Good morning from 39,000 feet as I'm on the way to Baltimore for the 5-star Challenge (and AY Happy Hour, DC people). Sorry about no talking points yesterday, but a lot of crap was going on and this is really the first time in 48 hours I've had enough quiet to sit down and write.
This weekend could be very interesting. A&M is having a camp Saturday and a lot of kids are going to be visiting. I don't know for sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's not just one yessir, but a couple. Fletch and Matt will be watching that, since Rob, Courtney and I will be at M&T Bank Stadium (or whatever it's call this week) for the challenge.
Ok, now let's talk running backs for a bit. This has become a really ineresting grouping to watch not only because of turnover, but because of the change in system. And it really is a change in system, more for the linemen than the backs, but it still requires an adjustment.
I know some people in Utah weren't sad to see Dave Christiensen leave after a year, but the fact of the matter is they were a successful running football team last year and he's put a lot of linemen and backs into the NFL, even if for short periods of time. Kevin Sumlin wouldn't have turned to him if he came with an average reputation -- and he remembers Mizzou shoving the ball down OU's throat in some big games before he headed to UH.
First, I do wish Trey Williams would have stuck around. I'm glad he's with the Redskins, but he probably cost himself a good bit of money by hitting the eject button after his junior year. He was extremely producitve when he got the ball, but he didn't get enough touches. Christensen's base plan isn't dissimilar to what B.J. Anderson ran -- zone blocking scheme requiring one-cut runners -- but Christensen likes to run power, right in your face. Will we see draws and stuff? Sure. But a lot of this is going to be right at you, gut or directly off tackle, no huge sweeps. That would have shown that Trey really could do it all. But, that's crying over spilt milk.
The guys who will benefti most from this change are the guys that are now at the top of the depth chart: Tra Carson and James White. Bus 21 has been replaced by the 8 ball (he changed his jersey number to 8), but he's going to be asked to punch guys in the nose a whole lot more this year. We saw what happens when he's turned loose in that way against West Virginia, and he had the best game of his career. I think Kyle Allen is going to be a very, very good quarterback this year, but having a senior who's been there and can beat up on opposing defensive lines is a great luxury to have. I think he'll get utilized a lot more -- and I am becoming increasingly convinced that if Brandon Williams shows anything at corner, we won't see him at running back at all.
White, not Carson, is the reaosn for my thinking on that. I said when A&M signed him that he was the best back in Texas that year (even ahead of future teammate Keith Ford), and he showed a lot in a little period of time last year. One of the things that works in White's favor is he's not only smart, he's very driven. I've known him since he was a freshman at Pearland Dawson and he takes any failing very hard. He knew he'd have to improve his pass blocking, and he showed this spring that he'd done just that. He now provides the Aggies with another tough, physical back who likes contact and appears to be durable. He's not as big as Carson, but 225 pounds of pure muscle is quite enough. He's also faster and, in time, I think he's going to be the more complete back -- and I like Tra a lot. So with the first guy, you get a beating; then the next guy is faster and gives you a beating.
I fully expect Kendall Bussey to play this year, and get a good bit of carries. He's the change of pace guy, but he's not just a scatback. He's a little taller than Trey is, but he's also about 200 pounds. He's got very good top end speed and doesn't screw around when it comes to hitting the hole. He's the potential home run threat of the bunch.
The X factor here is Jay Bradford. I don't know what they're going to do with him yet, and I wonder if they do. He is unquestionably a burner, and his speed dictates you find a role for him. I just don't know if that role is at running back. He is, however, a great athlete, and he could be an option in a lot of places. Maybe he stays here; we'll have to see.
What happens with Bradford may dictate how running back recruiting goes from here on out. Next year, the Aggies will have a redshirt junior in White, a sophomore in Bussey and another redshirt junior in Ford. Even if Bradford stays at running back, you need at least one more quality back out of this class. I like Devwah Whaley, but I think he's leaning OU's way (for reasons I can't fathom, if he looks at that depth chart); maybe the best options now are D'Vaughn Pennamon and Tre Turner, neither of whom are slouches and both of whom pack a punch.
The flash and dash days of A&M backs are over. The Aggies are looking for someone who can punch you in the teeth (which doesn't necessarily dictate someone huge, but it DOES mean someone willing to run between the tackles). The Pennamon offer is more evidence of this. We'll have to wait and see if he, or whoever else, joins up and helps continue the reshaping.
