AggieYell Mailbag
Here’s this week’s AggieYell Mailbag, sponsored by Tipton Auto Group:
Q: Beyond CB1 and CB2, How do we feel about LSU’s pass Defense? In my opinion, ABR, the Tight Ends, and Bussey will be a major x factor – because I believe they can leave Mansoor Delane on KC or Craver and double whoever he’s not on. (dP47)
A: Their top three corners are good, but they rotate 2 and 3 and don’t play them together. Harold Perkins plays the STAR, which is the nickel in A&M’s defense, but he can have issues in coverage. If he’s on a slot receiver like Bussey or Craver, that could be an issue.
Whoever Delane covers will have trouble. The rest? If Reed’s smart and accurate, there should be some opportunities.
Q: Do you see an extension/raise for Mike Elko and his staff happening anytime soon? Obviously there’s a lot of season left, but to me he’s shown enough to prove that he’s the guy – especially if we leave BR with a win. It seems to me like a raise would be happening down the road anyway, so why not get it over with so we don’t have to sweat out the Penn state coaching search? (Shanehammett12)
A: Elko pretty much shut the door on Penn State last night during his radio show when he (and his wife) said they weren’t going anywhere. But sure, you don’t want to have any lingering worries and he’s definitely exceeded expectations to this point in the year. He doesn’t seem to be in a rush to get an extension, so it may wait until the end of the season, but he’s certainly going to deserve one if the Aggies make the CFP.
Q: How do you think Vitello fares as the SF manager never having played professional baseball? (QuickDrawMcGraw77)
A: Tactically, I think he’s fine. His problems are going to be gaining the respect of the locker room and finding talent. The Giants aren’t exactly loaded at this point in time.
Q: Your take on the Aggie DB “faking injury” during the Arky game? (BoxsterBoy72)
A: I saw it when it happened, thought it looked weird and then never gave it another thought. All I’m going to say is that if they’re going to get A&M, they’d better start looking closer at everyone else because this isn’t a one-off.
Q: Pre-Game, is Elko a rah rah guy, or more subdued and matter of fact?
A: He’s a Jersey guy. He’s intense, loud and you know, uses naughty words.
Which position coach gets your coach of the year so far?
A: Naughty words, this is tough. I’ll go with Adam Cushing and the O-line, but Holmon Wiggins and the receivers make it tough.
What are Nussmeier’s tendencies when he’s under pressure?
Check down, try to move to buy some time and then if necessary throw it away. We saw him make mistakes against A&M last year when pressured, so he’s not immune to flinching under the pass rush.
If you’re Mario Craver‘s position coach this week, what are you telling him as he goes up against one of the best? (Tsip despiser)
Make him your (naughty word). You have the ability; go out and show him.
Q: I noticed on EJ Smith‘s (called back) and Rueben Owen’s touchdown, both Dametrious and Ruben Fatheree were in the game at tackles.
Did Zhun have an injury, or were they just rotating? (Richard23)
A: Zuhn was at center. That’s what they do when they want to get Fatheree on the field.
Q: Are you hearing of any significant injuries, or the wear and tear of the season causing issues? Three tough games ahead so wondering. (DentonAg80)
A: Always look at the injury report Wednesday night when the SEC releases it. That’ll give you an idea. Right now, A&M’s pretty good injury-wise. Lightyears from last season, for sure.
Q: Does Jimbo get a spot on the coaching carousel?
A: Maybe. But if I interview him, I’d have two questions that could make or break the conversation: one, have you learned from your mistakes, especially with your refusal to alter your offense and play calling? Two, are you going to control your locker room this time and how do you intend to do it?
Is this (the permanent suspension of SEC official Ken Williamson) legit? (QuickDrawMcGraw77)
Even though the SEC hasn’t said anything, the outlet that broke the story is legit. And if it’s true that there were 11 complaints from a single game and nine of them were deemed to be legitimate (and several to be egregious), then he deserved it. Let’s face it; the SEC should get out their version of a leaf blower and clean out their referee group. They’re terrible and it’s an embarrassment to the conference.
Q: What do you think it would require for Paul Finebaum to say something positive about Ags. or that Ags. are a better team than tu, or that Marcel Reed is a better QB than Manning? (MajorOgden)
A: I cannot honestly answer that question because I do not pay attention to Paul Finebaum.
Q: Any chance Koli could return next season or is he out of eligibility? With Bisontis playing the way he is, it looks like will lose 5 OL after this season, not including Koli. If Koli can take over C and Nabou slides over to OG, that’s one less hole we would need to fill on the line.
A: I’m pretty sure Koli’s done after this year.
Is there a record of which crews officiated the Aggie games this season? Or a schedule of who will officiate upcoming games? (98 Percenter)
Yep, just go to the stats page on 12thman.com, go to game-by-game and click on the box score. The officials are at the bottom.
Q: On each side of the ball, who’s your biggest surprise? Most improved? Player that most needs to step up his game?
A: Surprises are easy — Daymion Sanford and Nate Boerkircher (sorry, EJ).
Most improved? Dezz Ricks and EJ.
Step it up? Terry Bussey (he hasn’t been bad, just want more) and Taurean York. He’s had great games and had some stinkers. One of his hallmarks coming into the year was his consistency. We haven’t gotten that this year.
If tu loses to the cowbells, do they lose out and miss a bowl game? (EliCrow)
After their Starkville trip, they play Vandy at home, at Georgia, Arkansas and A&M. They could be underdogs in three of those four. So it’s possible.
Q: At this point in the season, are there any new players that you feel you were wrong about in your initial evaluation? Mine was Howell, I’ll admit. (3rd Gen Ag)
A: No, not really. I didn’t think Craver and KC Concepcion would be this dynamic, but I thought they’d be good.
Q: 1). What are the rule differences in wearing protective pads in football between college and NFL.
i see kids in college not wearing knee pads then get bone bruises or worse at the knee or WR running with their mouth pieces flapping on their face mask.
A: The NFL has more stringent rules on uniforms, including pulling the pants all the way down and having knee pads. If they don’t, the player can be fined and, I think, the team penalized.
2) With expected success through the rest of the season. I’m expecting the “Well you played 3 teams that fired their coach!” Or your schedule didn’t have many ranked teams!”
Im my eyes who gives a **** but there will be some. Thoughts? (LTGrenader)
A: Hit ‘em with a little Shakespeare. Forsooth, yon infidel of obscene pride, the standings doth not suit you well. Verily, the A&M college of Texas doth reside upon yon highest seat! Impale them with a stick, students of Agriculture!
Q: This maybe too big an ask for a mailbag – but what is your Midseason First Team All SEC ballot? (dP47)
A: I need to do some real looking, but I can tell you a few guys who are on it: Taylen Green, Mike Washington, Mario Craver, KC Concepcion, Chase Bisontis, Dametrious Crownover, Cashius Howell and Daymion Sanford.
Q: We had heard A&M has an interest in Jayden Warren, the WR committed to UH. How strong is the interest on both sides? Also, it seems a couple of Auburn commits we were very close to getting will be at the LSU game this weekend. What are the chances they flip to the good guys? If we get Mathews, would that eliminate our interest in Warren? (ThepassAg)
A: I think if Warren has a good time on his official visit, he will flip. I’ve been a big fan of his for a while, and he has the size and speed combination A&M has been lacking.
As for Bralan Womack and Jase Mathews, let’s see how Auburn does down the stretch. I think they’re in play, but A&M has to get them back on campus again.
I think Warren may make his decision before Mathews. That would make for an interesting quandry.
Q: Can you put together a composite by position group of our football NIL spend? (CypressAggie)
A: No.
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