Texas A&M missed out on the chance to contend for the Big 12 title last season after getting back 18 starters from a roster that finished with 9 wins in 2010. The Aggies completed the regular season 6-6 (4-5 in the conference), but might have easily finished 11-1. Five of their six losses were by a TD or fewer, including two in OT. The Aggies would defeat Northwestern 33-22 in the Car Care of Texas Bowl to end up 7-6 overall.
Despite the notion that the Aggies return a lot of skilled players in 2012, this season figures to be filled with growing pains. The Aggies will compete in their first season in the ultra-competitive SEC West. What makes matters tougher for the team is the departure of their coach Mike Sherman, as he became the offensive coach of the Miami Dolphins. Kevin Sumlin is the new head coach and brings with him Kliff Kingsburry as the offensive coach and Mark Snyder as the leader of the defense.
Offense
The Aggies will have a tough time attempting to replace one of the nation's top QBs in Ryan Tannehill, as he was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Sumlin did a masterful job of teaching quarterbacks in Houston, and he will have a lot of guys he can use in 2012. Red-shirt freshman Johnny Manziel is the top candidate, but Matt Davis and Matt Joecklel can still play well and win the job.
Texas A&M will also have to replace two of the school's best playmakers in RB Cyrus Gray and wide out Jeff Fuller. Gray is third all-time in rushing yards with 3,298 and Fuller is the team's all-time leading pass catcher with 3,092 yards.
Christine Michael will be expected to replace the load the team lost when Gray departed for the NFL. The senior back has rushed for 1,530 yards and 12 TDs over the past two campaigns, but he has had health concerns missing a total of 11 games. They also brought in well respected recruit Trey Williams, who has that wanted combination of power and speed.
The Aggies will not miss Fuller as much as people believe. In fact, Ryan Swope will probably jump Fuller as the team's all-time leading pass catcher (needs just 889 yards). They also have ultra talented senior WR Uzoma Nwachukwu coming back and add in one of the top freshman wide outs in the nation with Thomas Johnson.
The offensive line has a ton of experience returning from last season, captained by second team All-Big 12 left tackle Luke Joeckel and right tackle Jake Matthews. They also have starting right guard Cedric Ogbuehl and center Patrick Lewis coming back. Left guard is the only open spot they have on the line, but sophomore Jarvis Harrison is expected to earn the starting role.
Defense
In 2010, the Aggies had a defense that gave up just 21.9 points/game. But the graduation of one of the top LBs in all of college football, Von Miller, significantly downgraded their play last year and they ended up allowing 28.2 points/game. They were really strong against the run, but were tore up against the pass.
Snyder will alter the defense from a 3-4 to a 4-3, so that there will be more action on the front seven. The team will have a tough job repeating their success against the rush, as they lose a couple of 300 pound juggernauts in defensive tackles Eddie Brown and Toney Jerod-Eddie. They do bring back senior defensive end Spencer Nealy and are expected to transition starting linebacker Damontre Moore to the other defensive end location.
Three gifted seniors return at LB, which should ease the transition to the 4-3. Weak-side linebacker Sean Porter, who many consider to be one of the elite guys at his position, leads the bunch. They also have MLB Jonathan Stewart and strong side linebacker Steven Jenkins.
The team might possibly benefit from their leaving from the aerial-happy Big 12, as the secondary looks even more depleted than it was a season ago. The team not only lost both starting corners, but they also have the tough task of replacing 4-time All-Big 12 free safety Trent Hunter. Their only returning starter is senior Steven Campbell.
SEC Prediction: 6th SEC West
Texas A&M will probably struggle to make a smooth transition to their new conference, even more so with a new coach and starting signal caller. We'll see if they can take some of that pass-happy Big 12 offense and make it work in the SEC. They may be rough at first though since they joined a league that features three of the top 10 teams in the country. Their three home games against Florida, Arkansas, and LSU will test their skills as a roster. If they struggle in College Station, they are in for a long season.
Despite the notion that the Aggies return a lot of skilled players in 2012, this season figures to be filled with growing pains. The Aggies will compete in their first season in the ultra-competitive SEC West. What makes matters tougher for the team is the departure of their coach Mike Sherman, as he became the offensive coach of the Miami Dolphins. Kevin Sumlin is the new head coach and brings with him Kliff Kingsburry as the offensive coach and Mark Snyder as the leader of the defense.
Offense
The Aggies will have a tough time attempting to replace one of the nation's top QBs in Ryan Tannehill, as he was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Sumlin did a masterful job of teaching quarterbacks in Houston, and he will have a lot of guys he can use in 2012. Red-shirt freshman Johnny Manziel is the top candidate, but Matt Davis and Matt Joecklel can still play well and win the job.
Texas A&M will also have to replace two of the school's best playmakers in RB Cyrus Gray and wide out Jeff Fuller. Gray is third all-time in rushing yards with 3,298 and Fuller is the team's all-time leading pass catcher with 3,092 yards.
Christine Michael will be expected to replace the load the team lost when Gray departed for the NFL. The senior back has rushed for 1,530 yards and 12 TDs over the past two campaigns, but he has had health concerns missing a total of 11 games. They also brought in well respected recruit Trey Williams, who has that wanted combination of power and speed.
The Aggies will not miss Fuller as much as people believe. In fact, Ryan Swope will probably jump Fuller as the team's all-time leading pass catcher (needs just 889 yards). They also have ultra talented senior WR Uzoma Nwachukwu coming back and add in one of the top freshman wide outs in the nation with Thomas Johnson.
The offensive line has a ton of experience returning from last season, captained by second team All-Big 12 left tackle Luke Joeckel and right tackle Jake Matthews. They also have starting right guard Cedric Ogbuehl and center Patrick Lewis coming back. Left guard is the only open spot they have on the line, but sophomore Jarvis Harrison is expected to earn the starting role.
Defense
In 2010, the Aggies had a defense that gave up just 21.9 points/game. But the graduation of one of the top LBs in all of college football, Von Miller, significantly downgraded their play last year and they ended up allowing 28.2 points/game. They were really strong against the run, but were tore up against the pass.
Snyder will alter the defense from a 3-4 to a 4-3, so that there will be more action on the front seven. The team will have a tough job repeating their success against the rush, as they lose a couple of 300 pound juggernauts in defensive tackles Eddie Brown and Toney Jerod-Eddie. They do bring back senior defensive end Spencer Nealy and are expected to transition starting linebacker Damontre Moore to the other defensive end location.
Three gifted seniors return at LB, which should ease the transition to the 4-3. Weak-side linebacker Sean Porter, who many consider to be one of the elite guys at his position, leads the bunch. They also have MLB Jonathan Stewart and strong side linebacker Steven Jenkins.
The team might possibly benefit from their leaving from the aerial-happy Big 12, as the secondary looks even more depleted than it was a season ago. The team not only lost both starting corners, but they also have the tough task of replacing 4-time All-Big 12 free safety Trent Hunter. Their only returning starter is senior Steven Campbell.
SEC Prediction: 6th SEC West
Texas A&M will probably struggle to make a smooth transition to their new conference, even more so with a new coach and starting signal caller. We'll see if they can take some of that pass-happy Big 12 offense and make it work in the SEC. They may be rough at first though since they joined a league that features three of the top 10 teams in the country. Their three home games against Florida, Arkansas, and LSU will test their skills as a roster. If they struggle in College Station, they are in for a long season.
No comments:
Post a Comment