Well, that makes sense
At yesterday’s press conference, coach Sumlin said that all of the freshman linebackers were going to play this season, starting this weekend on special teams. While some people might complain that that’s a waste of time, his reasoning was sound. He wants Riley Garner, Landis Durham and Dwaine Thomas to get a feel for the speed and physicality of the college game, because he intends to use them later in the season as the veteran linebackers get beat up and are in need of a rest. The theory is that he’ll have a group of reinforcements that already have an idea of what they’re getting into. That makes a good bit of sense, and here’s hoping he’s able to stick to that plan because it means the top six made it through the major part of the schedule without getting seriously hurt.
A fair amount of similarities
I’ll get into this more Thursday and Friday, but there aren’t going to be very many secrets between A&M and Arizona State. Todd Graham gave Jake Spavital his coaching start, and Kevin Sumlin even roomed with one of ASU’s defensive assistants when they were GAs at Washington State. ASU likes to spread things out with multiple receiver sets and runs out of the shotgun; on defense, they play press man and blitz a lot.
A&M…well, they do pretty much the same thing. As a result, there probably won’t be a whole lot of adjusting made to prepare for ASU this week in practice (actually, they’re well underway in preparing for them). That should benefit A&M, at least in theory.
A good note to note
Sumlin told us yesterday that he’s only lost once in a season opener in his career as a head coach. He said preparing for a season opener has never been a problem; it’s what comes later where things have to improve. Considering how well-prepared A&M was last year at South Carolina, one has to think there’s a chance they’ll be equally prepared this weekend.
If he’s not BSing…
Then John Chavis really likes a lot of his defense. He reiterated Tuesday that he believes Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall are the best pass rushing defensive ends in the country, and he doesn’t seem to be overly worried about his secondary. He lauded Brandon Williams, who he said brought an entirely new level of intensity to the cornerbacks room. He thinks he’s got the guys with the size and the speed to go out and play with ASU. His only real concern appears to be with his own personnel group — the linebackers. He wishes he had some more depth and experience, but he thinks his bunch as the talent to play capably. We’ll find out in around 72 hours.
My bold (and probably stupid) predictions for 2015
And here we go…
Kyle Allen will throw for more than 3,000 yards and 30 TDs.
Tra Carson will go over 1,000 yards rushing, but James White will have more YPC.
The run/pass mix will get closer to 50/50.
The pace of the offense will return to 2013 levels.
People are going to really learn to like Keaton Sutherland.
RSJ and Christian Kirk will lead the team in receptions. Josh Reynolds and Speedy Noil will have big numbers due to big yards per catch.
Damion Ratley will score at least 4 TDs this season. If he’s good enough to bump Ed Pope, he’s going to put up numbers.
Jordan Davis will become a bigger part of the offense as the season progresses.
And on defense…
Myles Garrett will have at least 15 sacks. Daeshon Hall will threaten double digits.
Shaan Washington will lead the team in tackles and will be second to Garrett in TFL.
Daylon Mack’s role will expand as the season goes on, but it won’t be due to poor play from Julien Obioha or Hadreck Walker.
AJ Hilliard will be a critical part of the defense once fully healthy.
Nick Harvey has a strong season.
Brandon Williams proves he’s no joke and helps A&M solve its corner issues for this one season.
The Aggies get their total defense numbers down into the low 60s.
And one more…
Taylor Bertolet isn’t the nightmare a lot of people think he’ll be.
At yesterday’s press conference, coach Sumlin said that all of the freshman linebackers were going to play this season, starting this weekend on special teams. While some people might complain that that’s a waste of time, his reasoning was sound. He wants Riley Garner, Landis Durham and Dwaine Thomas to get a feel for the speed and physicality of the college game, because he intends to use them later in the season as the veteran linebackers get beat up and are in need of a rest. The theory is that he’ll have a group of reinforcements that already have an idea of what they’re getting into. That makes a good bit of sense, and here’s hoping he’s able to stick to that plan because it means the top six made it through the major part of the schedule without getting seriously hurt.
A fair amount of similarities
I’ll get into this more Thursday and Friday, but there aren’t going to be very many secrets between A&M and Arizona State. Todd Graham gave Jake Spavital his coaching start, and Kevin Sumlin even roomed with one of ASU’s defensive assistants when they were GAs at Washington State. ASU likes to spread things out with multiple receiver sets and runs out of the shotgun; on defense, they play press man and blitz a lot.
A&M…well, they do pretty much the same thing. As a result, there probably won’t be a whole lot of adjusting made to prepare for ASU this week in practice (actually, they’re well underway in preparing for them). That should benefit A&M, at least in theory.
A good note to note
Sumlin told us yesterday that he’s only lost once in a season opener in his career as a head coach. He said preparing for a season opener has never been a problem; it’s what comes later where things have to improve. Considering how well-prepared A&M was last year at South Carolina, one has to think there’s a chance they’ll be equally prepared this weekend.
If he’s not BSing…
Then John Chavis really likes a lot of his defense. He reiterated Tuesday that he believes Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall are the best pass rushing defensive ends in the country, and he doesn’t seem to be overly worried about his secondary. He lauded Brandon Williams, who he said brought an entirely new level of intensity to the cornerbacks room. He thinks he’s got the guys with the size and the speed to go out and play with ASU. His only real concern appears to be with his own personnel group — the linebackers. He wishes he had some more depth and experience, but he thinks his bunch as the talent to play capably. We’ll find out in around 72 hours.
My bold (and probably stupid) predictions for 2015
And here we go…
Kyle Allen will throw for more than 3,000 yards and 30 TDs.
Tra Carson will go over 1,000 yards rushing, but James White will have more YPC.
The run/pass mix will get closer to 50/50.
The pace of the offense will return to 2013 levels.
People are going to really learn to like Keaton Sutherland.
RSJ and Christian Kirk will lead the team in receptions. Josh Reynolds and Speedy Noil will have big numbers due to big yards per catch.
Damion Ratley will score at least 4 TDs this season. If he’s good enough to bump Ed Pope, he’s going to put up numbers.
Jordan Davis will become a bigger part of the offense as the season progresses.
And on defense…
Myles Garrett will have at least 15 sacks. Daeshon Hall will threaten double digits.
Shaan Washington will lead the team in tackles and will be second to Garrett in TFL.
Daylon Mack’s role will expand as the season goes on, but it won’t be due to poor play from Julien Obioha or Hadreck Walker.
AJ Hilliard will be a critical part of the defense once fully healthy.
Nick Harvey has a strong season.
Brandon Williams proves he’s no joke and helps A&M solve its corner issues for this one season.
The Aggies get their total defense numbers down into the low 60s.
And one more…
Taylor Bertolet isn’t the nightmare a lot of people think he’ll be.
