Here’s your latest dose of the AggieYell Mailbag, sponsored by Tipton Auto Group:
Q: What do you think our chances are with Bryson Howard, Josh irving, and Colben Landrew? (Chickennugget666777)
A: All three of them have officials set to visit Texas A&M, but I’m not overly optimistic with any of them. I think Irving may be the best shot. But this is something I’ve been saying for years, even before NIL — basketball recruiting is the dirtiest of the dirty, far worse than football. It’s going to be not just who’s the best fit, but who offers the best deal. That’s definitely true for the elite prospects.
Q: Regarding concerns about the DLine. I agree on this. But are you concerned about what kind of push we get or keeping the OLine off of our LBs? With the changes that seem to be happening, which would be the main objective of the DL? The freshman concern me with missing assignments and that got old last year. (Tsmith3001)
A: You probably won’t see a lot of freshmen early on, save for Marco Jones. And I am concerned about how the line holds up against bigger offensive lines — at least until I see them actually go out and perform. This line is definitely relying more on speed and quickness (again, two different things) to slow down the running game and to increase pressure on the quarterback. It sure seems that increasing pressure on the quarterback is a priority this year.
Q: Zuhn to center. Is this a real thing or just being versatile? Does this mean Fatheree is back to his old self and they just have to get him on the field? It seems this would also mean there is real confidence building in other back up OTs. Who would that be? (Elicrow)
A: It’s clearly a “thing”, because he’s practicing there, but I don’t think he’s going to move there. Deuce Fatheree is definitely playing better (and playing left tackle), and that’s the major reason they’re considering this idea. But don’t get your faith up on the offensive tackles beyond Fatheree. He’s the primary backup at both positions, with Robbie Bourdon being the other tackle with the second team. Outside of that, the kids are a long way away.
Q: Kickoff at 6pm on August 30th – what will be some of the players/schemes or something different than what we saw last season that you think will just pop off the screen at us? The things we will see that we maybe won’t see coming. Thanks Mark. (Shanehammett12)
A: I think you’ll think the defensive line is smaller, the scheme more aggressive. On offense, I’m expecting more quick passes and finding ways to get the ball into the hands of KC Concepcion and Mario Craver. I think you may also see Ashton Bethel-Roman out there for the first snap.
Q: Let’s talk DE. I’ve gotten comfortable with all other positions, but DE is very unknown. What can you tell us about the options? What’s the feel? Concerned, excited, unknown? (Elicrow)
A: It’s really not unknown, it’s just a lot of names that fans aren’t familiar with. On one side, Cashius Howell will start. On the other, it’ll either be redshirt senior Dayon Hayes or junior T.J. Searcy, both transfers. Hayes was a very good player at Pitt and was off to a great start at Colorado last year before he got hurt in week 4; Searcy is a guy Jay Bateman’s familiar with, because he’s coming over from Florida. I think if they want to go big, they could swing Landon Rink, DJ Sanders or Tyler Onyedim out to the end. If they want to really get after the passer, I think that’s when Marco Jones will come on the field.
Q: I’ve seen multiple days in a row now where our receivers are dropping balls, there’s a lack of going 100% on routes, throws seem to be off but this could be on the receivers too. Some people are starting to criticize Bussey for a lackluster of enthusiasm with his route running. I’m getting the feeling it might just be Concepcion, Craver and Bethel-Roman as our potential receivers with a significant drop off after that. I get it’s warm ups and practice just started but in your experience, is there a time to start worrying as we get closer to the opener? (MC9008)
A: Don’t freak out about what you’re seeing in the drills. The really important part is at the start of the drill, as they work on the routes and essentially work as a rub for one another. I’ll be honest; I’m a little concerned about Bussey because I haven’t seen anything to “wow” me. But he’s still young, playing receiver for the first time and coming from a 2A school. But I’m expecting he’ll be one of the top four receivers, and I’m expecting Jerome Myles to be the fifth. Maybe that’s wishful thinking on my part, but he brings something different to the party.
