Jimbo 2023: Watch.The.Tape.

[Funk Doctor Spock 11911]

11 hours ago, Rickylovesweed said:

Poor Achane. He might be the best RB in the SEC and it's not going to make a difference. 

When aggy loses Achane and Ainias Smith next season this has some real potential to be an even bigger mess. 

Nah, he's a great RB, but hardly the best in the SEC. He's definitely top 3, tho. 

[4HE 156]

11 hours ago, Rickylovesweed said:

Poor Achane. He might be the best RB in the SEC and it's not going to make a difference. 

When aggy loses Achane and Ainias Smith next season this has some real potential to be an even bigger mess. 

Didn’t smith break his leg in the Arkansas game? I know one of their receivers went down. 

[Funk Doctor Spock 11911]

If LJ Johnson comes back they're in a world of hurt. He's the poster boy for average af. Le'Veon Moss might be the starter day one next season for them and that's not good. He's a good RB, but their o-line may end his season before he can do anything. Their RB room is beyond abysmal outside of Achane. 

[SarkAfterDark 1688]

23 minutes ago, billfromlaketravis said:

He’s better than Edwards-Heliare and he was a first round draft pick. I’ll let you do the math on that one. 
 

Achane fits the modern NFL perfectly. Plenty of teams will want to draft him. 
 

That said, the Achane Heisman hype was generated solely by aggy sites. He was never going to get enough touches in Jimbo’s archaic offense. 

He isn’t the same type of back as Edwards-Helaire and I think most teams will view him as more of a Rondale Moore type player. Would be surprised if he went in the 1st round.  Not sure where he even plays in the NFL besides a returner on special teams. Good to great college RB though.

[Bigbend1812 12877]

12 hours ago, texifornia said:

Jimbo hates playing freshmen because his playbook is the size of War & Peace, but Weigman might be able to athlete his way out of bad situations in a way King and Johnson can't. 

[Tex Pete 20136]

57 minutes ago, 4HE said:

Didn’t smith break his leg in the Arkansas game? I know one of their receivers went down. 

That was Anus 

[Funk Doctor Spock 11911]

54 minutes ago, SarkAfterDark said:

He isn’t the same type of back as Edwards-Helaire and I think most teams will view him as more of a Rondale Moore type player. Would be surprised if he went in the 1st round.  Not sure where he even plays in the NFL besides a returner on special teams. Good to great college RB though.

He's not a first RB candidate. He's small and quick. He's probably a day 2 or 3 draft pick at best. He's a good player, but where does he fit in the NFL? Edwards-Helaire is about 20lbs heavier than Achane. 

[Atticus 3919]

1 hour ago, billfromlaketravis said:

He’s better than Edwards-Heliare and he was a first round draft pick. I’ll let you do the math on that one. 
 

Achane fits the modern NFL perfectly. Plenty of teams will want to draft him. 
 

That said, the Achane Heisman hype was generated solely by aggy sites. He was never going to get enough touches in Jimbo’s archaic offense. 

Achane is a boutique back. Late day 2 at best. 
What is he, 5-9, 175 or so?

Edited October 5, 2022 by Atticus

[Fud 9543]

He's CJ Spiller 

[Gil Bang 25865]

1 hour ago, Getafix said:

 

- He plays on a team with a mediocre OL, bad QB play, and one of the worst overall offenses in the Power 5

- He has been the focal point of the offense (even more so with the loss of Smith)

- Over the last 3 games (two against pretty highly ranked teams), he's still managed to total 358 yards, at almost 7/carry

- He leads the SEC in ypg, vs P5

So yeah, he's been very good so far.

 

He's really fucking good.  I wouldn't trade Bijan for him, but I'd love to have him.

[Deej 76510]

I'm not sure I'd want anyone dumb enough to take their talents to College Station. 

[Wiler77 1555]

1 hour ago, Tex Pete said:

That was Anus 

One in a million shot doc.

[Funk Doctor Spock 11911]

1 hour ago, Atticus said:

Achane is a boutique back. Late day 2 at best. 
What is he, 5-9, 175 or so?

5-8 180, but that's college. In real life he's probably more like 5-7 or 5-8 and 170-175

[Rickylovesweed 14154]

RB value is already low in the NFL draft. 

Even if Achane is a 2nd or 3rd rounder, he's gone because coming back a year is not going to solve that problem. It's all about getting to the 2nd contract if you're a RB. 

