AggieYell Mailbag

Q: 1. Any positive or negative recruit reaction to the game?

2. Who is a better match up for us, Ole Miss or L$U?

3. Assuming it's Starkel or Hubenak next yr, does Mazzone switch to a more pro-style set or keep the zone-read as a staple of the offense? (AggieLuke04)

A: 1) Nothing negative. If anything, they know A&M can hang with the baddest boys on the block. That should help.

2) Ole Miss, easily. They're one dimensional offensively and their defense is terrible.

3) You play to their strengths. Their strengths are NOT zone read. Right now, A&M is running an offense similar to what UCLA ran with Brett Hundley. Hundley, a more mobile quarterback left and Josh Rosen came in. UCLA accordingly switched to a more pro-style system. I would expect the same if either of those guys starts.

Q: Kick off return has been interesting this year. In the Alabama game, it seems as though we had a differnet pair back there almost every time. Speedy's injury likely impacted that. In general, we seem much more disposed to taking the ball at the 25 vs returning it. Doesn't seem to be the weapon it has been in the past.

Thoughts? (BrAg)

A: One issue is kickoffs themselves. There's an increasing number of touchbacks, and if a guy is getting the ball seven yards deep in the end zone, it's the prudent thing to take a knee and start at the 25. A&M pressed the issue against Alabama trying to make a big play and got buried.

Q: I think we have some excellent defensive tackles. We displayed it against Arky and Auburn. However the past two games team have effectively run between the tackles. What has happened the last two games? I thought we would get better as the year progressed but we seem to be getting worse up the middle. (GCJC)

A: Against Tennessee, they frequently played themselves out of position and/or missed tackles. Against Alabama, they got MOVED out of position. A veteran group came out, lined up hat to hat and took it to them.

Q: Following up on GCJC's question, I as well thought we'd be a team that continued to improve over the year. What units have and what units have not improved over the season in your mind. (Beyond the run game) (AnotheroldAg)

A: Improved -- Running game, offensive line (until last week), linebackers (slightly), corners, quarterback (slightly), safeties (which were already good)

Not improved -- Wide receivers, defensive line

Q: Any chance Hubes tosses a TD pass caught by Ratley Saturday? (h273)

A: Sure, why not? Both should play a good bit.

Q: OUs D has stunk it up the last few games (800 + yards surrendered to Tech, 40 points to tu). Are any of their defensive coaches on the hot seat and could that affect Jacob Phillips' commitment? (Biromeag)

A: You know, I wasn't sure how bad OU's defense had been until you asked this question, so I looked. The answer is they're REALLY bad: 116th in total defense, 115th in scoring defense and 127th -- next to last -- in pass defense. Yeah, somebody's going to get fired up there barring a big turnaround. Would that affect Phillips? Possibly. A&M would be wise to stay on him.

Q: Do you think the strategy behind the offensive play calling is a result of A&M's offensive line and quarterback weaknesses? Seems to me that Sumlin acknowledged in his press conference this week that the coaching staff knew there were going to be problems with the offensive line this season. Alabama exposed and confirmed that. (Yuleeaggie)

A: I don't think anyone should be remotely surprised that an offensive line with four new starters has had some growing pains. I think they have exceeded expectations, even if they're inexperienced and far from a prototype unit. Has that meant more RPO (run-pass option) and flat out running the ball? Yes. That's what they do best. Does that explain the horizontal passes against Alabama? No, it does not.

Q: IMG Academy has a number of mid term enrollees. Are these kids that took an extra year of high school, e.g. Held back as freshmen? Or are they generally the same age as other graduating seniors? (Smooth Obdurator)

A: They're the same age, but you're right in that they seem to have a lot of mid-term graduates. It may be that it is a boarding school, kids aren't at home and don't feel much like sticking around if they don't have to. If I'd have had that option, I would have been long gone from mine.

Q: Why has the run defense gotten worse? I know Alabama presented unique challenges, but it seems to go beyond the opponent. It's not like Auburn was a bad running team. Is it schematic, personnel, wear and tear? (Dwaynezimm99)

A: I pretty much answered this above, but Alabama IS a unique team. Nobody's shut them down yet, and I doubt anyone will.

Q: We have two receivers....i.e Ricky Seals-Jones and Frank Iheanacho that are over 6'5 and would seem to present a real challenge to any LB or nickel corner to cover over the middle. However, I do not see us running many routes over the middle of the field trying to utilize their height and ability to just block out the defender. I see Tech, with Kingsbury calling the plays, running a ton of drag routes and crossing patterns and continually picking up chunks of yards on them. We are supposed to have one of the best receiver corps in the country, but so far, I'm extremely disappointed in them as a whole. We also seem to have real issues getting separation in our route running. Do you agree? Speedy can't seem to get a defender off of him. Every time he's thrown the ball he's blanketed. Why can't that guy get open? (Crupitch03)

A: For one thing, A&M runs a lot of option routes. They can go several ways. I'll give you an example: on 4th and 3 at Auburn, Christian Kirk ran a drag route and Trevor Knight hit him for a first down. Against Tennessee, Kirk started that route, broke it back outside and Knight hit him for the game's first score. Same play, but Kirk has the option to pick or change a route. This isn't Kliff Kingsbury's offense, and Trevor Knight isn't Patrick Mahomes. The route trees are different. I thought they'd use the middle of the field with RSJ, but they haven't much yet. We'll see if that changes.

As for separation: Seals-Jones has done a decent job of that when he gets the ball. Kirk has been double-teamed constantly. Reynolds finds ways to get open. Noil does not. He never has. He's never been a good route runner and that has not changed.

Q: Did I miss the report on how bad Watts injury was? (JP2108)

A: No, you didn't. There's been no statement made except that John Chavis said he's "still an option" for this weekend. I don't think that's an option they'll need.

