To those who think A@M will be weaker than State this year

[gravedigger]

Specifically why?

If they lost starters, did they not have decent backups?

Will Sumerlin not make them explosive enough to make up for those defficiencies?

I'm asking because I dont know. Not because I dissagree.

 

[missouridawg]

They lose a first round draft pick QB... they bring in an entirely new coaching staff who is instituting an entirely new offensive scheme (from pro style to pass heavy spread) and new defensive scheme (3-4 to 4-3).

They have a great o-line and good RBs and a good WR. They'll be young at most other positions.

 

[engie]

- One of the worst pass defenses in the entire country last year.
- Zero depth(not even great starters) on the DL where they lost several players last year. Think OM level ineptitude at this spot.
- New Fr qb... Sumlin "proved" everything on the back of a record-breaking college qb. Has not done it with multiple guys yet. Houston(during his tenure) was also one of the most underachieving teams in FBS, relative to their recruiting and expectations.
- A&M saw 3 NFL upperclassmen DB's all season last year... fewer than they will see against multiple TEAMS this year.

-They WILL have one of the best OL in the country if they don't have injuries... along with an excellent stable of RB's and a really good WR.

 

[QuaoarsKing]

They were a 6-6 Big 12 team last year thanks to their 1st round QB. Now they don't have him.

They've completely changed offenses from a pro-style to an Air Raid, which if it even ever works in the SEC, will take a year or two to get the necessary players to implement.

Also, their defense wasn't very good last year, so I doubt they'll do a complete 180 there.

 

[Chesusdog]

New coach, new QB, new conference (7-6 in weak *** Big 12), new offensive scheme, new defense.

The defense being new might actually be a good thing because they were really bad last year. Their new QB has practically no game experience. The new starting RB Christine Michael split carries last year and looks to be pretty good. And Ryan Swope, their star receiver is incredible. But, and this is a big one, can the new QB Johnny Manziel get him the ball consistently like Tannehill did? I have my doubts. I think Texas A&M has the power and resources to fit right in to the SEC, but they are going to have some growing pains. I don't see them doing any better than last year's 7-6. I think we're the better team this year.

 

[MSUDawg4Life]

- One of the worst pass defenses in the entire country last year.
- Zero depth(not even great starters) on the DL where they lost several players last year. Think OM level ineptitude at this spot.
- New Fr qb... Sumlin "proved" everything on the back of a record-breaking college qb. Has not done it with multiple guys yet. Houston(during his tenure) was also one of the most underachieving teams in FBS, relative to their recruiting and expectations.
- A&M saw 3 NFL upperclassmen DB's all season last year... fewer than they will see against multiple TEAMS this year.

-They WILL have one of the best OL in the country if they don't have injuries... along with an excellent stable of RB's and a really good WR.

Not only that, they have to replace their entire secondary. They have a true freshman and a juco backup at one corner. Players who haven't seen the field much at the other. New safeties. Lightweight and thin DL. It doesn't look good.

aTm Depth Chart

OL, RB, WR and TE looks good. The rest, not so much.

 

[Gen. Grant]

I figured they will be tough since they are trying to prove they belong in the sec. They will probably play us (and mid level teams like us) close.

 

[The Usual Suspect]

I keep up with the aggies pretty well since my wife went there, and go to 1 game a year. They return all of the OL, which was already good. They have the running back Christine Michael from Beaumont, who was a 5 star that Croom almost got to come to State.

I believe they will go about 6-6 mainly because the defense is just not top tier quality yet, an unproven QB is leading the offense, and they have never played a schedule where they are required to play top notch teams every week. That being said, joining the SEC is the best thing that has ever happened to A&M. They have everything it takes to be great...money, facilities, and a rabid fanbase. They have lived behind Texas forever, on the national landscape. Now Texas cannot stop their exposure to the rest of the country.

 

[RougeDawg]

6-6 vs Joke Big 12 Defenses....

The best Big 12 defenses are as good as lower-mid teir SEC defenses. They have no idea how fast EVERY SEC defense will be. I've been on the sidelines for a few A&M games the past few years and if it hadn't been for the numbers on uniforms, I couldn't tell the difference between DE's, LB's, and Safety's. Most every position on the field is undersized and has less speed than just about every SEC team.

The only Big 12 team I've seen play, that has an SEC caliber defense, is Oklahoma.

A&M will be lucky to go bowling.

 

[slickdawg]

Their QB is likely going to be the first rookie ever to start game 1 for the Dolphins. Marino didn't even do that. That's a big dropoff.

Sumlin is a good coach, he did an admirable job after losing two QB's to ACL's in 2010, having to play a true freshman.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

Are they weaker?

I don't really know, but I do know that I watched them crumble in SEVERAL games last year, having had BIG leads. At that point, their depth was/is in question.
They fired their coach.
Also, we have watched two Sumlin coached teams vs MSU, If they have a Case Keenum at QB, they can score points.

I think they will be average at best this coming season.

 

[ckDOG]

Sumlin's philosophy will not translate well to the SEC

Unless they plan on executing perfectly against SEC defenses, he's going to put a lot of unnecessary strain on his own defense. No huddle pass heavy offense just turns the ball over to your opponent more quickly than a run based ball control offense when not clicking. He's going to put his team in a hole with a couple of early 3 and outs in a game and let the opponent gas his defense as a result.