoughts on the quarterback position, check out this week's Cover.

    • Tough night at the office for sophomore tight end Jalen Wydermyer. He lost his grandmother early last week so was playing with a heavy heart to be sure. Two drops and a costly penalty that wiped out a long catch-and-run by Smith on a screen that would have set up the Ags a yard away from paydirt. Mond was sacked and fumbled a play later, costing the Ags much-needed first-half points. We've seen Jalen be a difference-maker, but with just two catches for 19 yards, Saturday wasn't a typical showing from #85.

    • Wydermyer's drops weren't the only ones. The young and inexperienced receivers got in on the action, as well, especially early in the game when they did their QB no favors. Once the unit settled down, however, they flashed some playmaking ability. Caleb Chapman got open in the third quarter and scored his first career touchdown from 17 yards out. He finished the game with 4 grabs for 40 yards. Fellow third-year vet Jalen Preston made a costly mistake while fighting for extra yards but caught four Mond passes for 39 yards and had a crucial third-down grab. I like the idea of getting the ball to the bigger, stronger wideout (Jalen is built more like a tailback) in space and letting him move the chains by running through tackles when matched one-on-one with smaller corners in space. Oklahoma State made a living doing this with Justin Blackmon back in the day.

    Chase Lane and Kam Brown both flashed the speed I talked about throughout fall camp and Kam moved the chains on a nice catch on perhaps Mond's best throw of the night following an even better route. He also nearly broke loose for what may have been a long scoring catch-and-run but was barely tripped up by the trailing defender. I think Brown is the kind of guy who can make things happen in the middle of the field if the Ags can get him the ball on the move.

    Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

    Kam Brown was one of several young receivers who saw meaningful time in the opener.

    Again, it's such a small sample size that it's hard to make any sweeping generalizations about this group. I think there were at least some encouraging signs on Saturday night.

    • One discouraging aspect of the opener was that we didn't see any of Demond Demas or Devon Achane. Two of the Ags' most heralded signees and two guys with speed and explosive home run talent to burn and neither factored in at all in the season-opener. I said throughout camp I wasn't expecting either to start, but it definitely sounded as if both were being made ready to see meaningful action.

    From my cover story but it's appropriate for this column, as well: Last year, fans wondered throughout the season why Ainias Smith didn’t see more action after starring in the Arkansas win. Last night, folks were left scratching their heads as to why true freshman sensation Demond Demas didn’t get so much as a snap despite the fact that the Aggies managed just two touchdowns. I get the fact that it was his first game and that Demas is nowhere close to being a reliable and trusted ‘every-down’ guy, but he’s got playmaking DNA. There hasn’t been nearly enough of that in Maroon & White since Trayveon Williams and Jace Sternberger left for the NFL. If not Saturday night, what changes for Demas that will make him ready for Bama, Florida or the Cowbells in Starkville? The Ags need playmakers and maybe a new face up front just to see if a slight shakeup results in a better product.

    I watched a ton of football this weekend and saw circus catches all over the country. The Ags need a couple of these guys to get the ball fed to them — including shots down the field in one-on-one coverage that Mond has simply GOT to complete — in order to find out who has that 'it' to their game and who doesn't. I suspect one of those will eventually (and hopefully sooner rather than later) be Demas, but most weren't particularly excited about Josh Reynolds until he got his shot and starting being targeted regularly.

    • So what about Mond and Spiller and the mesh point? Arkansas last year, Oklahoma State in the bowl game and again on Saturday night. At least three fumbled exchanges between the two in a season's worth of games. I'm honestly not sure whose fault the fourth-quarter, fourth-down fumble was, but Mond has taken all of the blame. That's a combination thing where the QB and RB have to be on the same page. It should be a given but, for whatever reason, that hasn't been the case. An easily correctable ball security issue that simply has to be corrected.

    • I thought the Aggie offensive line looked better but still not where it needs to be. Couple of caveats: They were far from dominant and were lining up against one of the worst defensive fronts they'll see this year. Now, in fairness, Vandy was playing for the first time under Ted Roof and the ‘Dores return virtually everyone up front, including a future NFLer Dayo Odeyingbo at end. All told, the Ags allowed just the one sack and three TFLs on more than 30 Mond dropbacks. There were a couple of additional pressures, but I didn't think pass protection was near as big an issue as it was at times last fall (even against the lesser teams on the schedule).

    Oddly enough, I'm going to say that where the Ags faltered up front was when it came to run blocking. I saw guys (especially on the interior) getting beaten physically more than I'd have liked but, all told, they paved the way for some explosive runs, which helped the Ags average 6.8 per carry while racking up just under 200 net yards on the ground. Not bad at all considering A&M ran just 55 plays on the night. Had the Aggies managed a little more time of possession (which was lost because of the turnovers), they probably would have been able to do a much better job of wearing Vandy down and imposing their will late.

    Still think things aren't as strong as they need to be on the interior and fear there might be a lot more backfield havoc over the next couple of weeks if the Ags don't shore things up between the tackles.

     

    • Hook 'Em 1
  6. Spoiler

    The Aggies won a conference game and their long-awaited season-opener last night, and that, regardless of the opponent, is something to feel good about.

    So what is it about this particular win that made it feel like three straight losses?

    As most of you have been doing with your friends and family, on TexAgs and social media since roughly the end of last night’s first quarter, let’s dive into that.