[Rickylovesweed 14154]

7 hours ago, Spider2YBanana said:

If LJ Johnson comes back they're in a world of hurt. He's the poster boy for average af. Le'Veon Moss might be the starter day one next season for them and that's not good. He's a good RB, but their o-line may end his season before he can do anything. Their RB room is beyond abysmal outside of Achane. 

Their offense is all Achane and Ainias Smith. 

It's crazy that their 2nd back only has 9 carries on the year. This is why even if Jimbo hires an OC I don't see it going particularly well because it's going to take 2 or 3 years to get players into the system. 

Even with their recruiting they are really deficient in talent on offense. 

[texifornia 56434]

1 hour ago, Rickylovesweed said:

RB value is already low in the NFL draft. 

Even if Achane is a 2nd or 3rd rounder, he's gone because coming back a year is not going to solve that problem. It's all about getting to the 2nd contract if you're a RB. 

I mean sure, but in college Achane is a wonderful lever to pull. Even if Moose Muhammad and nothing else isn't enough to win.

[billfromlaketravis 11352]

LJ looked pretty good on aggy’s final drive, but it was garbage time. That said, he should get more carries going forward if only to keep Achane fresh. 

[Pam Cummings 9553]

I see a lot of "Jimbo's system being complicated" talk. Is it, though? Or is it really very predictable and shitty?

[Rickylovesweed 14154]

1 hour ago, billfromlaketravis said:

LJ looked pretty good on aggy’s final drive, but it was garbage time. That said, he should get more carries going forward if only to keep Achane fresh. 

He's looked very mediocre from what I've seen but it's been such limited carries. 

aggy knows their only chance of success on offense is Achane which is why he has 81 carries and LJ has 9 carries. 

 

[Rickylovesweed 14154]

11 hours ago, Gil Bang said:

He's really fucking good.  I wouldn't trade Bijan for him, but I'd love to have him.

Achane is legit. He's also one of the best special teams players in the country. Achane is the only one that made the App State game somewhat respectable with a kickoff return for a touchdown. 

It's incredible aggy has that type talent and can't do anything on offense. 

[NoName 16271]

5 hours ago, Rickylovesweed said:

Their offense is all Achane and Ainias Smith. 

It's crazy that their 2nd back only has 9 carries on the year. This is why even if Jimbo hires an OC I don't see it going particularly well because it's going to take 2 or 3 years to get players into the system. 

Even with their recruiting they are really deficient in talent on offense. 

i'll take how to mismanage a RB room for 1000, Alex!

not like it's a trash RB room either, they have some legit talent:

Daniels was #250 in composite, LJ Johnson was 46, Moss was 82.

LJ Johnson is the backup, had 9 carries and had 3 vs SHSU, 3 vs MIA and 3 vs MSST.

[Rickylovesweed 14154]

They have talent at RB but even during fall and spring practices there were reports about major concerns after Achane. 

From reading the practice reports, I'm not terribly surprised by the carries distribution because they made it sound like there were major ? other than Achane. 

 

 

 

[Sir Ulrich 5187]

4 minutes ago, Rickylovesweed said:

Achane is legit. He's also one of the best special teams players in the country. Achane is the only one that made the App State game somewhat respectable with a kickoff return for a touchdown. 

It's incredible aggy has that type talent and can't do anything on offense. 

If you flip the rosters the game would have been even worse. Leach would be putting up Tech numbers with those WRs

[Bevo 13493]

15 minutes ago, Sir Ulrich said:

Leach would be putting up Tech numbers with those WRs

too soon

[Hornlover 8824]

51 minutes ago, NoName said:

i'll take how to mismanage a RB room for 1000, Alex!

not like it's a trash RB room either, they have some legit talent:

Daniels was #250 in composite, LJ Johnson was 46, Moss was 82.

LJ Johnson is the backup, had 9 carries and had 3 vs SHSU, 3 vs MIA and 3 vs MSST.

Maybe he's employing the Mack Brown strategy of waiting until after the OU Game (the Alabama game for aggy) before giving carries to his stud freshman RBs ?

[NoName 16271]

45 minutes ago, Hornlover said:

Maybe he's employing the Mack Brown strategy of waiting until after the OU Game (the Alabama game for aggy) before giving carries to his stud freshman RBs ?

the problem is that Achane is better than any of the upper classmen Mack wanted to play and the remaining A&M guys aren't on the level of Ced or Jamaal Charles.

