Coming into this season, there were a variety of questions about the 2015 Texas A&M Aggies.
Now that we have one game in the books, we have some answers, but still other questions. Overall, this team has a defense, much to the relief of many. But there remain some real questions about the offense - specifically the offensive line play, but also overall effectiveness of the unit as a group. So let's go step by step and then look towards the next few games.
The Chavis Effect
Let's start with the massive positive on the night - Texas A&M has itself a defense. One that should garner respect from all across the SEC and college football. It has its own issues, and time will tell how it holds up through the gauntlet that is the SEC West, but my oh my, they put on a show tonight.
First the line. Big dogs gotta eat, and they ate all night. Not sure how much is left of the Arizona State offensive line, but it can't be much. Garrett and Hall were turned loose and really took the Sun Devils out of their game all night as they never were able to get any significant momentum going, scoring after turnovers rather than developing their own long drives.
And Justin Evans - welcome to major college football son. Very impressive.
What impressed most people were a few key things - tackling in open space and overall organization. This looked like a defense that knew what it was doing and was confident it could do it. What a huge change that is.
The term Wrecking Crew must be earned, and one game does not earn it, but you have to admit a game like this looks good on the Exhibit List.
All that being said, there are concerns. Specifically depth, once again at linebacker, but also at safety and corner. The way the game played out, we did not see a lot of it, but playing a run oriented team like Arkansas or Alabama sure will test this unit.
But on the whole, tonight, the defense showed it will be a force to be reckoned with.
Christian Kirk, Take A Bow
Holy hell, that kid can not only run, but he can make people miss. Did it twice - first on a punt return and then on the breakout score that gave the Aggies the breathing room to know the game was most likely theirs.
I can totally see how he scored six touchdowns from different positions while in high school. And Spav may want to do some more research into that. That young man from Arizona is an absolute star. (Of course, it will be interesting to see how teams adjust to him, and how he then deals with that, but that is for another day.)
Offense Finds A Way
It took most of the game but eventually the offense, behind Kyle Allen, broke Arizona State and found a way to score somewhat consistently.
For much of the game, there were real questions that we will discuss later, and when the Sun Devils got it to 17-14, many an Aggie had flashbacks to last year where offensive ineptitude, but with a couple of key plays, Kyle Allen and the offense got going and Allen finished the drive off with his own 12 yard run to the end zone. It was a gutsy run that took the QB throwing himself into the teeth of the Sun Devil defense to get to the end zone.
It involved a number of plays, some running, some passing, and there were definite signs that things were being figured out, although it also was in part the Arizona State defense tiring.
The Concerns
First and foremost - really hope Drew Kaser is ok. He is such a weapon as we saw for much of the night. That play looked really worrisome. Hopefully it is just a sprain or hyper-extension....
The big one, though, is the offense as a whole, and specifically, its execution. (Insert joke about about it being ready for said execution...) At times, all areas struggled. The line was poor at a number of times. Wide Receivers dropped passes and Allen and Murray missed throws. Oh, did we mention that Allen struggled enough that Murray got a number of series? Yes, yes he did. And at times, he looked REALLY good, but at times, he looked like a true freshman.
The line struggles worry me. Really worry me. Mostly because it is a carry over from last year that should have improved somewhat was often at times anything but. Everything extends from them being able to give the quarterback and running backs time to do what they need to do.
Allen also at times did not look composed - at times where the line had actually done a decent job.
And the wide receivers once again dropped a few that Allen really needed them to catch.
On top of that, White got hurt, leaving Carson as the only running back.
No, this was not a great example of a Sumlin offense. Not in the least.
The Future
But the good news is this - we have games against Ball State and Nevada coming up next. If the situation is taken advantage of, a lot of these issues can be worked on, and they need to be because I am pretty sure this kind of play will not win the remaining games. Certainly not against Alabama and probably not against Arkansas.
So, recover from this game, then get to work, coaching staff and players. And unlike last year, do not waste it.
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