    Before we do, however, I think it’s important we tackle the side of this thing that no Aggie (and I mean damn near no one, based on everything I’ve read and heard) wants to discuss.

    I opened up with a pretty dramatic statement, partly for effect, but also because it rings very true.

    If the Aggies don’t play significantly better football than they did en route to a very lackluster, sloppy and uninspiring 17-12 win over Vanderbilt, they will lose their next three games. Then, barring a 6-0 sprint to the finish, season three of the Jimbo Fisher-era will mark a damaging step backward.

    Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

    Jimbo Fisher and his staff are facing a gauntlet of three straight dangerous SEC opponents after an uninspiring opener.

    None of that is false, but there’s also a dangerous amount of speculation in attempting to glean so much from one Saturday of SEC football. That’s especially so on the most unique and unprecedented season-opening weekend in college football history.

    For example, we’ve now seen the Big 12 for a couple of weeks. Texas Tech was a two-point conversion better than Houston Baptist (not Houston, but Houston Baptist!) while giving up 600-plus yards to the Huskies. On the same day, Kansas State was walloped at home by an Arkansas State team missing seven players due to COVID-19. This Saturday, KSU strolled into Norman and knocked off the No. 3 Sooners despite a COVID-ravaged secondary of their own, and it took a historic (and quite spectacular) Red Raider meltdown for Tech to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in Lubbock against No. 8 Texas.

    In the SEC, I know what I think I know, but calling Mississippi State an SEC title contender and K.J. Costello a Heisman contender after the Bulldogs stunned LSU sounds a lot like what the good folks on the SEC Network and around the country were saying about Kenny Hill and the Aggies after an unforgettable performance to open the 2014 season. As it turned out, South Carolina was anything but a legitimate top-10 team. Steve Spurrier resigned later that season, and the Aggies (who finished a pedestrian 7-5) turned into a pumpkin when the clock struck midnight in — you guessed it — Starkville.

    LSU didn’t look very good. Neither did Tennessee or South Carolina, as the two future Aggie opponents met to kick things off. Did Ole Miss’ offense look great against Florida or is the Gator defense suspect? Is Kyle Trask a Heisman contender (I have a hard time betting against that dude, to be honest)? Is Dan Mullen’s offense once again elite or are Lane Kiffin’s Rebels going to be a season-long sieve on D?

    These are the questions we do not have the answers to. Heck, we don’t even know if Vandy is the worst team in the SEC or not. Like most, I suspect that they are, but Arkansas, Missouri or even Kentucky and South Carolina could factor into the discussion.

    Had the Ags not self-destructed (three turnovers plus a fumbled fourth-down try that would have otherwise gone for six and a ridiculous safety surrendered on a punt return), last night’s game probably looks a whole hell of a lot like Georgia pulling away from Arkansas after trailing 7-5 at the half. Then how are we all feeling today?

    We’ve also done this enough to know that, even in a typical season, how a team looks in its season-opener is a pretty naive way to attempt to predict future success or failure.

    The answer? Only slightly different. DEFCON 2 instead of DEFCON 1, perhaps?

    Look, we’ve all been doing this too long to overlook entirely the fact that there was a pretty damn good chance that (like a lot of teams around the country) the Aggies could look pretty disjointed in the season-opener. We’ve also done this enough to know that, even in a typical season, how a team looks in its season-opener is a pretty naive way to attempt to predict future success or failure.

    I can remember too many times that I’ve chalked up wins. I watched Alabama open up at Jerryworld and, after watching them whitewash Michigan, walked out of there thinking, “This SEC is no joke...the Aggies and their freshman quarterback are going to have zero chance in Tuscaloosa.” Like everyone else around the country, I also remember thinking the Ags were a bonafide playoff contender post-South Carolina in ’14 and felt pretty damn good about A&M’s chances to win ten games after they walloped Arizona State a year later in Houston.

    When it comes to college football ’snap judgments’ in 2020, a lot of folks are going to be embarrassingly wrong this fall. But here’s the reality as it pertains to the Aggies and last night’s flirtation with absolute disaster: Is it really a snap judgment if we’re talking about a lot of the same issues that held this team back throughout last season and even at times during Jimbo’s otherwise very encouraging first year in College Station?

    The answer is no.

    To characterize A&M needing a pair of big defensive stops in the fourth quarter to escape an upset of cataclysmic proportion as “concerning” would be putting it mildly.

    It’s almost entirely because the things that kept the Aggies from pulling away from a significantly inferior team looked all too familiar. The Aggies looked bad in Game One, which wouldn’t be nearly as big an issue had the schedule lined up Abilene Christian, Colorado, North Texas and Arkansas to open up the season.

    The all-SEC slate changed all of that. Instead, the next three weeks include No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Florida and No. 16 (with a bullet) Mississippi State. We’re talking about a pair of national title contenders, the two teams most likely to match up in Atlanta in mid-December and three offenses capable of putting up a lot of points every Saturday.

    Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

    The Kyle Trask-led Gators are one of three potent offenses the Aggies will face over the next three weeks.

    The combination of the Ags not looking at all prepared for the upcoming challenge (against Vandy, no less) and the fact that A&M looked about as similar as the 2019 edition as the current schedule does is why the general tone from the 12th Man last night and into today has been one of real alarm.

    Here’s hoping Fisher, the A&M coaches and the guys inside the Aggie locker room aren’t as calm and poised as they appeared last night’s post-game presser.