[Viper 12011]

Just now, NoName said:

the problem is that Achane is better than any of the upper classmen Mack wanted to play and the remaining A&M guys aren't on the level of Ced or Jamaal Charles.

never said it wasn't a bold strategy.

[Fud 9543]

Achane will be lucky to get through the season uninjured 

[cafe society 2835]

8 minutes ago, Fud said:

Achane will be lucky to get through the season uninjured 

He may decide to save himself for the draft and sit out after the next couple of losses.

[Mitch Cumsteen 18517]

3 hours ago, Pam Cummings said:

I see a lot of "Jimbo's system being complicated" talk. Is it, though? Or is it really very predictable and shitty?

No, it's very complicated. Like Chinese calculus and shit. He just needs more time to implement it. He's only been there 5 years. It takes most players at least 6 years to learn the system. I'm pretty sure that's why they signed him to that extension.

[Mikey4 2476]

20 minutes ago, Fud said:

Achane will be lucky to get through the season uninjured 

They're absolutely running him into the ground. "Hand off to Achane" is the only productive play they have.

Huge difference from Sark's offense, where we have playmakers in position to make plays all over the field - Bijan/Roschon/Keilan at RB, Worthy/Whittington at WR, Sanders at TE - these guys are all living up to the hype. Hell, even Hudson Card is extending drives with his legs and managing the game. And we're missing the two biggest offensive weapon we got in the offseason, Ewers and Neyor. It's refreshing to watch a good offense.

[Mitch Cumsteen 18517]

ESPN running some solid aggie analysis today, replete with their AD in full defense mode of Jimbo's system. 

Quote

"Look, Jimbo is an offensive innovator," Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork said. "He's always adapted to the style of play. When it's clicking on all cylinders, it works and it's proven to work. So we just have to keep maturing, keep getting better. And obviously, we're going to keep recruiting at a high level."

Quote

 

Bjork has heard the questions wondering if Fisher has too much on his plate to handle playcalling. When Fisher has been asked about whether he would consider giving up playcalling duties, he says he "possibly could," but it's unclear who on the existing staff would take on that role, especially after the changes in responsibilities.

"I don't see that," Bjork said. "There's head coaches that call plays all over the country. And that's just how Jimbo is built. He wants to be in the offense. He wants to work with the quarterbacks. That's his forte. That's why he was hired, and that's why we extended him because he's got that in him."

 

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/34726883/the-state-texas-football-big-money-coach-struggling-offense-plenty-questions
The state of Texas A&M football: A big-money coach, a struggling offense and plenty of questions
 

Spoiler

Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher knew what he was doing. As the final seconds of an Orange Bowl victory following the 2020 season ticked away, Fisher gave a little fist pump before he began to look around defensively.

As Fisher jogged to midfield he spotted what he was looking for: players holding a Gatorade jug, charging toward him. Showing a burst of speed, Fisher outran the would-be green bath, and even though the effort resulted in a bit of a limp, the large grin on his face remained.

The Aggies seemed on the cusp of breaking through after the 41-27 victory over North Carolina and a No. 4 ranking to end the pandemic-shortened season, their highest ranking since 1939. To this day, Fisher insists they were the second-best team in the country and should have made the College Football Playoff. Nothing will convince him otherwise.

While that great debate will live on in Texas A&M lore, what was not up for discussion on Jan. 2, 2021 was this: The Aggies appeared ready to break into college football's most rarefied air, fulfilling the massive expectations that came with handing Fisher an unprecedented 10-year, $75 million contract just a few years before.

"I'm gonna tell you this," Fisher said after the Orange Bowl victory. "We ain't done yet."

Since then, however, things have started to unravel. Texas A&M has opened each of the past two seasons ranked No. 6 in the preseason polls and is only 11-6 over that time. It is currently unranked, following losses to Appalachian State and Mississippi State, and heads into Tuscaloosa on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, CBS) to face No. 1 Alabama at a disappointing 3-2.

Suddenly, a game that once looked like a potential top-10 showdown and the first meeting of Fisher and Saban since their offseason war of words has taken on a very different meaning. The Aggies are losing games they shouldn't, Fisher's offense is the primary culprit and his post-Orange Bowl contract extension means his buyout will remain above $50 million until 2027, per USA Today. It has left some in College Station wondering whether they're getting enough return for their hefty investment.

Fisher declined an interview for this story, but his boss believes he will turn it around.

