Thoughts On The Upcoming SFA Game

It is finally game week. The Ags will take on Stephen F. Austin on Saturday at Kyle Field. This game should offer a good opportunity for the coaches to get a live look at a lot of players. It will give the fans a chance to see the Ags return to the 3-4 defense. It will mark the start of a season that a lot of Aggies have been pointing to as the return of A&M to the elite among college football programs. I have a few concerns about this team heading into the season, but have faith in Sherman and co to turn this thing around.

SFA returns a QB who passed for 4000 yds last year. I do think SFA will be able to move the ball on our defense. I think a good goal for this game is to keep SFA to under 350 yds of total offense. The most important thing for our team is to get as many players on the field as possible. The coaches need to get a look at a lot of the young players in this system. If we get extensive playing time for Damontre Moore, Tony Hurd Jr, Steven Campbell, and Dominique Patterson I will consider Saturday a success on defense. Most of all I want to see good tackling and very few busted coverages.

 I want to see average special teams. That means I want to see 40 yard punts, and made FGs from inside 40 yds. I feel confident in our coverage units. I think they will be solid. I am worried about our punter and FG kicker. I do not think the coaches are confident in those two spots right now. I think we will have great returners in Kenric McNeal, Nate Askew, Ryan Swope, and Christine Michael so am not worried about our return game. I think we will see a step up in this area.

I think Swope is going to star for us this year at WR. I expect him to catch 5 passes against SFA for around 60 yards. I think you will see stats like that from him all year long.

I know everyone is concerned about our OL. I really am not because I know we are a lot more talented than last year. I think Brian Thomas will get the job done at RT. I think Christine Michael is going to make our OL look very good this year. Hutson Prioleau will act like an extra tackle on running plays. I am more confident in this OL than any we have had since Sherman arrived.

I am not sure about Lucas Patterson starting at DE. I thought Patterson would make a good backup NG. I realize he stepped up his play this off season, but I still have no confidence in him to get consistent penetration into the opponents backfield. I think we will eventually see a starting three on the DL of Mathis, Eddie Brown, and TJE. I am confident in that DL. It will be interesting to see how much be see Ivan Robinson in the SFA game. 

I expect a workmanlike performance from JJ. I think we will see something like 15 for 20 for 200 yds and a TD. Maybe 5 rushes for 30 yds. My guess is we will then see Tannehill and Jameill Showers. I just want to see sharp accurate passes from JJ, and good timing with the WRs. I expect Swope will take some short passes and turn them into big gains, and make all the QBs look good. 

I think we will see a score somewhere around 56-20. I think we will get a special teams score, and a score from the defense.