Practice for the next couple of days:
Monday: Practice begins at 5:45 p.m.; coach Sumlin will talk to the media around 8:15 p.m.
Tuesday: First practice at 9 a.m., no media allowed; Second practice begins at 6; TBA on who will talk afterwards
FYI, I'll be at practice today, Wednesday and Friday; Rob will have it Tuesday and Thursday this week.
One of the biggest days of the football year
That would be today. After the scrimmage Saturday, the coaches went in, checked the film and, possibly, made changes to the two-deep. There are several positions that I'm curious about, and will be checking out closely to see if there's any movement. Here are a few of them:
Confidence is a fickle thing
I knew a few people who were supposed to go to the scrimmage Saturday, but (for very good reasons) none of them did. That kind of threw a wrench into things, but one of the few things I was able to find out, as we work in generalities, is that the defense performed well.
Now, before you get fired up, the defense also performed well in the first scrimmages in the summers of 2013 and 2014 too. We all know how things went when the lights came on.
One thing I don't think I'll ever forget is going on the field before Mississippi State and looking in the eyes of guys I've known now for several years and seeing, pretty clearly, that they didn't believe in themselves. Keep in mind, the Aggies were 5-0 at that point, #6 in the nation and had just won a big game against Arkansas with a defensive stop. But they knew, in their hearts, that they couldn't hold up and they didn't. That game started the snowball effect that crushed the season and got Mark Snyder fired.
This year seems to be different. Yeah, I know that you can say it's sunshine pumping or whatever, but it seems like the guys on defense believe in the scheme and themselves. That was the first thing that John Chavis set out to do when he arrived was to implement his system and rebuild the psyche of a defense that had been torched for two years running. It seems, at least at first blush, that he's done a pretty good job of it.
Of course, nothing has meaning until the Aggies get out on the field Sept. 5, but the defense seems to like what it's doing and has more of a belief that it can hold up and succeed this year than it did the past couple of years -- especially last year. Most of you watched the replay of Chavis' press conference from last Thursday and he repeatedly said he believes this defense is ready to compete this year. Maybe it's as simple as having a coach tell them that he does believe in them and that they are ready that starts the turnaround. After all, it's not like this team is devoid of talent. It's got a lot. But a new mindset is definitely required, and Chavis seems to be attacking that first and foremost.
A guy who deserves more credit
When I wrote up the 30 in 30 on Julien Obioha the other day, it struck me how much of a team player this guy has been over the past four seasons. He wasn't really ready to play as a freshman in the SEC, but he went out and started every game except the Cotton Bowl. He came back from a neck injury and moved to rush end, a position he wasn't suited for at all, but never complained. Then it was back to defensive end last year, and now defensive tackle this season. He's never really had a chance to find a comfort zone and settle in, but he's made 36 starts and has been one of the most consistent players on the team. Now, this year, he's not only learning a new position, but he's teaching younger guys how they're supposed to act and be positive assets to the team.
All this while majoring in architecture and minoring in business administration and mathematics.
I don't know who will win the Aggie Heart Award this year, but Obioha deserves more than a passing mention. He's been an asset to Texas A&M, even if he has been largely overlooked during his career.
Around the SEC West
Alabama may have a situation worth watching brewing. Jake Coker, the presumptive starting quarterback, did not practice this morning. Nobody seems to know why. RBs Kenyan Drake and Bo Scarbrough didn't practice either, and Scarbrough has been out for several days.
Arkansas suffered the biggest injury of any team in the conference to date when RB Jonathan Williams, a 1,000 yard rusher, went down with a "significant" foot injury. The Hogs didn't say how long he'll be out, but odds are A&M won't see him. That puts a lot more pressure on Alex Collins and leaves a hole in their depth chart.
Auburn got WR D'haquille Williams back on the practice field this week, but it's safe to say he's on thin ice. I don't know what a stud wideout could do to piss his coach off so badly he's down to his last strike, but Williams has evidently done it. He then hurt his ankle in their first scrimmage, which included a whole lot of passing but no points for the offense. Has Will Muschamp made that big of a difference already? I would suggest seeing the results of A&M's first scrimmages over the past couple of years on that one.
Ole Miss guard Rod Taylor is hurt and will probably miss some time after injuring his shoulder in the certain to infuriate a coach "non-football activity". Senior C.J. Johnson, who has played DE for his first three seasons, has moved to linebacker. Trae Elston has moved to free safety and Mike Hilton to rover. Their two starting corners at this point are JUCOs who have never played an SEC snap.
Mississippi State ran 165 plays in their scrimmage Saturday. Media reports were weak (I don't know if they're allowed in or not), but -- shocker! -- the defense did well. Dak Prescott did not play much.
Monday: Practice begins at 5:45 p.m.; coach Sumlin will talk to the media around 8:15 p.m.
Tuesday: First practice at 9 a.m., no media allowed; Second practice begins at 6; TBA on who will talk afterwards
FYI, I'll be at practice today, Wednesday and Friday; Rob will have it Tuesday and Thursday this week.