    What the Aggies need right now in the worst way is a Sean Porter-esque demolishing of the locker room following the season-opening, field goal loss to Florida to open up the magical 2012 campaign. The reason Porter — a senior leader — lost it and was so upset was because the Aggies lost to the Gators the same way they dropped most of their games in the Big 12 the year prior, via a blown halftime lead.

    Enough was enough, and the rest was history. I’m not saying a single-player erupting is the answer, and it’s certainly not as common that you’re going to get that following a win. Still, collectively, Fisher, his coaches and the A&M players have to say, “Enough is enough.” In other words, “This isn’t good enough.” As Olin wrote, sugarcoat it all you want to the media, but inside the walls of the Bright Complex, this needs to be a pretty intense and uncomfortable week.

    It’s evident that the Aggies’ biggest issues lie on offense. Look, Vandy is a much better defensive team than they are on offense. After all, the ‘Dores have typically been very solid on that side of the ball under Derek Mason. They returned nine starters from last season and have a proven DC in newly-hired Ted Roof. However, we’re not talking about one game with an otherwise inferior opponent throwing unexpected looks at you.

    The Ags’ issues on offense date back to last fall. Sure, it was easy to chalk up a brutal day at the office (zero rushing yards and just 3 points through three quarters) in Athens to Georgia’s stout defensive front. LSU was an absolute buzzsaw down the stretch, stifling OU and Georgia in the two games after holding the Ags to a single touchdown. The Aggies have played two games since then, managing a combined 41 points against Oklahoma State and Vanderbilt — not to be confused with the Dawgs or Bayou Bengals (or Bama or Florida, for that matter). Entering a new season, it was fair to expect more, to walk out of the season-opener a little more hopeful and a little less hopeless.

    Craig Bisacre/Texas A&M Athletics

    Running backs Isaiah Spiller and Ainias Smith pulled their weight in the opener.

    After all, Fisher and the Aggies returned a senior quarterback entering year three in the system and started four seniors (all returning starters) up front. Sure, there was a lot of inexperience at wide receiver, but Dameyune Craig had a ton of options to work with, plus a couple of explosive new additions in Demond Demas and Devon Achane. Throw in a legit All-SEC weapon at tight end and two talented running backs (Isaiah Spiller and Ainias Smith did produce nearly 200 yards of offense last night as the lone offensive bright spots), and you had plenty of reasons for optimism.

    Instead, we saw the same slow pace, one that seemed to play right into Vandy’s ‘shorten the game’ plan, and lack of offensive firepower. For the fourth game in a row, A&M’s passing attack struck no fear into an opponent, with the ‘Dores routinely playing with ten men within 8-10 yards of the line of scrimmage, practically daring Kellen Mond to, first, get enough protection and, then, connect on a downfield shot. The Ags couldn't take advantage and, just like in last year's bowl game, were able to wear down a physically overmatched opponent in the second half and pop some long runs.

    Considering the teams on the 2020 schedule, many of which have recently dramatically changed the way they play offense and/or gotten more out of the quarterback position, there’s no way around the fact that the Aggies are going to have to figure out a way to score points and do so in a hurry. Alabama, Florida (the Gators put up a fifty burger in Oxford), The Pirate, LSU, Auburn (the Tigers looked more potent with Chad Morris calling the offensive shots) and even Ole Miss look quite capable on the offensive end.

    Watching the Ags muddle through four sloppy quarters last night, it felt similar to what OU is dealing with on defense...more of the same.

    The Aggies are balanced, and there is no problem with winning SEC games behind a powerful ground game, ball control, some big plays and great defense. Heck, it worked pretty well throughout Fisher’s first year in Aggieland, when A&M was a terrible finish at Auburn away from a 10-win season. Jimbo won a hell of a lot of games in Tallahassee employing that same strategy. It eventually all came together, and the ‘Noles put one of college football’s most unstoppable offenses on the field in 2013 and most of ’14, winning nearly 30 straight games and a natty.

    The problem the Ags face today is, even though we’re all of four quarters into the season, they’re running out of time.

    The problem the Ags face today is, even though we’re all of four quarters into the season, they’re running out of time.

    Fisher knows a backslide this fall won’t bode well for program momentum, and now a senior, Mond has no excuse not to play better football. On Saturday night, the embattled quarterback lost two fumbles and coughed it up a third time on fourth down. The Aggies recovered, but instead of a game-icing touchdown run by the quarterback, Vandy took over on downs with a chance to win the game. Kellen also missed back-to-back TD passes to Ainias Smith early in the fourth, when either throw could have put the game on ice.

    In his last three games, Kellen has completed barely 50 percent of his passes, averaging just 125 yards per game through the air, and has accounted for three total touchdowns against seven turnovers. As the most experienced member of the A&M offense and playing in a Fisher system that has produced four first-round draft picks, that’s simply not getting it done.

    Do I think the senior needs to be replaced and the Ags start fresh? No. I know that’s not popular sentiment right now, but I don’t think throwing Zach Calzada or true freshman Haynes King out there with Bama, Florida and State on deck is the way to go by any stretch of the imagination. However, I think that Kellen has to elevate his game to the expected level, or what happens after October will feel like it’s much more about the future than it is the present.

