AggieYell Mailbag
Here’s this week’s edition of the AggieYell Mailbag, sponsored as always by Tipton Auto Group:
Q: How do we get Marcel’s completion % up? Aside from penalties, our biggest problem on offense is nothing seems to be easy completion wise. I wonder if we should try to lower the yards per completion for the sake of more completions? (dP47)
A: I don’t know if I agree with this. First, I’m seeing a whole lot more easy receptions this year than compared to last. A whole lot more. If you want a higher completion percentage, then you can go back to those real quick hitters we saw early in the season. But Florida is not UTSA. The Gators, and other SEC teams, will jump those routes if they’re too common.
But let me pose another question: are we looking for a high number of companions or getting the ball down the field. A&M is seventh in the nation in yards per completion at 15.3 YPC. I’d like a higher completion percentage, but I want the chunk plays. That’s what the Aggies have done very well so far.
Q: How do the coaches sync up the player grouping on the field with the play call? Do the coaches and players know who is supposed to be on the field for each play? (Gmalone)
A: Sometimes, but most of the time the coaches are yelling for someone to get on or off the field before the snap.
Q: When a player shows up for an unofficial visit does he get any help from the staff? Lodging, food, coed escort? (H273)
A: No. If they got any of that, it’s no longer an unofficial visit. It’s an official.
Q: How do you feel about the concession prices across sports these days. I know around half time at Kyle, the Pepsi refill machines took a dump, my collectors cup was useless. (Retiredairforce)
A: I’ll be honest: I can’t tell you what prices are at Kyle Field. I haven’t bought anything there in probably 15 years or more. But I can say that at Reed, they’re not fan-friendly. At pro games, they’re absolutely absurd. But they’ve got a captive audience…
Q: Did Florida turn things around (like we did?)
Or, did they get hyped up for sips at home in a desperation game and play above their typical game? (Richard23)
A: I think they had a week off, prepared well and they don’t want to quit on Billy Napier. But winning at The Swamp is a whole lot easier for Florida than winning at Kyle Field. I guess we’ll see Saturday.
Q: Who’s your starter if Scooby comes back? Him or Daymion?
A: Scooby would be if I were in charge, but Sanford would get a lot of playing time.
I know you always do, but give us an injury update that you can share.
Kiotti Armstrong is out, Jared Kerr has moved from out to questionable and Scooby is probable. Bryce Anderson is off the injury report.
Do you have any insight into how the team tries to help Moss with his upset stomach?
Not really. The only thing I can think of helping would be dramamine, and that could make you drowsy.
Give us an update on Arie? (Tip despiser)
She has her first surgery scheduled for the week after the regular season ends, but I don’t know if insurance will cover it (in network, out of network stuff). So that just jacks up my anxiety further. The last few months personally have sucked.
Q: If North Carolina continues losing, do you think A&M can flip Trashawn Ruffin back to A&M? (Ag20)
A: They might be able to, but I honestly don’t know if they’re even trying at this point. I think they’re pretty pleased with the young guys from this class and I saw Jermaine Kinsler last weekend — he’s a beast.
Q: Is our defense’s success in the last 2 games sustainable? Why or why not? (Umpocket)
A: They followed the scheme, tackled well and didn’t make mental mistakes. So why not?
The opposing offenses moving forward aren’t the SEC’s best (we’ll see about Mizzou this weekend), so while they may not hold everyone to 10 points or less, they could still end up being very strong.
Q: Before I ask, let me be clear. I love what I’m seeing at the receiver position. Money well spent. With that being said, obviously Craver and Conception are pretty much getting all the looks. Is there any indication of resentment from Bussey, ABR, or any other receivers. They just don’t seem to get the looks. Seems like ABR gets 2 balls per game? And like last year, I’d love to see TEs (Niblack) get loose in the middle of the field. (Tsmith3001)
A: If you have a guy who’s averaging 18.6 YPC and another who’s averaging 16.7, you’d be a fool to throw the ball anywhere else. Opponents have already tried to take Craver away (Auburn), and they got burned by Concepcion. But there’s going to come a time when Bussey and/or ABR are going to be really needed, and that time may be soon. So no, there’s not any grumbling. They get what’s going on. As for the tight ends, their time may be coming too. But right now, I’m going with the hot hands.
Q: 1. Since you are a Baltimore Orioles fan, are you also a Baltimore Ravens fan?
A: No.
2. What do the HS players attending a TAMU FB game on an OV typically do before, during, and after the game?
Before the game, they eat, meet with coaches, get tours, stuff like that. During the game they have prime seats at about the south 30 yard line. After the game, they hang out with players.