One of the biggest days of the football year
That would be today. After the scrimmage Saturday, the coaches went in, checked the film and, possibly, made changes to the two-deep. There are several positions that I'm curious about, and will be checking out closely to see if there's any movement. Here are a few of them:
- Starting left guard. Coming in to the scrimmage, they really didn't have one. Let's see if one of Jeremiah Stuckey, Keaton Sutherland or Jermaine Eluemunor stood out.
- Starting middle linebacker. A.J. Hilliard's recovery from surgery has opened the door for Josh Walker. They were even going into Saturday, so let's see who comes out ahead.
- Backup defensive tackles. I'm pretty sure Hardreck Walker (or Julien Obioha) has a spot locked down. But does DeShawn Washington hold off Daylon Mack or Zaycoven Henderson (or someone else)?
- Backup free safety. Justin Dunning was there before. After a pick Saturday, is that cemented?
- Starting corner. Nick Harvey's been there, but can Brandon Williams close the gap?
Confidence is a fickle thing
I knew a few people who were supposed to go to the scrimmage Saturday, but (for very good reasons) none of them did. That kind of threw a wrench into things, but one of the few things I was able to find out, as we work in generalities, is that the defense performed well.
Now, before you get fired up, the defense also performed well in the first scrimmages in the summers of 2013 and 2014 too. We all know how things went when the lights came on.
One thing I don't think I'll ever forget is going on the field before Mississippi State and looking in the eyes of guys I've known now for several years and seeing, pretty clearly, that they didn't believe in themselves. Keep in mind, the Aggies were 5-0 at that point, #6 in the nation and had just won a big game against Arkansas with a defensive stop. But they knew, in their hearts, that they couldn't hold up and they didn't. That game started the snowball effect that crushed the season and got Mark Snyder fired.
This year seems to be different. Yeah, I know that you can say it's sunshine pumping or whatever, but it seems like the guys on defense believe in the scheme and themselves. That was the first thing that John Chavis set out to do when he arrived was to implement his system and rebuild the psyche of a defense that had been torched for two years running. It seems, at least at first blush, that he's done a pretty good job of it.
Of course, nothing has meaning until the Aggies get out on the field Sept. 5, but the defense seems to like what it's doing and has more of a belief that it can hold up and succeed this year than it did the past couple of years -- especially last year. Most of you watched the replay of Chavis' press conference from last Thursday and he repeatedly said he believes this defense is ready to compete this year. Maybe it's as simple as having a coach tell them that he does believe in them and that they are ready that starts the turnaround. After all, it's not like this team is devoid of talent. It's got a lot. But a new mindset is definitely required, and Chavis seems to be attacking that first and foremost.
A guy who deserves more credit
When I wrote up the 30 in 30 on Julien Obioha the other day, it struck me how much of a team player this guy has been over the past four seasons. He wasn't really ready to play as a freshman in the SEC, but he went out and started every game except the Cotton Bowl. He came back from a neck injury and moved to rush end, a position he wasn't suited for at all, but never complained. Then it was back to defensive end last year, and now defensive tackle this season. He's never really had a chance to find a comfort zone and settle in, but he's made 36 starts and has been one of the most consistent players on the team. Now, this year, he's not only learning a new position, but he's teaching younger guys how they're supposed to act and be positive assets to the team.
All this while majoring in architecture and minoring in business administration and mathematics.
I don't know who will win the Aggie Heart Award this year, but Obioha deserves more than a passing mention. He's been an asset to Texas A&M, even if he has been largely overlooked during his career.
Around the SEC West
Alabama may have a situation worth watching brewing. Jake Coker, the presumptive starting quarterback, did not practice this morning. Nobody seems to know why. RBs Kenyan Drake and Bo Scarbrough didn't practice either, and Scarbrough has been out for several days.
Arkansas suffered the biggest injury of any team in the conference to date when RB Jonathan Williams, a 1,000 yard rusher, went down with a "significant" foot injury. The Hogs didn't say how long he'll be out, but odds are A&M won't see him. That puts a lot more pressure on Alex Collins and leaves a hole in their depth chart.
Auburn got WR D'haquille Williams back on the practice field this week, but it's safe to say he's on thin ice. I don't know what a stud wideout could do to piss his coach off so badly he's down to his last strike, but Williams has evidently done it. He then hurt his ankle in their first scrimmage, which included a whole lot of passing but no points for the offense. Has Will Muschamp made that big of a difference already? I would suggest seeing the results of A&M's first scrimmages over the past couple of years on that one.
Ole Miss guard Rod Taylor is hurt and will probably miss some time after injuring his shoulder in the certain to infuriate a coach "non-football activity". Senior C.J. Johnson, who has played DE for his first three seasons, has moved to linebacker. Trae Elston has moved to free safety and Mike Hilton to rover. Their two starting corners at this point are JUCOs who have never played an SEC snap.
Mississippi State ran 165 plays in their scrimmage Saturday. Media reports were weak (I don't know if they're allowed in or not), but -- shocker! -- the defense did well. Dak Prescott did not play much.