    Another unpopular commentary on Mond is that he was coming off the best fall camp of his career. That upsets some to the point that they feel the need to make disgusting, cowardly comments aimed at yours truly anonymously and earn the subsequent lifelong ban from TexAgs, but by all accounts (from Fisher on down), that was absolutely the case. The problem is that #11 will have to prove he can get it done on Saturday at the same level because this offense can only go as far as Mond takes it this year. That’s true whether it’s as a passer or runner.

    The preference is as a passer, but Kellen has sure seemed like a more dangerous running threat the past two times the Ags have taken the field. Heading into this season, Costello left Stanford as a grad transfer, and Kyle Trask joined Mond in the preseason All-SEC quarterback conversation. Both exited week one as darkhorse Heisman candidates after leading their team to SEC road wins. Kellen has to play at a much higher level, and the concern is that we saw so many of the same mistakes last night that held him back as a junior.

    Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

    Kellen Mond fumbled three times in the opener, a problem he must solve quickly.

    The same can be said about the offensive line and some other perplexing elements of the offense, as well. There were undoubtedly times when Mond had a very clean pocket and time to throw against Vandy. However, Mond’s first fumble resulted from backside pressure, and the Aggie blockers were anything but dominant against one of the worst defenses they’ll face this fall.

    The group of young receivers produced a few nice grabs and a couple of clutch plays (Caleb Chapman’s first career touchdown and chain-moving snags by Kam Brown and Jalen Preston). Still, drops were again a frustration, and a potential game-changer was once again conspicuously absent from the gameplan.

    Last year, fans wondered throughout the season why Ainias Smith didn’t see more action after starring in the Arkansas win. Last night, folks were left scratching their heads as to why true freshman sensation Demond Demas didn’t get so much as a snap despite the fact that the Aggies managed just two touchdowns. I get the fact that it was his first game and that Demas is nowhere close to being a reliable and trusted ‘every-down’ guy, but he’s got playmaking DNA. There hasn’t been nearly enough of that in Maroon & White since Trayveon Williams and Jace Sternberger left for the NFL. If not Saturday night, what changes for Demas that will make him ready for Bama, Florida or the Cowbells in Starkville? The Ags need playmakers and maybe a new face up front just to see if a slight shakeup results in a better product.

    I know it didn’t seem like it last night, but if the Ags don’t turn the ball over three times and give up a fourth possession on the botched punt return, they pull away and win pretty comfortably, perhaps even generating some offensive rhythm along the way. No, it wouldn’t have been pretty, but the gap between where the Ags are and where they need to go might feel a hell of a lot less like the Grand Canyon. Again, if the Ags’ “rebound” (I feel dirty saying that after a win, but there’s no denying the fact that the ‘teams make their biggest improvement from week one to week two’ cliche has to ring true for TAMU), they’re going to win games this fall on the strength of their ground game, big plays from guys like Smith, whichever receivers emerge and Wydermyer in the passing game, protecting the football and defense.

    Craig Bisacre/Texas A&M Athletics

    Mike Elko’s Aggie defense played inspired ball down the stretch to seal the Texas A&M victory.

    On Saturday night, the Ags didn’t check many of those boxes, but the defense certainly showed signs of being a pretty salty unit. Look, Mike Elko’s unit lined up against a patchwork offensive line and a true freshman quarterback, so tempering expectations would be wise. However, Vandy played things perfectly in terms of being very conservative and patient. The Aggies helped make things exponentially easier by never making the ‘Dores play catch-up on the scoreboard and gifting them extra possessions. Nevertheless, the A&M defensive line dominated and frequently reset the line of scrimmage (10 tackles for loss on 65 snaps), forced a pair of turnovers inside the 20-yard line and came up with a couple of game-saving fourth-quarter stops.

    Vandy managed just a TD and a field goal (and the score required a perfect strike to the corner of the end zone) on 11 possessions and generated just 3.8 yards per play. The defense gave up too many third-down conversions (seven on 17 attempts) and hurt their get-off-the-field cause too often, but there was a lot to like as far as A&M’s defensive debut is concerned. Demani Richardson, DeMarvin Leal, Buddy Johnson and a pair of veterans hungry for a breakout — Leon O’Neal and Micheal Clemons (like Ainias, they were fall camp standouts who did bring their A-game to Kyle Field on Saturday) — all looked good. As a whole, the unit looked noticeably faster, and Elko’s troops played with supreme confidence in the fourth quarter when a single breakdown would likely have cost the Ags the game.

    Thank goodness for a few key stops and first downs with the game on the line, or this column would read much differently today. Even on D, the Aggies will need to play much better, cleaner and more focused football, and the margin for error on offense appears frustratingly thin. If what we have to go on is the way the Ags played against Vanderbilt or what Fisher reiterated following the narrow season-opening win (that Mond and the Aggie offense operated much more efficiently throughout fall camp), my advice would be to hope the head coach is right, because whatever revised preseason A&M had to get ready for the 2020 gauntlet is officially over.

     

    • Haha 1
  7. 1 hour ago, Pato del Muerto said:

    Stay with me here. 
     

    karen is jimbo’s internet fan hype man. But now that it’s season 3, he has activated her to turn on him and drive approval downward so that he can be done with aggy after 4 or 5 seasons, and take their 75 mil, and do studio work at sec network. 

    Guess you've never heard him talk. 

  8. Spoiler

    First receiver this season to have a 100-yard game?