3. I noticed TE # 88 played significant snaps during the MissState game, and wondered your thoughts on the TEs (Nate B, Amari Niblack, Thor, and Micah Riley)? (BoxsterBoy72)
Riley did play a lot this week and coach Elko said he’d earned the time. As for the group, they’re not superstars but they’re work well as a complementary group. Theo can be a threat down the field and has become a better blocker; Boerkircher has been a revelation and, I think, has become a fan favorite. I’d love to see Niblack get more looks, but like I said above, how do you go away from 1 and 7 right now? You don’t.
Q: Gators look like they handled the tsips fairly easily. Is it that Gators have improved or tsips are not that good? Will this be litmus test for the Aggies this week?
A: They’re 5-0. From here on out, it’s a litmus test every week.
How good are we?
We’ll see. Elko seems to think they’re good.
What are the questions you want to have answered this week against Gators?
Can the Aggies continue to control the line of scrimmage? How do they handle a team with momentum but still desperate to win? Will they continue to limit the screwups (blown assignments, missed tackles) that hurt them the first three game?
Is it just as simple as win baby win? (Spar2cus)
Yes.
Q: Let’s put you in Colin Klein’s shoes. You moved the ball well against Auburn but had drives halted by flags. You had your worst offensive showing in the first half against Mississippi State – constant deep balls on vertical routes, flags, and various running plays – but got everything going in the 2nd half. On the surface level, it appears the last two games have been sluggish but underneath the score doesn’t tell the entire story. You’ve also reviewed tape from Miami and Texas to see what you can do. You can’t afford a slow start against Florida. What’s your game plan? Where is a significant weakness in Florida’s defense you think you can expose? (MC9008)
A: First off, I’m not looking at just the Texas game. I’m looking at every game. I’m aware of the number 184, which is how many rushing yards Miami had against them. I know South Florida also had success running. My objectives are twofold: get after them in the running game early and get Marcel Reed started faster than he has the last two games. Have the line lean on them from the start, get some quick game going in the passing game and then stretch things out. Florida’s passing defense isn’t that good, but control of the line of scrimmage remains a must.
Q: Has Deuce played yet? Don’t recall seeing him in the last two weeks.
If he hasn’t played yet any consideration being given to him redshirting and coming back in 2026 as a starting tackle? I’m assuming he has a medical redshirt option. (Aggiewoo)
A: Yes, he has played. If you go back and watch Concepcion’s first touchdown catch from last weekend, the left tackle jumps very early, to the point where he’s looking around for a flag, and none comes. That was him. Beyond that, I didn’t notice him, which is precisely what you want from an offensive lineman.
Q: Ask Elko if Reed has an obsession with throwing the long ball because he knows he has 3 receivers who can be open on the long route? Is that his first option or is he going for it no matter what? (know you won’t ask that)
A: Doesn’t matter if I asked it, he wouldn’t answer it.
Last weekend a couple of the OL and a couple of the DL were limping during the game. Moss and another RB limped at times. Is this team getting beat up to the point it could become an issue? (DentonAg80)
This is the SEC. Guys are going to get banged up. It’s inevitable. The fact that their injury report is so small right now is a minor miracle. You have to deal with it and adjust.
Q: Last year, Reed connected on several long balls on vertical routes. This year, he seems to really crank-up his throws and is over shooting receivers by 3-5 yards. That’s clearly better than under throwing and giving up a pick, but not as good as a completion that makes the defense respect the deep ball. What do you think has changed? Is he just over estimating the speed of his much faster receivers this year? (Agswag12)
A: I think you’re overestimating his success with the deep ball last year. He found Cyrus Allen wide open on a busted coverage against Florida and stuck one to Noah Thomas against LSU. Outside of that, his big plays were like they are this year — medium to moderately deep passes that the receiver was able to do something with. But there sure weren’t as many of them as there are this year.
Point blank, the deep ball is the only deficiency remaining in Reed’s game. If he can start hitting those, then the offense becomes nearly unstoppable.
Q: After we beat florida and napier gets fired, which, if any, of their player(s) would you like to see us go after? (Hogtide)
A: I’d take Dallas Wilson and not even think twice about it.
Q: What happened to Niblack?
Did he play vs MSU? (3G Ag)
A: What happened to Niblack was that A&M shoved the ball down Mississippi State’s throat in the running game, so there wasn’t as much of a need for a primary pass-catcher. The snaps went to Micah Riley instead.
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