"Look, Jimbo is an offensive innovator," Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork said. "He's always adapted to the style of play. When it's clicking on all cylinders, it works and it's proven to work. So we just have to keep maturing, keep getting better. And obviously, we're going to keep recruiting at a high level."

FISHER EARNED THAT reputation Bjork mentioned first as an assistant at LSU and then as head coach at Florida State. Quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell, EJ Manuel, Christian Ponder and Jameis Winston were all first-round picks after starting multiple seasons for Fisher. His Seminoles went 26-1 with Winston as the starter, won a national title in 2013 and made the College Football Playoff in 2014.

But that feels like a lifetime ago in college football, long before NIL and the transfer portal, and back when Nick Saban still relied on defense and ball control to win games. When Saban hired Lane Kiffin as his offensive coordinator in 2014 it was to keep up with the changing times. As a result, he kept his dynasty rolling by recruiting and developing future Heisman contenders and first-round picks at quarterback seemingly every year.

This is an area where Fisher has fallen short in recent years. From 2015 to '22, the post-Winston era, Fisher's quarterbacks have combined for an average Total QBR of 66.5, which ranks 38th among FBS head coaches to coach at least 40 games during that span.

Between 2013 and 2017, the Seminoles signed seven quarterbacks. Only one finished his career with Florida State. At Texas A&M, Fisher has been a prodigious recruiter -- his top-ranked 2022 class is one of the highest rated ever-- signing and developing blue-chip talent all over the field.

EDITOR'S PICKS

Fisher, A&M set to 'evaluate everything' after loss
23dDave Wilson

Nick Saban might not like the transfer portal rules, but he's mastered them
1dAlex Scarborough

AP Top 25 college football poll reaction: What's next for each ranked team?
2dESPN college football reporters
But to this point, that elite talent has not panned out at quarterback.

In College Station, Fisher has signed five signal-callers. James Foster and Zach Calzada, in Fisher's first two recruiting classes at Texas A&M, have already transferred. Haynes King, the No. 4 dual threat quarterback in the class of 2020, lost his starting job to transfer Max Johnson after the App State loss, though he was pressed into duty again this weekend when Johnson was injured, throwing two interceptions after coming off the bench. The Aggies are still very high on freshman Conner Weigman, the No. 1 quarterback in the 2022 ESPN 300, with Fisher saying Monday he could play now and be comfortable.

This year, Texas A&M ranks 105th of 131 teams in total offense (335 yards per game) and 108th in scoring offense (21.8 points per game). There aren't many bright spots: 101st in passing offense, 98th in rushing offense, 96th in first downs, 79th in completion percentage, 115th in time of possession and last -- 131st -- in plays run per game (56.4). Asked about the struggles after scoring 24 points in the Mississippi State loss, Fisher doubled down, saying his system still works.

"That system is the same system a lot of people use. The plays are there," Fisher said. "We're just not executing."

"I think the mistake people make is saying, 'Boy, this is outdated,'" said former Florida coach Dan Mullen, now an ESPN analyst. "There is no perfect system. Maybe more of the issue is he has to adapt to his current roster, which he went and recruited all this speed and all these athletes on offense, and he's got to have the system that fits those guys."

At least one top recruit agrees with that last part.

Johntay Cook II, a Texas high school receiver who is No. 32 in the 2023 ESPN 300, told On3 during his recruitment it was a concern.

"Here is the difference between Texas and Texas A&M," Cook said. "Right now, Texas has the scheme but not the players, A&M has the players but not the scheme. I mean A&M is running like the Wishbone offense. It's cool and all, but if Jimbo opened it up that would be serious."

Cook is just one player. But he was an A&M target who committed to the rival Longhorns. Still, Fisher landed Evan Stewart, the No. 2 WR and No. 13 overall recruit in the 2022 class and Chris Marshall, the No. 4 receiver.

While Fisher continues to sign elite wide receivers, he has had only three drafted in his 12 years as a head coach, including just one in the first four rounds. At Texas A&M, his receivers have struggled to put up numbers, either because of issues at quarterback or the intricacies of the system.

Allstate Playoff Predictor

How will Saturday's top games affect the College Football Playoff chase? What are the current odds for the top four? The Allstate Playoff Predictor has the answers. Check back every week as the odds are updated following that week's games.

Manuel said it is not that the offense is overly complex; it is that there is a method to the way Fisher wants it run. It all starts with the quarterback, who has to not only read and identify the defense to make sure the offense is set for success. He must also make the correct protection calls for the offensive line, a duty that normally goes to the center.