    This is just asking me to guess because it could literally be any of about a half dozen wideouts. I think the Ags spread it around a lot in game one, and the sledding will be very tough in game two at Bama. My prediction is the first 100-yard receiving game happens against a tough Florida defense at Kyle Field. I’ll go with Demond Demas making that his breakout performance.

    There have been a ton of injuries across all sports (NFL, soccer, baseball, basketball), and some think it’s because of the lack of true ramp-up time. Do you think that has a chance to carry over to college football? We’re going straight into an SEC schedule and don’t have ramp-up games early, but the SEC also extended the start of the season, which might help.

    We’ll see. It’s certainly a concern, but I also think you make a good point that college football has a chance to avoid those pitfalls with a longer camp and easing into things (These athletes have also been working out with their S&C coaches since the start of June). Baseball didn’t have that. The NFL lost their entire off-season, but I do think diving straight into an SEC schedule will be an interesting case study for the ‘add a ninth conference game’ or ‘do away with the non-conference’ crowds.

    Top 3 college games you’re looking forward to the most this weekend (other than A&M)?

    Mississippi State at LSU, Kentucky at Auburn, Army at Cincinnati and a fourth — maybe this is just nostalgia talking — is FSU/Miami.

    If/when Elko becomes head coach somewhere else, any names for DC that you’d like to see Jimbo go after?

    I feel like I get asked this every week.

    I think Elko is building a monster in College Station, and he knows it. He’s not in a rush to race out, and I think it will have to be the ideal first head coaching gig. He’ll make sure he handpicks the right one. That could be two, three, four years from now. I think speculating would be a waste of energy. We don’t know who the best of the best will be at that time.

    Today? I like Clark Lea at Notre Dame (former Elko assistant). Pete Golding at Bama. I still think Todd Grantham is good at UF, and I like Jim Leonhard at Wisconsin. Here’s the thing: There’s no telling where guys like Pat Narduzzi, Will Muschamp or even Jeremy Pruitt would be if Elko hangs around for another 3-4 seasons (which would only be 5-6 total). I think he knows he’ll soon have an elite defense at A&M, and his stock will only climb the longer he sticks around.

    What are your SEC Week 1 Pick’ Ems?

    I like Kentucky to cover at Auburn, Tennessee to cover at South Carolina, Ole Miss to play Florida surprisingly close but lose. Bama, A&M and UGA cruise. Mississippi State makes things interesting and covers in Baton Rouge.

    Who are YOU most excited to see play on Saturday?

    So many to choose from, but if I had to narrow it down, I’d say Ainias, DeMarvin and the three in the secondary: Jaylon Jones, Brian George and Erick Young.

    Who is a sorrier human of a head coach: Ed O or Tom Herman?

    I don’t know about sorry humans, but you guys know I’ve heard enough over the years to know that I’m not a fan of Tom Herman at all. I think he’s as disingenuous as they come.

    Does Demas get flagged for a backflip after catching his first TD Saturday??

    I’d like to see him at least wait until he’s on the sideline to do it, but that might be wishful thinking.

    Would Jimbo use Ainias Smith in a WR and RB role similar to Florida using Percy Harvin?

    Oh, I think he’s definitely going to line up as both most Saturdays but a lot more as a running back, where he’ll be used in the run and pass games.

    No, I’m not advocating for a return of the rivalry, but brutally honest question: If we played the sips on a neutral field on Saturday, who wins and why?

    The A&M defensive line would absolutely dominate the Horns when Texas had the ball, and I believe you’d see A&M run the ball with success against the Texas defense. When the Aggies have done both of those things since Jimbo arrived in Aggieland, they’ve won.

    Ehlinger is the playmaker who would cause big-time problems with his ability to keep plays and drives alive, but he and Ossai are about all that scare you in Burnt Orange.

    I’d like to see the teams meet in a bowl this year because I think it would be highly competitive, but let’s not get it twisted: Texas is far from elite, and the Ags have lost to two ‘non-elite’ teams in two years under Jimbo, both on the road in 2018 in very close games (Auburn and Mississippi State).

    I think they’d just grind the Horns down over four quarters, but who knows how this year will go. Honestly, we know very little about either squad. Texas was LUCKY to crack .500 in the lowly Big 12 last year, and A&M didn’t beat anyone of note in ’19. Let’s see if A&M can score a couple (or three) impressive wins this fall and if Texas can avoid being overrated and upset while navigating a far inferior schedule.

    How much do you think home-field advantage will be minimized due to fan capacity COVID limits?

    Looking ahead to next week at Bama in regards to my question. One stat I saw is Mond is 3-6 on the road as a starter, and the hostile environments not being quite as hostile can only help us.

    I think it’s going to be diminished greatly, but I also think the home-field advantage will still exist on some level based on what I’ve seen so far in the NFL and colleges.

    Agree with the second part. Mond and the Aggies both have to be better on the road. Then again, those six losses were Mississippi State at night with three first-rounders on that defense, at Auburn in a last-second game, at No. 3 UGA in a game decided in the final few minutes, at national champion LSU, at national runner-up and defending champ Clemson and at defending champ and national runner-up Bama in 2018.

    Four of those six came on the home field of teams that finished those seasons with two national titles, two runner-up finishes and a combined record of — get ready for this — 55-4.

    The one that sticks out to me is the one you needed to get at Auburn. No reason to lose that game, and Mond’s costly interception combined with terrible defense in the closing two possessions were at the center of the Tiger comeback. That’s the one you wish you had back. A 4-5 mark considering who four of those losses were to is a lot more understandable.

