Aggies v. SMU - What to expect, what to hope for

Similar to the Rice game, today your Fightin' Texas Aggies are taking on an overmatched foe - possibly the most unbalanced matchup in the FBS this season.

But there are things that I defintiely hope to see today because this is the last game we have to work out the kinks before we dive into the meat of our schedule - and there is a LOT of meat to it. Obviously, Alabama, Auburn and LSU are big challenges, but I get the sense that Mizzou is going to be a lot closer to the team that won the SEC East last year than people expect, and the Mississippi schools are better in a lot of ways this season. But we start the run next week against Arkansas, and if you saw what they did to Texas Tech, you know that they have some heavy artillery to bring to the fight.

So the more we can fix and figure out against the Ponies the better.

Clearly, there are things that are running at peak efficiency right now: both lines, the wide receivers, the running backs, special teams. I hope to see that continue and hopefully we can develop depth for those units that will be necessary as we wade through the gauntlett that is the SEC West.

At quarterback, I think there is so much right here that it is pretty easy to note what needs to be improved - the vertical game. You have to give Hill a TON of credit to this point (along with the coaching staff). He has been miles ahead of what even the most optimistic thought coming into the season. But that deep ball - the timing and execution just isn't there. So let's work on that as much as possible before the score gets too out of hand. I also want to see Kyle Allen really get some reps and settle in as a quality backup. After the Rice game, I have some concerns...

The rest of the defense also needs work. The linebackers and secondary need to find their regular starters and their regular starters need to settle into their assignments and tackle better, fast, because Arkansas is going to be that punch in the mouth that Mike Tyson always talked about, and then it gets harder.  How is that for perspective?

I love Watts, Everett, Garrett, Hall and so much of the DL. And we aren't talking about an awful defense (in large part to those players). But the better we can get now, the better we will be when we don't have time to improve.

Injuries - this is a touchy one. If someone is probable, to the extent that we can get them some reps without risking their health, I say do it to the amount that would help their timing, then get them out of there. If there is any chance that players like Mastrogivanni or Clear could re-injure something and we really don't need to see them today, hold them back. Obviously, only the coaching staff knows what that looks like, but those are the principles I hope they are using.

Overall, what I really hope to see is an improvement in focus. Last week, some of the focus wasn't there. Hopefully this week we have a bit better level there.