Once quarterbacks are fully comfortable understanding what Fisher wants and how it should look, then everything becomes easier. Ponder, Manuel and Winston all redshirted at Florida State. So did Fisher's last starting quarterback with the Seminoles, Deondre Francois, who had the highest QBR of any of Fisher's QBs since Winston (78.0).

"The principles that he has with his offense, if you can figure them out and stick to them, you're going to have success because he lays everything out there for you," Manuel said. "It's not easy, but once you do it, it's like, 'OK, let's go, I got this.' Make no mistake -- it's a professional football offense, and it's not for everybody. But the guys that can figure it out will have success."

Over the past decade, the high school game has evolved and QB-friendly schemes like the Air Raid -- which a lot of Texas high schools run -- don't require many of those nuances. Instead, there is a focus on simplification -- the quarterback in the shotgun, looking to the sideline for the call. But Fisher has not simplified anything. He firmly believes in what he does with quarterbacks and his offense.

But if quarterbacks coming up in spread offenses are not able to immediately handle everything Fisher wants his quarterbacks to do, and it takes a QB multiple years to truly grasp the concepts, does Fisher's approach still make sense in the transfer portal era?

Jimbo Fisher's system is a "professional football offense, and it's not for everybody," former QB EJ Manuel said. "But the guys that can figure it out will have success." AP Photo/David J. Phillip
FOR THOSE WHO believe in Fisher's pro-style offense, they can point to scoring 41 points in an upset win over Alabama last year, but even more importantly to that 9-1 season in 2020.

That offense forged Texas A&M with a new identity. Gone were the second-half swoons that had become a running joke among A&M's detractors. This was a physical, tough, old-school SEC team. The 2020 Aggies led the SEC in yards per rush (5.5) and time of possession and ranked fourth in the country in fewest sacks per pass attempt, allowing just four sacks all season. Senior quarterback Kellen Mond, a four-year starter, was incredibly efficient, and the Aggies converted 55% of their third downs, third best nationally.

"If you just look at 2020, I don't think anyone had any offensive complaints," Bjork said. "Ball control, move the ball, explosive plays, all those things were there. There's an evolution right? When you have new quarterbacks, no matter what level, there's a transition. When you have a Kellen Mond where you've got experience, and then you transition to new quarterbacks, that takes adjustment. This year, same thing. Haynes King didn't have much experience. Then now, Max [Johnson] has got a little more experience. So you're maybe seeing a little more poise."

This year, the offensive line that was so stout in 2020 has faced issues, complicating those quarterback transitions. The Aggies have faced pressure on 39% of their QB dropbacks, second worst in the FBS behind only Boston College (41%).

Fisher shuffled his offensive staff's duties before fall camp. Offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey, who also coached quarterbacks, was moved to tight ends, and is now co-OC with James Coley, who moved from tight ends to wide receivers. Dameyune Craig, who had been WR coach since arriving from FSU with Fisher, now coaches the quarterbacks alongside him.

Bjork has heard the questions wondering if Fisher has too much on his plate to handle playcalling. When Fisher has been asked about whether he would consider giving up playcalling duties, he says he "possibly could," but it's unclear who on the existing staff would take on that role, especially after the changes in responsibilities.

"I don't see that," Bjork said. "There's head coaches that call plays all over the country. And that's just how Jimbo is built. He wants to be in the offense. He wants to work with the quarterbacks. That's his forte. That's why he was hired, and that's why we extended him because he's got that in him."

FORMER GEORGIA COACH Mark Richt is another fan of Fisher's approach to coaching quarterbacks. He was at the Miami-Texas A&M game in September to watch Johnson, his nephew, make his first start for the Aggies. Richt said one of the reasons Johnson chose to transfer from LSU to Texas A&M was to learn under Fisher.

"That part of the game is really his strength, the more you can put on him to gain an advantage on the field, the better for Max," Richt said. "Jimbo is hard on them dudes, but it's not personal. He's hard on all those guys."

Another coach who has competed against Fisher does not think the Aggies' issues stem from Fisher also serving as the primary playcaller. Though the papers and notebooks Fisher has in his hands on the sideline have become the butt of jokes, the opposing coach noted, "The guy has a million plays that his guys execute that they don't even show. That's amazing to me. I don't know what all their problems are. But I think anytime you have a highly ranked recruiting class, and then you're not measuring up to that, people are going to start throwing stones."