Q: How have the OL graded out the past few SEC games? In particular I'm interested in how the coaches view the performance of Prater, McCoy and Lanfear. From what I saw in the Bama game Prater seemed to get blown by several times. McCoy's snaps are erratic. but, seems like he and Lanfear maintain their blocks reasonably well. (Lawhall)

A: They've graded out fine in SEC games until last weekend, which was a very rude awakening for them. McCoy's snaps have to improve, but he's been good overall. Lanfear got benched late in the Alabama game for Keaton Sutherland, which I would guess is because he's a better pass blocker. Prater had an awful weekend against Jonathan Allen. Welcome to the SEC, rook.

Q: What is your prediction for our year end record? (86Aggie)

A: Before the season I said 9-3, 10-2. Ole Miss is playing putrid football, so it shouldn't be any worse than 10-2. I'm more inclined to add a bowl and say 12-1.

Q: Will Mond, Hubes or Starkel be our starting quarterback next year or will it be someone who has not joined the team yet? (86Aggie)

A: You're asking an impossible question on multiple levels, so I'm not going to give you an answer. I know who you're insinuating, but he's not a slam dunk to sign with A&M.

Q: What are your thoughts on giving Willams 25 carries this game and how many yards do you think he would have? (Mackey25)

A: I don't want him to have 25 carries, period. Especially in this game. He'd put up a ton of yards, but there's no need for it and just tempts fate.

Q: Why do you think the team was so poorly prepared to face Alabama, based on their performance? Will any good come of Coach Sumlin's talks (or complaints) to SEC officials office about the no calls on the targeting of Speedy, and the many no calls of holding against Garrett? What mid-season improvements need to be made to finish 11-1? We're projected to play Louisville (again) in the Orange Bowl. How accurate do you think this projection is? How badly did the Alabama loss hurt our recruiting efforts? Will any of our current commits receive a star upgrade? Thanks, Mark. (Chuck70)

A: 1) I don't think they were necessarily poorly prepared (even though my complaints with the offensive playcalling are well-established by now). Alabama makes good teams look bad.

2) Nope.

3) Get back to basic concepts against the run, tackle better, hit a higher percentage of passes and (maybe most importantly) convert on third downs.

4) I don't think it's accurate. I think they're going to the Sugar Bowl.

5) It didn't.

6) Yes, I'm just not sure how many.

Q: Any word on where you think Stephan Zabie will end up? IIRC, t.u. was considered to lead- have their issues had an impact there? (AggieinDC)

A: I think Texas is, at best, on the outside looking in. Zabie is very tight-lipped, but it looks like A&M is still in pretty good shape. OU may be the other player here, but he's apparently not anywhere close to deciding.

Q: 1. I'm really glad we played Auburn already, aren't you?

2. Is this the year we break the LSU streak?

3. I feel the Ags' are a good team trying to grow into a really good team, as in elite & can compete with Bama. Did the Bama game encourage or discourage the team? I hope they are encouraged, as they have really come together as a staff & team (versus a loose collection of 4-star guys) and put all the BS around the program behind them. The wins are cool, but so is the 180 in team chemistry. (renz_Man)

A: 1) Don't care. A&M beat them in a way a change in playcaller would not alter.

2) It's as good a chance as they've had. I think they will.

3) I don't think they're discouraged at all. I haven't seen any indication of it. More like they're angry.

Q: 1. Is Maestro in the two deep at MLB next year?

2. Will Aaron Hansford still be a WR/H-back at spring training in 2017? (Beast1125)

A: 1) No, I doubt it. But he could still contribute.

2) Ok, let's kill the Aaron Hansford to linebacker thing once and for all. He came to A&M to be a receiver, A&M likes him as a receiver and he was already playing before he got hurt. HE IS NOT GOING TO PLAY LINEBACKER. THANK YOU.

Q: Mazzone seemed to dust off the Spav play-calling archive in the fourth quarter, and run the tricky play-action pass on third and fourteen and down by three scores. Have we patented this insane play, or is any other team doing it? That, plus the erratic snaps and poor protection, make any quarterback's completion percentage go down. Any idea why we continue to do this? (Froppe)

A: Other teams deal with questionable play calls all the time. We just notice A&M's more because we're watching more closely. It's not excusing it at all, I'm just saying it's not unique.

Q: I noticed Reynolds lined up on the left side more the Bama game than I can remember seeing him there throughout this year. Was this to get a mismatch against Bama, or was this to help Knight since people say he has accuracy problems to the left? (Martij3)

A: I noticed the same thing. I think it was a matchup thing more than anything. Either way, they did a good job bracketing Reynolds.

Q: Aggie basketball question. What happened to the 4 star shooting guard Deshawn Corprew?

I notice he is not on the roster this year. (agrabfan)

A: Unfortunately, he didn't qualify and is at a JUCO. He was a known grade risk, and thankfully the Aggies have a fair amount of depth at the 3.

Q: I read about how Alabama practices are very intense, how they finish each route, etc as if they are in a real game. Saban seems to have the attitude that anything less is unacceptable. From what I have seen on video of our practices, I think we practice hard but it does not look 100% game day speed/follow through. I remember back in the day when Manny Diaz was having tu players practice without pads, etc, the complete opposite. Do you think Alabama practices harder than anyone else, regardless of whether they have 3 4 or 5 star players? (gowsie)

A: I don't know if they practice harder, but Saban demands perfection and he will work his guys until they get there. It seems to work pretty well.

Q: WHY do most of the highly desired LB's our staff goes after shy away from us??? Just so frustrating we can't seem to get our primary targets year after year at a need position (RingDunker93)

A: I think this may be a very premature question to ask. A&M still has multiple linebacker targets still on the board for 2017. In fact, I don't understand the timing of this one at all.