Q: 1. What is the biggest known weakness of the team?
A: Based off of last year, the secondary.
2. What is the biggest uncertainty, that is a possible weakness of the team?
A: The defensive line.
3. What is the biggest known strength of the team?
A: The running backs.
4. What is the biggest uncertainty, that is a potential strength, of the team? (KeithDB)
A: The offensive line. Maybe I’m one of the few that remains uncertain, but I have to see it before I buy in.
Q: How deep will Texas Tech go with their unlimited NIL well? Seriously, what is their end game and do you think they can sustain it and be successful in the Big 12? (Big Smoothie)
A: Diamondback Energy (btw, if you want a buy recommendation from a guy who covered the business, it’s them) bought Double Eagle Pipeline for $4 billion. Cody Campbell got most of it, and his goal is simple: buy a national championship. Nothing subtle; go buy it. Can it work? We’ll see. They can buy talent, but can they buy talented depth?
Q: Help remind me, but will there be any type of plays to get Marcell himself in open space and run? Or is their plan to keep him in pocket more and throw the pigskin to protect him? (Tsip despiser)
A: They’d be fools if they didn’t use Reed’s running ability. They’ll have RPOs, bootlegs, designed runs, all that stuff for him to run.
Q: Happily, much has been said about the improvement in our WR group this year compared to last. Where would Noah Thomas be on the depth chart had he not transferred? (Eyecutter98)
A: I think he’d start, but he would not be the clearcut WR1 he was last year. Concepcion now has that role.
Q: Simply put, what is the difference in hype this summer versus the last 25 or 50 summers.
Or am I living in a Twilight Zone episode and need to throw myself off a tall building to wake myself up? (Richard23)
A: Now that you’re living in Aggieland again, what tall buildings are there? The apartments across from campus or Rudder Tower? You don’t want to go splat off of any of them.
As for the difference in hype, I don’t know if there’s any except for more social media.
Q: Between wr te and rb name your projected stat lines for our top 6 pass catchers. # of catches, # of yards, and # of TDs (dp47)
A: Man, I honestly do not know. I can give you an idea of who I think the top six pass catchers will be, but it’s still a lot of guesswork: KC Concepcion, Mario Craver, Ashton Bethel-Roman, Terry Bussey, Theo Ohrstrom and, this is a total guess, Rueben Owens. I wouldn’t be surprised if Amari Niblack or Jerome Myles is on this list at season’s end.
Q: Sounds like you are somewhat positive about the football team right now. Should I sell the 401k and invest in national championship futures at 40 to 1 odds? (Username has already been taken)
A: I don’t think that would be the best course of action. But I’m not much of a sports bettor anyway.
Q: Anything on the new TE Armstrong? I got a look at him, and he is just on a different level. I remember the last couple of years thinking the Swede was the most physically developed TE, but Armstrong is just a different breed. If Theo is Baby Thor, Armstrong is a full grown AquaMan! What can you tell us about him? (Elicrow)
A: He’s gotten really big as he’s up to 275 pounds. Outside of that, I can’t say a whole lot. In most cases, he’s on the side of the field away from where we can watch, which is frustrating. I have high hopes for him and I know the staff does too, but how fast he’s progressing is something I’m not sure about.
Q: The maroon Kool Aid is starting its annual flow out there in fandom. I say no way until I see results. I’m fed up with mediocrity and wasting time investing in a program okay with generating revenue, but not delivering. What say you? (Aggie1983)
A: I’d say everyone has their opinion on it and you can argue it either way. I remain cautiously optimistic and will leave it at that.
Q: tu has been projected by some to win the Natty. I don’t see it, but just for grins;
If you’re the OC for the sips, how do you attack the Aggie D?
If you’re the Aggie DC, how do you attack the sip O?
If you’re Kline, how do you attack the sip D?
If you’re the sip DC, how do you attack the Aggie O? (Hogtide)
A: Honestly, I don’t know the answers to those right now, and if I did try to BS it, it would be wrong by November. Ask me this question again in about Week 6.
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