Kellen Mond was a four-year starter at Texas A&M and the most successful quarterback under Fisher with the Aggies. Brianna Paciorka/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP
But others are just puzzled by the results, saying the complicated system introduces too many problems with the sheer amount of talent on hand, that all those call sheets and notebooks are an indicator Fisher is just trying to do too much from years of knowledge he has picked up as a playcaller at multiple stops. One coach said the pressure to break out of a slump can sometimes cause coaches to dig too deep in the playbook instead of pulling back. He said that's what he sees watching Fisher call a game.

"As a young coach, Tom Osborne gave me a piece of advice I never forgot," said a longtime offensive coordinator of the Nebraska legend. "He said, 'When times get tough -- and they will -- get out your eraser, not your pencil.'"

A Power 5 head coach agreed, saying there is way too much talent on hand for the offense to be so dysfunctional.

"Simplicity is what makes great offenses. The ability to execute," he said. "I think that's their issue. I turn the film on and I'm not quite sure what they're trying to do. You have to have an identity and you have to have something that you can bank on. And I just don't see that they have that. I know how good all these players are. Nobody can see behind the veil, but it's just hard for me to envision that you can't line up and run the ball against Appalachian State. I truly believe if they ran four plays the whole game -- two passes and two runs -- I think they win by 40."

All that talent is a reminder of one of Fisher's strengths: He can recruit. He knows how he wants to build a program, stockpiling talent along both the offensive and defensive lines and landing rare running back talents, such as Devon Achane, who was the MVP of that Orange Bowl as a freshman and led the SEC in yards per carry (7.0) last year. He'll have talent. He's an old-school coach who puts players in the NFL. The irony is Fisher's trademark is the one area that seems to be holding back the Aggies. If they're ever going to challenge for national titles, that's the one area that demands the most improvement.

Both Alabama and Georgia thrived once they changed their offenses.

"I remember him saying, 'I feel like our offense is a Lamborghini, but it's headed off a cliff,' meaning we've got these great players but are behind the times in what we're doing," Kiffin told ESPN last year about his first meeting with Saban after he was hired. "So we needed to change directions."

The Crimson Tide made the College Football Playoff game six of the following eight seasons.

After a 2019 season when Georgia averaged just 21.5 points per game over a six-game stretch of SEC games, then scored just 10 in the SEC title game against LSU, Kirby Smart hired Todd Monken to take over for Coley, who was serving as offensive coordinator (he left a month later to join Fishers' staff). Last year, the Bulldogs won their first national championship in 41 years with Stetson Bennett, a former walk-on, at QB as the Bulldogs averaged 38.6 points per game.

Still, Mullen said it's easier for coaches like Saban and Smart to make offensive changes, because their careers were spent on the defensive side. For an offensive coach, calling your own plays as a head coach is still a source of pride, although that makes the target on your back even bigger.

Bjork believes the season is still a work in progress. But he anticipates working together with Fisher to address any future issues.

"What are the things that the program needs to be successful?" Bjork said. "If that involves making changes, implementing new ideas, there's always ongoing conversations about all those things. Coach Fisher and I have a great relationship from that perspective. We talk all the time about the state of the program or what's needed or what changes he might be thinking about. As I'm concerned for this year, 2022, this script is not even written yet. Coach knows how to win at a high level. He knows that if adjustments need to be made, he's gonna make the right kind of adjustments and those things all take place during a constant evaluation. It's an evolution."

That starts Saturday against the Crimson Tide. Can Fisher pull off another stunner, like when he became the first Saban assistant to beat the master last year? Or will the Crimson Tide further add to the Aggies' misery?

"I do think he is under pressure on the program taking the next step," Mullen said. "That's where a lot of the pressure comes from saying, 'Hey, this is Year 5. You've had some really good recruiting classes. Are we going to see you at 10 or 11 wins this year? In November, are you in the mix for the SEC title game?' Those are questions that people want answered."

 

[texifornia 56434]

[RomaVicta 29756]

1 hour ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

No, it's very complicated. Like Chinese calculus and shit. He just needs more time to implement it. He's only been there 5 years. It takes most players at least 6 years to learn the system. I'm pretty sure that's why they signed him to that extension.

Veddy nice.

[FloridaHorn 4735]

17 hours ago, Tex Pete said:

That was Anus 

He broke is Anus? That sounds serious.