This weekend could be very interesting. A&M is having a camp Saturday and a lot of kids are going to be visiting. I don't know for sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's not just one yessir, but a couple. Fletch and Matt will be watching that, since Rob, Courtney and I will be at M&T Bank Stadium (or whatever it's call this week) for the challenge.
Ok, now let's talk running backs for a bit. This has become a really ineresting grouping to watch not only because of turnover, but because of the change in system. And it really is a change in system, more for the linemen than the backs, but it still requires an adjustment.
I know some people in Utah weren't sad to see Dave Christiensen leave after a year, but the fact of the matter is they were a successful running football team last year and he's put a lot of linemen and backs into the NFL, even if for short periods of time. Kevin Sumlin wouldn't have turned to him if he came with an average reputation -- and he remembers Mizzou shoving the ball down OU's throat in some big games before he headed to UH.
First, I do wish Trey Williams would have stuck around. I'm glad he's with the Redskins, but he probably cost himself a good bit of money by hitting the eject button after his junior year. He was extremely producitve when he got the ball, but he didn't get enough touches. Christensen's base plan isn't dissimilar to what B.J. Anderson ran -- zone blocking scheme requiring one-cut runners -- but Christensen likes to run power, right in your face. Will we see draws and stuff? Sure. But a lot of this is going to be right at you, gut or directly off tackle, no huge sweeps. That would have shown that Trey really could do it all. But, that's crying over spilt milk.
The guys who will benefti most from this change are the guys that are now at the top of the depth chart: Tra Carson and James White. Bus 21 has been replaced by the 8 ball (he changed his jersey number to 8), but he's going to be asked to punch guys in the nose a whole lot more this year. We saw what happens when he's turned loose in that way against West Virginia, and he had the best game of his career. I think Kyle Allen is going to be a very, very good quarterback this year, but having a senior who's been there and can beat up on opposing defensive lines is a great luxury to have. I think he'll get utilized a lot more -- and I am becoming increasingly convinced that if Brandon Williams shows anything at corner, we won't see him at running back at all.
White, not Carson, is the reaosn for my thinking on that. I said when A&M signed him that he was the best back in Texas that year (even ahead of future teammate Keith Ford), and he showed a lot in a little period of time last year. One of the things that works in White's favor is he's not only smart, he's very driven. I've known him since he was a freshman at Pearland Dawson and he takes any failing very hard. He knew he'd have to improve his pass blocking, and he showed this spring that he'd done just that. He now provides the Aggies with another tough, physical back who likes contact and appears to be durable. He's not as big as Carson, but 225 pounds of pure muscle is quite enough. He's also faster and, in time, I think he's going to be the more complete back -- and I like Tra a lot. So with the first guy, you get a beating; then the next guy is faster and gives you a beating.
I fully expect Kendall Bussey to play this year, and get a good bit of carries. He's the change of pace guy, but he's not just a scatback. He's a little taller than Trey is, but he's also about 200 pounds. He's got very good top end speed and doesn't screw around when it comes to hitting the hole. He's the potential home run threat of the bunch.
The X factor here is Jay Bradford. I don't know what they're going to do with him yet, and I wonder if they do. He is unquestionably a burner, and his speed dictates you find a role for him. I just don't know if that role is at running back. He is, however, a great athlete, and he could be an option in a lot of places. Maybe he stays here; we'll have to see.
What happens with Bradford may dictate how running back recruiting goes from here on out. Next year, the Aggies will have a redshirt junior in White, a sophomore in Bussey and another redshirt junior in Ford. Even if Bradford stays at running back, you need at least one more quality back out of this class. I like Devwah Whaley, but I think he's leaning OU's way (for reasons I can't fathom, if he looks at that depth chart); maybe the best options now are D'Vaughn Pennamon and Tre Turner, neither of whom are slouches and both of whom pack a punch.
The flash and dash days of A&M backs are over. The Aggies are looking for someone who can punch you in the teeth (which doesn't necessarily dictate someone huge, but it DOES mean someone willing to run between the tackles). The Pennamon offer is more evidence of this. We'll have to wait and see if he, or whoever else, joins up and helps continue the reshaping.