Re: Watching aTm's 7 OT win over LSU should make us aware their QB & WR'ers

C2Ag93

All-American [557]

TigerPulse: 99%

Posts: 149

Joined: 9/2/18

Jul 28, 2019, 2:14 PM

Yes, and no...

I was just posting some early thoughts in another thread. I think Dabo knows how to shut down a one-dimensional team, and I think Jimbo is smart enough not to field a one dimensional team.

Things that hurt us (Aggies) this year vs Clemson:

1 - @ Clemson... I don't normally buy much into "home field advantage" arguments, except at only maybe a handful of schools. Clemson, Texas A&M for sure. LSU is tough to go into. I have never been, but I hear Oregon is daunting, maybe perhaps Michigan (never been, but I hear the big house does have it's advantages). Other than that, I think the "home field" argument is generally pretty weak. At U Texas, fans leave the stadium at halftime to go tailgate, and slowly filter back in sometime in the third quarter... they may get back into the game if they're up. Friends that have been to Bama report a good experience, but didn't really think the environment would affect the players much. I've been to Notre Dame, OU, Nebraska, K State, all the other Texas schools, bowls, etc. But the schools that come to mind that I hear from other fans about "true" home field advantage are Clemson, LSU, Oregon (apparently sound is loud) and maybe Michigan.

2 - Trayveon Williams - Left for the NFL early, was our go-to running back. No other running backs really seemed to approach his level last year. So unless one or two step up in our trash game to start the season, we may sputter the second game vs Clemson and be forced to go one-dimensionally to the passing game (but again, that would be bad...). BIG question mark here...

3 - Jace Sternberger - Our TE that played only one year as a JUCO last year before moving on to the NFL. Was a nice surprise, and saved our skins many times keeping the ball moving when needed.

4 - "Foundation": Not quite sure it's reasonable to say Jimbo has the foundation built. I normally don't hang seasons on just a few players (e.g. pointing out Williams and Sternberger above), but nor am I confident yet we have the foundation coming off the bench to replace them yet. And our first game vs Texas State will tell us absolutely NOTHING. I think Jimbo is a great coach (I know you guys hate him...). We saw a NIGHT AND DAY difference last year from the year before under Sumlin. But it's clear we don't have a "machine" yet like Clemson or Alabama. (Notice the word "yet"

).

I don't disagree going into 2019 it looks VERY promising for our receiving corps. I can imagine Kellen Mond has only gotten better. He was horrible his freshman year, but Jimbo proved it was coaching. Last year, he looked much better, but not quite a "world beater". This year??? Kendrick Rogers will be the receiver to watch, as you saw him step up in the LSU game and was nursing some injuries last year. Other receivers not too shabby either. But we'll lose if we go one-dimensional and have a lot of questions to answer.

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Well, respectfully, we Aggies reserve judgment on this and are probably in the better position to do so. I get you guys at Clemson faced him at FSU. But we have not seen anything to which you are referring, and this Aggie will reserve judgment and go on the facts as they (and if they) come out.

All I see in the "pundit land" are a bunch of innuendo about who he is. On the flip side, I know he has a special needs child and enjoyed the idea of moving closer to the Texas Medical Center for that, as one example.

In trying to honestly explore your claims, I flipped through the internet. Honestly, what has been PROVEN about his character? I see nothing.

On the flip side, FSU has a long history of being in the headlines for player issues. Before, during and after Jimbo. Remember back to the 90s (I do...)? "Free Shoes University"? May simply be that Jimbo stepped into a program that was ALREADY out of control, and welcomed a ticket out to a program like Texas A&M when presented with it. Just another view...

I did find recent articles from the Dallas News claiming some of which you are alluding to, that his players blame him for the downfall of FSU, they would have transferred if he hadn't left, etc. But I can assure you the Dallas News has always had an anti-A&M bias due to the U Tex lobby.

I found this article in 2014. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2268212-its-on-jimbo-fisher-to-shake-up-florida-state-get-away-with-it-football-culture I think it is balanced. It is stating Jimbo should get a better hold on the team. But again, I ask, how out of control had the program been for years prior?

What was the larger culture surrounding the program? Why didn't the FSU administration want to give him better facilities, etc.? Context. I think it's fair to argue that sometimes even good, moral people find themselves in a quagmire they can't solve easily. Each school has a culture that will make or break a head coach, and the pundits are free to write anything, facts or not. It's the reason, IMO, I believe any head coach at U Texas will be behind the proverbial 8-ball. Charlie Strong was a great coach, look what happened to him (the arrogance and "big money" donors run that school).

If there's some real "proof" as to these claims, would like to see it. Otherwise, it's just bloated innuendo. I think the man is due a fair trial.

Watching aTm's 7 OT win over LSU should make us aware their QB & WR'ers