[RomaVicta 29756]

2 minutes ago, FloridaHorn said:

He broke is Anus? That sounds serious.

Damn near killed him!

[Funk Doctor Spock 11911]

15 hours ago, Rickylovesweed said:

Their offense is all Achane and Ainias Smith. 

It's crazy that their 2nd back only has 9 carries on the year. This is why even if Jimbo hires an OC I don't see it going particularly well because it's going to take 2 or 3 years to get players into the system. 

Even with their recruiting they are really deficient in talent on offense. 

Seriously. All they focus on is defense, it's both hilarious and wtf. If Achane gets hurts they're beyond fucked more than they already are. They can't throw a forward pass as it is. Jimbo is truly the gift that keeps on giving. 

[AP101S 1480]

 

[closetojumping 62131]

19 hours ago, texifornia said:

While ATM getting shut out of getting their priority TB targets is entertaining, it also means they’re going to get desperate. I hope the turret turns to Owens, because they’re going to moneywhip somebody. 

[Hornlover 8824]

23 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

While ATM getting shut out of getting their priority TB targets is entertaining, it also means they’re going to get desperate. I hope the turret turns to Owens, because they’re going to moneywhip somebody. 

I think Owens' potential to be a great RB is probably greater than his ability to cause trouble in the locker room. He's not close to Zach Evans, I don't think.

In that regard, I'd much prefer that he stays at Louisville than looks at aggy.  

[cafe society 2835]

3 minutes ago, Hornlover said:

I think Owens' potential to be a great RB is probably greater than his ability to cause trouble in the locker room. He's not close to Zach Evans, I don't think.

In that regard, I'd much prefer that he stays at Louisville than looks at aggy.  

Would you prefer they moneywhip Baxter or Wisner?  Because I'm pretty sure that's what CTJ was alluding to.

[RomaVicta 29756]

1 hour ago, cafe society said:

Would you prefer they moneywhip Baxter or Wisner?  Because I'm pretty sure that's what CTJ was alluding to.

If they do come up with enough cash to draw a top back, wouldn't the mercenary be thinking one year (semester) then the portal with a million dollars?

I don't think it's being overstated that there is little prospect of shining at A&M. That offense isn't going to be cured quickly. We've seen the fun parade of changing OC and DCs every year. Unless they can bring the last guy back or rehire Sherman, I don't see a quick fix for that OL. Again, we brought in some top names and got little to show for it.

I see it being hard to walk away from a fortune that could last a lifetime. I do. But why stay?

[Bevo 13493]

9 minutes ago, RomaVicta said:

If they do come up with enough cash to draw a top back, wouldn't the mercenary be thinking one year (semester) then the portal with a million dollars?

I don't think it's being overstated that there is little prospect of shining at A&M. That offense isn't going to be cured quickly. We've seen the fun parade of changing OC and DCs every year. Unless they can bring the last guy back or rehire Sherman, I don't see a quick fix for that OL. Again, we brought in some top names and got little to show for it.

I see it being hard to walk away from a fortune that could last a lifetime. I do. But why stay?

There is so much talk about this kind of stuff, but I don't think that it is all that likely. I think starters will continue to be paid and backups will walk. Paying a backup former 5-star to come to your school over everyone from Arkansas to Wofford probably is not a very good investment.

[Hornlover 8824]

2 hours ago, cafe society said:

Would you prefer they moneywhip Baxter or Wisner?  Because I'm pretty sure that's what CTJ was alluding to.

I think you're right.

For some reason the thought never crossed my mind that aggy would be able to moneywhip one of our RB recruits to flip, after they struck out everywhere else. 

[closetojumping 62131]

16 minutes ago, RomaVicta said:

If they do come up with enough cash to draw a top back, wouldn't the mercenary be thinking one year (semester) then the portal with a million dollars?

I don't think it's being overstated that there is little prospect of shining at A&M. That offense isn't going to be cured quickly. We've seen the fun parade of changing OC and DCs every year. Unless they can bring the last guy back or rehire Sherman, I don't see a quick fix for that OL. Again, we brought in some top names and got little to show for it.

I see it being hard to walk away from a fortune that could last a lifetime. I do. But why stay?

Your first question is the interesting one in the world of NIL and bags. I don't think the answer is really known right now. The way NIL works is that the player will contract with the paying entity for services and get paid over time, like the course of an entire school year or such. I don't think anyone, including ATM, is dumb enough to pay giant dollars in one lump sum for something like an appearance or autograph. The bag game worked like that, but the money was smaller.

