Final Review of TAMU


Well....boys here it is.

The last blog before the 2007 season kicks off. I think this will be a better season than the '06 season. Other than the Fiesta Bowl... we weren't left w/ a great taste. Michigan stunk it up in the Rose Bowl. OSU proved to be stoppable. Florida, while clearly not the best team, won the right games at the right times, Texas sputtered it's last few games and barely beat a not good Iowa team, the Big XII took a collective crap in it's bowl games (A&M, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Mizzou, KState), while the winningBig XII teams all struggled against inferior opponents (UT vs. Iowa, OSU vs. Alabama, Tech vs. Minnesota), the ACC in general just sucked... mad props to Georgia Tech and Wake Forrest for giving an exciting season on their end. The exciting part of the season was Boise State's rise, and Rutgers, Louisville, and West Virginia duking it out.


I gotta get jet pretty quick so here's my review of A&M



Texas A&M

I was pretty happy w/ the season last year. Obviously the Ags proved they could play anybody in the Big XII. When you're literally 25 points from a 12-0 record and a 4-8 record it's hard to gauge a lot!

I think if the Ags have a year to get it done this is it. Next year will still have a lot of srs. coming back but a lot of the offensive and defensive lines won't be.... which sucks.

Much is made of both groups... some say the A&M line is the best in the nation... I won't go that far... but they're good no doubt.

The year really hinges on whether or not they learned to be a road team last year... They were 5-0 on the road (if you include Army @ San Antonio) and pulled out some good ones while there.


Offense

QB

I love Steven McGee. Can I just say that again? I love Steven McGee.

Like unhealthily.

When I saw him get the ever living crap knocked out of him by Latimer on the option against OU 2 years ago... I thought he was creamed for the game. Latimer kinda lingered over him, probably talking smack. McGee popped up and got in his face. You saw his team come swarming to him and you saw him run it again the next play. Right at Latimer. Awesome.

Next game he's the starter versus UT. Option to the right. He gets stood up and hammered by 3 UT players. Hops up and tells the defender what he thought of that cheap shot. And is pulled off by his players. Outstanding. Next play... Same option different side for a TD. Awesome. I just started loving that kid right then.

Since then he has proven to be the leader we have been missing for a while. While fast... he's not blazing.... while strong... he's not a beast... good arm... not incredible. He's actually very average in a lot of things he does. But it's how he does it.

RB
This is the area to get the most excited about. And this is all I will say about them


Also to boot is Chris Alexander who is one of if not THE best blocking back in the nation.
Watch his blocks on several of those runs (#24)

WR

The weakest spot on the team. The TE's are great. While Mizzou's Coffman and Rucker get all the fame (mainly because they are used as WRs), these 2 are some of the best blocking TE's in the nation.

Gone is the recent stars of Schroeder, Carter, and Murphy.. but we do have Ervin Taylor, Kerry Franks, Pierre, Brown, and Howard Morrow... who all have a bit of experience. I'm excited moreso by the McCoy brothers and the possibility of putting backup RB E.J. Shankle out wide. If the Ags can get this area going... awesomeness.

OL

Considered by some to be the most experienced in the nation. A large group that has a good history.

Clark, Elder, Babaloba, Wallace, and Yoder should anchor the majority of the time. The problem w/ that is that 1 of them is a Jr. and the rest are Srs. A&M needs to get the younger guys to get some mopup time for next year or they could be in for a world of hurt.

Defense

What was expected to be a tough year for the one proud wrecking crew turned out alright. The shift to a 4-2-5 worked surprisingly well. The area that needs improvement is CB and Safety physical play.

Line

Here lies the strength of the defense. Red Bryant is not dominant, but he is very solid at run-stopping. Kellen Heard will probably take the other starter position before the year is out. He is big and mean. And he didn't see that Dodge was down on that interception. I don't care what you say. And Colt was walking towards the A&M Sideline... not his own.

Michael Bennett and Chris Harrington bring the pass rush here. I look for Harrington to be All Big XII by the year's end. Bennett (Martellus' brother) wasn't starting all season but I think his late season performance will have him her more than Obiozer or Smith.

LB
My favorite group. Dodge and Tupe will be the starters but expect Anthony Lewis and Matt Featherton to get involved here. I like the idea of moving Featherton to the Whip position which is similar to a free roaming safety/lb hybrid. he hits big and hard.

Dodge and Tupe are nothing outstanding... but they both cover very well and are good run stoppers. Dodge had some key interceptions and stops towards the end of the year (Nebraska INT, Melton Stop, Texas INT) that really made him a star.

Tupe is just an all-around good player. Good nose for the ball as well as blitzing.


DB's
Here's where the question mark lies. People made Peterson look worse than he was. He was obviously physical... but beat out by Senior receivers with 4-5 inches and 4 years on him on some big plays. I think his mistakes have taught him well. And the kid hussles



Gorrer is the only other real stud potential... He's fast and can cover well. I hope he steps up and starts physically manhandling some receivers this year.

Gregg and Pugh have done some moving around and I'm curious to see how this goes for them


Overall

Thi ;fkj This is the best team the Aggies have had since the teams of the 90's the only thing lying in their way is the schedule and it's daunting...

At Tech, Miami, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. I don't think a top 10 team could make that one unscathed.

here's my picks

W Montana State - easy win W Fresno State - not so easy win. Pat Hill has the Bulldogs competitive again this year W Louisiana-Monroe - I've actually cheated a bit... I watched them last night. Good running team... unfortunately... that's it. semi-easy win
W Miami - I think this won't be a high scoring game at all... but as physical as Miami is... Lane runs them over and Goodson runs around something like 17-14
W Baylor - still baylor. and they are replacing a lot Push Oklahoma State - I still don't know what to do w/ these guys... tons of offensive power... but the defense is questionable to me. I think this will be a shootout
W Texas Tech - enough is enough.
L Nebraska - Sam Keller is just the right QB to get the Ags roughed up in the passing game. I don't think the Ags will pull this one out in Lincoln
W Kansas - fairly easy win. Low score though
W Oklahoma - Fran says to heck w/ you and the visor you wore in Stoops. Ags get it done
Push Mizzou - Defense lost a lot which the ags struggled w/ a bit last year... and A&M just got lucky stopping their offense at points
W Texas - there I said it. I think the ags continue to run the option on UT and it still works. This is the first year in a LONG time that I look at these 2 teams and say.... A&M's starters are as good as UT's in a lot of spots. The talent level has been missing for some time... but I think while Fran doesn't bring in 5 star recruits like Mack does... the gap is shrinking.

10-2 is my honest to goodness prediction.


Thanks for reading and commenting on these guys. I wish the best of luck and health to all of our respective teams...



unless they're playing the aggies... but just luck. they can keep the health.



I love this season.