    Look, at some point, the Ags (hopefully, it’s this year with Kellen) need to break through and win road games that you’re not supposed to win on the climb to the top. It’s part of the ascent that you can skip as a program. There’s not much of a reason to have expected Kellen or the Aggies to have won four of those games when you consider the group was 55-4 overall in the years the Ags dropped those games, especially when you consider three of those four losses came at the hands of teams within that same group. In other words, it’s more like 55-1 in 56 games - absolutely insane path the Ags have had to navigate.

    Auburn is the problem, IMO. Those are the only two games in two seasons I look back on and wish the Ags would have been able to run those back.

    I have concerns that if McCollum and Matthews can’t stay healthy, the whole line will struggle again and therefore Mond and the offense. Do you think a case can be made that the most important offensive player to make the offense go this year is McCollum?

    A case can be made there, yes. It’s incredibly important, not just for the consistent execution of the snap (I’m sure many of you understand this, but the QB even having to take his eyes off of the field to make sure he catches consistently errant snaps throws off the timing of everything, as do high snaps in the zone-read game. We’ve seen a lot of that in recent seasons, unfortunately).

    Also, a center getting whipped at the point of attack by an elite SEC interior defensive lineman? The play is over before it starts, and not even Pat Mahomes has a shot to make something out of that disaster. The good news is Ryan has had a nice camp and has returned from injury. He looks healthy entering the season-opener. The next step will be an improved Luke Matthews getting back to game speed as he had dealt with an injury that cost him a couple of weeks as well.

    If you had to pick one A&M player to clone and make a football team of eleven guys, who would it be? Past or present. I heard this on Hard Knocks and some guys on the Chargers said Derwin James. I’m curious who Jimbo would pick out of all the guys he’s coached.

    Well, Jimbo would probably say Derwin James since he was one of Fisher’s best players at FSU. I have heard Jimbo and others who were at FSU with him make the comparison to James and Demani Richardson, who could eventually have a first-round grade in his future if he keeps improving over the next couple of seasons.

    For me, I’d say Demani is on the very short list, but I’d go with DeMarvin or Ainias on this current team.

    Past or present? Some names that come to mind are Johnny, Dat, Mike Evans, Reggie Brown, Rodney Thomas, Coryatt, Bucky, Richmond Webb, Ray Mickens... It’s a long list, but I think when you ask that you’re talking about talent and the intangibles. Those guys had championship DNA and incredible physical gifts.

    Is Coach G’s son still on the team? He was punting, wasn’t he?

    Yes, he’s still on the squad. If you check out the video of all of the Aggie parents (part two, I believe), you’ll see the Aggie soccer legend with a cameo at the end.

    Who is your favorite Texas Country music artist and why?

    Does Cody Johnson count? He’s a throwback, IMO, and I think his style takes me back to that late-80s/90s country I grew up on. I’ve always been a big fan of Randy’s voice and songs, and I’ve known guys like Roger Creager and Casey Donahew for a long time (I’ve actually known Casey since he was in high school back in Burleson through Stacy Sykora, who was a dear family friend).

    Right now, it’s probably Parker McCollum for me. Good friend, and as Superfan Seth McKinney would tell you, his music is pretty kick ass. Josh Abbott is up there near the top for me too. Going back to more of when I was in college and before there was technically anything called ‘Texas country’, I loved Cross Canadian and Pat Green.

    I believe a large part of this year’s success will depend on how much our O-line (and our running back’s ability to pass protect) has improved over the 2019 season. If their performance against Vandy is less than impressive, on a scale of 1 to 10, how concerned will you be regarding the team’s prospects going forward? Thanks for doing this.

    Anias Smith will remind you of Trayveon Williams with his pass protection as a running back...and he’s much further along than Trayveon was at the same age.

    As for the OL, I’d be concerned if they had too many busts against Vandy, but what would concern me more is if they were off-balance and whipped physically...especially quickly. Last year, we saw that all too often, even against lesser opponents. I’m not expecting them to be perfect in terms of picking everything thrown at them up...especially from a Vandy defense whose entire goal will be to confuse and take ‘boom or bust’ chances in the front seven. That type of stuff is going to happen in a season-opener against a defense led by a quality, veteran DC in Ted Roof with not much to lose. I’m not saying it needs to happen often, but I’m way more concerned with blockers getting beaten physically in one-on-one situations. That would be a concerning sign.

    First play prediction!

    Maybe a zone-read keeper by Mond to the house, a la NC State?

    Hmmm...if I’m going prediction, I’ll keep it conservative and say a read handoff to Spiller for six yards.

    Not a common question, but how have you been during these times? Sometimes the head honcho needs a little check-up himself. Thank you for the amazing work here, and I love what you, Gabe, Braunny, Jason and the rest of the staff do for us Ags. Gig Em Ags

    I really appreciate you asking.

    I appreciate you noticing the hard work of the entire team. It’s been a grind this off-season, but I feel like everyone on the content side has really stepped up and made sure we can bring you the best considering the circumstances and uncertainty. It’s been fun.

    As for me, it hasn’t been the easiest stretch. You drop a global pandemic in the lap of a damn lifelong hypochondriac (those who know me well have always had fun with that, and I appreciate the deserved ribbing), and it kind of takes you out of your game on the social side of things. However, I have just adjusted and make the most of it, so no complaints here. I did that and have actually been great sans some FOMO in terms of trips and things like that. Like everyone, I’m ready to see things normalize, and I think the country getting back as close to normal as it can is nothing but a good thing. That’s why sports returning has been so good to see, IMO.