Let's think about Denver Harris. The mom got a car and he got a car, and both can be repossessed. They each got a payment in January, but the deal is for them to get paid over time and he has to be on campus. So if he leaves, he's walking from two cars and mid-6 figures. He's going to need to know that he's got something better elsewhere, or he's going to have to be completely miserable at ATM to the point of suicidal. Demas had a hell of a time leaving until they were ready for him to leave, then leaving was easy. Same will be true for all of these guys.

Now, with NIL, that shit will go above board for most programs eventually, with many doing so now. So if you decide to give Reuben Owens and his father a commitment of $1million, that money will be broken out across the span of a 9-12 months, and I'd guess a lump sum will be paid in May or June for work performed. Juuuust after the portal has closed. And if he wants to keep making that money, same is true every year. This is what Hicks, Hill and others will face. Now, if they're killing it on the field and want to leave, no doubt they'll get matching deals or better. 

For most players in this new era when major dollars are involved, leaving after their freshman years, when they mostly haven't shown that they're truly worth that money, will be really hard to do. That's a big reason why I don't believe, unlike the rest of the boards discussing it, that ATM will see major attrition from the #1 class after this season.

Only Stewart, Stewart, Harris, Overton, and Marshall are playing anything close to starter minutes. For Marshall and Evan Stewart, they've looked pedestrian in those minutes, with about as many drops and fumbles as receptions. So them hitting the portal after "showcasing" those skills will be a money loser unless they go nuts in the next 7 games. Actually, I don't think they bought Marshall for stratospheric dollars, so he can do what he wants. Stewart is on a $500k-$750k annual deal. As of this moment, if I'm him, I stay and I invest the hell out of that shit because becoming a 1st rounder isn't looking good. 

4 minutes ago, Bevo said:

There is so much talk about this kind of stuff, but I don't think that it is all that likely. I think starters will continue to be paid and backups will walk. Paying a backup former 5-star to come to your school over everyone from Arkansas to Wofford probably is not a very good investment.

I am not trying to be contrarian here, but you just described what Ole Miss did with Zach Evans. I know he quit versus being a backup at TCU, but that might even be worse.

There will be schools every single year that take flyers on former highly ranked recruits who haven't been on the field much. Pedigree matters. Hell, even the blue bloods will be prone to go after former big names. Coaches are arrogant and they're always going to think they can fix something that another program "broke".

[tokamak 6350]

I've been assuming all along that aggy would eventually meet Owens's price and be fine at RB. Let's not forget that he's really fucking good.

What happened with LJ Johnson? Everyone wanted him badly, us included.

[Hornlover 8824]

36 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

There will be schools every single year that take flyers on former highly ranked recruits who haven't been on the field much. Pedigree matters. Hell, even the blue bloods will be prone to go after former big names. Coaches are arrogant and they're always going to think they can fix something that another program "broke".

See "Davis, Ben", "Hall, Agiye", or "Billingsley, Jahleel". 

Edited October 6, 2022 by Hornlover

[closetojumping 62131]

1 minute ago, tokamak said:

I've been assuming all along that aggy would eventually meet Owens's price and be fine at RB. Let's not forget that he's really fucking good.

What happened with LJ Johnson? Everyone wanted him badly, us included.

The talent is there, but the work ethic might not be, and that was the problem with his recruitment as well. Texas wanted him as much as ATM, but when he chose to skip enrolling early to not workout and fuck around at his house after graduating early, Texas people felt like that was a sign that this guy doesn't love football and wasn't going to be worth the continued dogfight in recruiting him. He's apparently not putting any pressure on the staff to play him based upon his performances in practice.

He's the backup because he's talented, Moss is a head case, and the Daniels guy isn't anything besides Texags hype.

[mvlonghorns 285]

I wonder is the thought that us and A&M will split Baxter/Owens? If A&M does bag Baxter and get him to flip, circling back to Owens seems like our best bet. Though I don't know if we aren't willing to put up with how much of a headache he could be.

[RGBIII 22798]

Just now, mvlonghorns said:

I wonder is the thought that us and A&M will split Baxter/Owens? If A&M does bag Baxter and get him to flip, circling back to Owens seems like our best bet. Though I don't know if we aren't willing to put up with how much of a headache he could be.

No thanks, his dad is a mega POS