Sunday Synopsis: Fightin' Texas Aggies (Week 11)
Well...here we are.
I'll start off with saying this: What a fun weekend of college football. What looked like it could be blowout after blowout, turned out to be upset after upset. With six teams in the top 15 going down, including numbers two, three, and four, playoff spots opened up for a lot of teams. I apologize for not getting Cole and I's predictions out this week, it was busy and hectic. But, I do not think either of us could've predicted half of what happened correctly anyways.
Now onto the Ags. Ouch Part II. The Battle of the Backups started promising. Hubenak was slinging it in the first half and Patterson looked uncomfortable. Then, roles flipped, and after a 23 point fourth quarter, the Rebs stole one on the road, handing Texas A&M their first home loss of the season. Back to back weeks, we've lost to five-loss teams. And back to back weeks, there have been some unwatchable trends.
Offense
On offense, we've had our struggles the second half of the season. With a young offensive line, running the ball has been very difficult, even with two very solid running backs in Keith Ford and Trayveon Williams. The play calling, however, is what has my concern. I was at the game last night, and I could've sworn Jack Spavital had taken over again. The bubble screen on 2nd and Long that didn't work, apparently doesn't work on 3rd and Long the very next play. Shocker, right? Sure, Jake Hubenak threw an interception to end the game, a really bad pass actually. But, without that pick, he really played as well as any other guy would've being thrown into that situation. Well with exception to this guy...
Defense
The defense is just as back as the Texas Longhorns. We are loaded with talent, absolutely stacked. But we lack consistency. Early in the games we show pure and utter dominance, but late in the games we look dead. Part of it, I think, is due to our offense running a hurry-up offense that goes three and out all the time. Stopping the running game against LSU with Fournette and Guice will be even trickier than it was going to be if all-SEC Safety, Armani Watts, is seriously injured. Watts left the game in the first half and didn't return, with what appeared to be a serious leg injury. We need you now more than ever, John Chavis.
Special Teams
I decided to finish on a positive note. Special teams has been a bright spot in our games, win or loss. Justin Evans almost added another return for a touchdown last night, taking it 93 yards and setting up first and goal for the Aggies on the Ole Miss seven yard line. Then again, special teams may be a reason why our race horses are so beat at the end of the game. On return, I've seen our two running backs, Christian Kirk, Speedy Noil, Armani Watts, and Justin Evans all back deep at some point. That's not even accounting for our starters who are in to block for them.
So with a team that recruits so much talent, being a top 15 recruiting class consistently, how do we not have depth? Because really that seems to be the problem. Our starters run with anybody, but when they go down or need a breather, who can go in? It can't be the lack of talent. I already mentioned how well we've been able to recruit. One has to question the player development going on, after the same story every single season. We peak around week 4, while other teams get better every single week. I still believe in you, Kevin Sumlin, but if we finish with four losses like I think we will your seat warmer is on again heading into next season, which is a shame because early on it looked like you had officially silenced those calling for your job this offseason. Thanks and Gig'em. Beat the hell outta UTSA.