    Who starts at WR this weekend?

    I’ll go with Kam Brown as two of the three for sure. The two others I think we’ll see out there from the outset (if not the very first play) are Chase Lane and Jalen Preston.

    How do you think the CB playing time will work itself out both this weekend and throughout the season? Basically, when will we see Jaylon Jones unleashed?

    I’d be surprised if he didn’t start this Saturday. I’m expecting it. if not, he’ll play as much as any of the Aggie corners in game one. Jaylon and Brian George will join Myles Jones as the Ags’ three best at the position very quickly (and probably already are).

    No question, just a big THANKS for doing these. As far as concert videos Foreigner Rockin’ At The Ryman won’t disappoint.

    You’re welcome! Okay, I’m going to check that one out ASAP. Can’t go wrong with Foreigner.

    What is Blumrick’s upside at TE (comparisons welcome)? Prediction on his productivity this season.

    Not sure. I don’t want folks to get too hyped up about a guy who has been there for a couple of weeks. He’s not one of those really-big-QB ‘s-turned-tight ends that we’ve seen end up climbing to the next level, but he’s a very unique threat in the passing game. He’s a ball-playing dude, and if he can get used to things and see a couple of touches, I think Connor could be a matchup problem because of his height, speed and athleticism. He could move the chains for the Ags a few times this fall. I think the key will be opportunities and getting a few touches in these first couple of games. Otherwise, you could be talking about a “providing much-needed depth” situation.

    Are the chances of getting Camar Wheaton‍ next to 0%?

    Yes. I think that ship sailed a while back. He was just never overly interested in A&M. It happens sometimes. You hate to see it at a need position with a top-five player, but the Ags have been on the other side of that plenty since Fisher arrived to. This is the exception and not the rule, though. Landing a high-end back feels pretty important this cycle.

    Date and approximate time of first Texags meltdown of this season

    Can I just enjoy the start of football season? Please?!?!?!?

    Will this be the lowest attended game in Kyle Field history?

    Hadn’t thought about that. Maybe Brad Marquardt can enlighten us, though he rarely acknowledges TexAgs.

    How strong do you think this Vandy D will be?

    I don’t think it’ll be strong, but I think it’s going to be respectable.

    The Ags will probably wear them down either way (especially with a lot of three-and-outs and short Vandy drives produced by Elko’s defense), but what you’d like to see is A&M move the ball and score points early. That’s not a sure thing against a unit that will be well-coached and return a lot of experience, but I do think this is still going to be one of the two worst defenses the Ags face this season.

    Outside of the ‘first game after a wild off-season’ aspect, there’s no reason not to expect the Aggies to have at least a solid showing offensively. All I’ll caution here is that there WILL be an adjustment period once the live bullets start flying around and we’re playing actual football again. That’s why you’re better off opening with Vandy than someone like MIssissippi State or even South Carolina.

    Have you seen “The Social Dilemma” on Netflix? If so, what are your thoughts on it?

    Planning to watch it tonight if I get done with the ‘Key Matchups’ in time! I’ve heard it’s pretty damn interesting.

    Any new Offensive schemes or wrinkles that you know of coming from Jimbo and Dickey?

    See above. Nothing revolutionary, but as the season goes on, probably more QB run game, more attacking the deeper parts of the field and a lot more two backs.

    Travon Fuller. Did you see that coming?

    No. And I’m still fully expecting we’ll see Jaylon Jones as the Ags’ starting corner on Saturday, but it is worth noting that Fuller has stuck it out and has looked as good as he has in Maroon & White throughout fall camp. He will help on special teams and could be a guy who finds a way to contribute on D this year, much like Devin Morris did last season.

    With that said, I tried to caution you all ahead of time that I felt like many on the board were putting way too much stock in awaiting ‘the depth chart’. I cautioned that it would be unwise to study it too closely. I expect your starters — or at least the guys who play the most at the respective spots — will be Jones at corner and Erick Young at nickel.

    DeMarvin Leal is the team’s best defensive lineman in case the depth chart had you wondering.

    Do you think new coaches and personnel will struggle this year more than years before due to the circumstances? It seems like returning coaches with returning impact starters (like a qb) have an even bigger advantage than normal.

    I absolutely think that could (and should) be an advantage for the Aggies. Mond, a veteran OL and both coordinators and systems intact should make a world of difference, something that should reveal itself as the season wears on.

    You have one punt to help hold a lead late in the game and have to pick a past Aggie punter.........you go with Lechler, Mann or __________?

    I still go with Lechler. Hands down. Not even a question. I think of games like on the road at Colorado, against Iowa State up there in a narrow win, the booming punt that Missouri fumbled that turned that game during the ’98 title run and him quite possibly being the MVP of the Bonfire Game.

    Mann was incredible, but I’ve still not seen a punter as impactful as Lechler in Maroon & White and maybe not in NFL history, either.

    Will punting be a strength this season for the Ags?

    Big shoes to fill (pun intended) with Braden Mann leaving, but Nik C has a big-time leg and had a very steady fall camp. I think they feel very good about where things stand with him stepping in and starting for the first time.

