10 Things for Tuesday

Here’s your weekly dose of 10 Things for Tuesday:

1. My big refrain going into the season, if you’ll recall, was “show me.” Through one game, at least, Marcel Reed has shown me something. That, honestly, was the best I’ve ever seen him play. Reed threw for a few more yards against Auburn or USC last year than he did against UTSA (291 and 292 to 289), but he was more efficient for sure. He didn’t turn the ball over and he didn’t take any sacks because he was indecisive. He tied a career high in touchdown passes with four and just looked like he was far more decisive and accurate. His biggest issues were with the intermediate and deep passes last year, and he made major strides in that category — at least trough one game. On intermediate and deep passes, he was 7 of 13 for 128 yards. He missed on the deep ball to KC Concepcion badly, but otherwise he was much more competitive in that phase of the game. His deep in to Concepcion on 3rd and 17 was one of the best throws I’ve seen from an Aggie quarterback in some time. Reed threw it before Concepcion went into his break and the two timed it perfectly, hitting Concepcion right in the hands. He and Ashton Bethel-Roman connected on a very nice 20-yarder where ABR sat down in the zone and the ball was perfectly placed. Reed can still play better, and UTSA’s secondary is bad, but he had a part in them looking that way. He certainly looked improved over last year and, if he continues to improve as the season goes on, the Aggies may have something really good.
2. The wide receivers showed me, and then some. Wow. I knew Mario Craver and Concepcion were improvements over what the Aggies had last year, but that difference was night and day. A&M’s offense, with those two, ABR and Terry Bussey, goes from slow and plodding to high octane. The two new arrivals, Craver and Concepcion, are probably the most exciting receivers A&M has had since Christian Kirk. Teams will have to completely revamp how they approach the A&M offense, because it’s now very different.
3. One of the reasons A&M didn’t run the ball much against UTSA is simple: they didn’t have to. They suspected Reed and the wideouts would be more than a match for the Roadrunners secondary and exploited it. You’re going to hear griping about “A&M couldn’t run” and blah blah blah — 4.7 yards a carry will win you a lot of ballgames. Le’Veon Moss and Rueben Owens both averaged better than 6 yards a carry, so they could have leaned on UTSA if they needed to. But the Aggies know they can run. They wanted to see if what they had seen in practice with respect to he passing game translated to Kyle Field.
4. If you have any questions about who the top backup interior lineman and the top backup tackle is in the absence of Deuce Fatheree, the answer became pretty clear Saturday night if it wasn’t already obvious. Robbie Bourdon and Koli Faaiu both played significant snaps against UTSA as the Aggies fiddled with their offensive line groupings a fair amount. Bourdon played both tackle spots while Faaiu worked at center and guard. Trey Zuhn also played center. Net result: two quarterback hurries total from a defense that blitzes heavily and was fifth in the nation in sacks last year. 
5. UTSA’s passing game (really, their whole scheme) was absolutely designed to counter A&M’s pass rush. Owen McCown was getting the ball out as quickly as possible, figuring that short yardage and the chance to break tackles would be better than losing yards. McCown threw for 121 yards on 32 attempts — that’s an anemic 3.8 yards per attempt. He actually dropped back to throw six times, and Cashius Howell hurried him five times. Rylan Kennedy sacked him on the sixth.
6. If you want validation for the idea that this is a team that is becoming progressively tighter and is buying into what Mike Elko is selling, look no further than how they block for one another. EJ Smith should be on an all-time special teams highlight reel for making three blocks on KC Concepcion’s 80-yard punt return, and Mario Craver mentioned Terry Bussey and Ashton Bethel-Roman had blocked for him on his touchdowns. All coaches want to see selfless play, and Elko certainly got a good dose of it in week 1.
7. I said during camp that the Aggies were emphasizing getting the ball to Concepcion and Craver quickly, and we definitely saw that Saturday night. In fact, we saw the exact play they were running during practice, so I guess it was kind of like the Utah Jazz pick and roll when John Stockton and Karl Malone where there: yeah, you know it’s coming, now stop it. UTSA almost did a couple of times, and I expect two things Saturday: more of the same and Utah State to try to jump a few quick hitters. But here’s the thing; at some point, Craver or Concepcion will put their foot in the ground, turn, then turn back and go deep when the corner bites on the quick look. If they anticipate like UTSA did, that could lead to a very big play.
8. The biggest problem A&M’s run defense had Saturday night was between the ears. That’s also one of the biggest problems they had last year, but we also got a hint of what they can do when their heads are screwed on right. During the six drive stretch that defined the game in the third and fourth quarters, UTSA ran 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, and 3 plays, respectively. Five three and outs and one drive extended by a penalty. Their total yards on those drives: 16, 1, 0, 2, -10 and 4. That’s exerting your will, but it’s also fitting in the right spots.
9. Even if you were (understandably) frustrated at the bumbling of the defense in the first half (and the first play of the second), the team’s speed and overall control of the second half showed in the tackles for loss category. A&M had 9 TFLs, the most in the SEC for week 1.
10. We heard all spring and summer about how linebacker Jordan Lockhart had taken his game to another level and the snap counts would certainly seem to indicate that he has. He played 29 snaps Saturday night, trailing only Taurean York and Scooby Williams. And he responded well to the opportunity, racking up 3 tackles and a half-tackle for loss. The Aggies finally have something really good going at linebacker.

And, before I go, one final and non-football related thing. My mom, Joanne Passwaters, passed away today at the age of 75. My mom was a teacher, and her impact in the Round Rock ISD is broad and long-lasting. But her impact on my life, beyond just being a fantastic mom, was profound and life-altering. She encouraged me not to quit writing or being interested in being a reporter when my fifth-grade teacher insinuated I was an idiot and incapable of writing at a serious level because I didn’t follow the “Bing, Bang and Bongo” method — whatever the hell that was. Her encouragement kept me from being discouraged, something I found easy to do. My life is what it is because of her, and I love her and will miss her dearly.

Bye, Mom. I know we’ll see you again.