    Do you have a “must do” or “must have” superstition prior to the start of a game? Like lucky socks or a must touch sign in the stadium?

    Nah, I’ve had a couple of ‘game outfits’ that I thought I’d reproduce (the 2012 Bama attire), and I’ve tried to stick with a stadium entrance (as in which gate I go in) that I thought worked, but shocker, that’s never panned out as guaranteeing an Aggie win, so I gave up on those. Call it BASS, I suppose. 

    That’s ‘Battered Aggie Superstition Syndrome’ in case you didn’t figure it out.

    Did the late opt-out impact the chemistry of the team?

    I don’t think it did at all. May have helped it, who knows? Hines had some very good friends on the team, but at this point, the guys know that some aren’t going to ride it out to the finish line with them. They truly want the guys who want to be in there in that locker room with them. I think that they simply moved on, and it was indeed a ‘next man up’ type of thing.

    If you had to pick between Demas or Waddle coming out of HS, who would you take and why?

    Either? Both? That’s tough to say.

    Waddle had more polish. Demas has top-five overall pick potential. Both are game-changers. Waddle more so in the return game, where he’s really damn special.

    If you’re talking about someone being the absolute alpha of a receiving corps, I might say it would eventually be Demond once he adds polish to his game. Waddle had the benefit of Tua and a WR corps that included THREE other first-round picks. Demas won’t have that luxury, so you’re not going to be making an apples-to-apples comparison. Again, imagine if Waddle was on this squad, and Demas was coming in to play alongside him.

    Good question. Tough question. Both are special, but Waddle was more ready-made to step in, especially in a stacked offense like Bama’s.

    What do you expect from Vandy on Saturday?

    Solid defense but one that could wear down as the game progresses, and an offense that will try to play very fast and tire the Aggies out. That seems like their only option and a decent enough strategy considering how overmatched they will probably be up front and the bizarro offseason’s possible effects on conditioning. I think they’ll have more game than many expect but not have enough gas to hang around.

    Can I join your pre-game party?

    Normally, yes. I don’t think I’m going to be doing much pre-game partying this year. I’m lame before games anyway. You’d normally have wanted to partake in the post-game festivities, though.

    Will Fisher (OC and play-caller) increase our usage of RPO’s this year vs last year?

    I think you’ll see Jimbo get a lot more creative this year with his senior quarterback, an All-Conference caliber tight end and a pair of trusted running backs. However, I think the biggest changes will come in the form of Ainias and the versatility he brings to Fisher’s backfield with Spiller along with faster, more athletic wideouts. Once three or four separate themselves (and if one of those is someone with Demas’ raw athletic gifts), look out.

    As for RPOs, I’m not sure how much more of that you’ll see.

    What should we look for that is unexpected with the team?

    I just think the secondary could be tremendously improved. More so than most expect. I also think the pass rush is going to get it done in a variety of ways. What I hope we see (but am not yet sure) is that the offense will regularly take and connect on downfield shots with Mond throwing the deep ball better than he has in the past.

    Predict the final score? I’ll go with Ags 48, Vandy 10.

    I’ll go Ags 34, Vandy 10.

    When will we know which player/players will be in quarantine (for both teams) for the game against Vandy? Will SEC release these results every Friday or Saturday?

    Not sure that the SEC will release that info. Actually, I don’t suspect that they will.

    The Aggies will know on Friday. For this week, they tested Sunday and Wednesday, and they will do the rapid test on Friday. Beginning next week, they’ll test on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. They won’t use the rapid tests going forward. The problem with the rapid test is that it can give out too many false negatives.

    Now I know you’d think teams would be more concerned with false positives, but it’s the false negatives that can cause the real problems. Imagine how much ‘contact tracing’ problems a couple of false negatives would cause if the players traveled, stayed in the team hotel, sat in position meetings, played and were in the huddle for three hours on Saturday.

    Thanks for providing us with the best all-around Aggie content!

    You’re very welcome my friend! We’ve somehow managed to have a fun offseason full of great content. I’m really proud of the entire team.

    Best COVID cocktail you’ve made

    Believe it or not, I haven’t had a drink since all of this started. Think the last time I was drunk or even drinking was at Rodeo Cookoff. Damn, I need a drink in the worst way, don’t I??? Nothing better to drive you to do that than Aggie football, I suppose.

     

    • Haha 1
  9. 17 minutes ago, RGBIII said:

    Does @Lobwedgephil have Texags?

    Spoiler

    Liucci

    In reply to vander54 •  10:04p 

    Staff

    AG

    vander54 said:

    I am sure this will get deleted but....


    Going around several sites that a big time 2022 QB recruit from Texas that recently commited elsewhere is not happy and is starting to open up to Jimbo. He may even visit this year. 

    EDIT
    Not a surprise Perroni at 247 shot this rumor down 

    So a rumor that wasn't remotely true (and one that was nothing more than a common sense assumption anyway "If Texas really sucks and Tom Herman is in jeopardy of being fired, A&M has a chance) was brought to this board and a competing site 'shot the rumor down' and we're referencing them on here? It was never anything close to reality. Some of this stuff has completely jumped the shark with these damn instagram troll accounts and people just tripping over themselves (in whatever fan base) to credit or put stock into any type of rumor if it's what they want to hear...and much worse, treating completely incompetent individuals who do FAR more damage and harm than good to the programs they are attempting to cover as credible.

     

     

    • Hook 'Em 2
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