Texas A&M spring game recap
The QB position is still up for grabs, while the defense puts the clamps on in watered-down scrimmage.
By: Bossman Slim
Photo: Sam Craft, Houston Chronicle
Jimbo Fisher had an active day yesterday, and if I had to guess, I bet he’s hoarse this morning. Multiple players, particularly the wide receivers, were getting earfuls from Fisher throughout much of the scrimmage. Jimbo was mic’d up in the first half, but took off the ESPN mic in the second half as he grew more frustrated.
In our one burning question preview, we asked, “who has the edge at QB?” Neither Haynes King nor Zach Calzada took the reins on Saturday. Each had their moments that showed what they can do, but they were negated by boneheaded mistakes, like a flubbed read-option handoff from King that resulted in a turnover and a pick-six thrown by Calzada. Even with that pick-six, Calzada probably had the better day, showing zip on his ball and impressive accuracy at times. The kid has a howitzer for an arm, and he looks confident in the huddle. Whoever wins this battle, I expect it to be by a hair. King has the more natural wheels, which may be needed behind a green offensive line. Saturday did not give us any definitive indication of how this one will be decided.
While Fisher was frustrated with the play of the wideouts, the QBs weren’t getting great help from their offensive line either. It’s obvious that A&M will have some growing pains in the offensive trenches this year after the departure of the four senior Maroon Goons who performed as one of the best units in college football last year. The new blood is talented but raw, and it will take time for them to mesh, likely well into the 2021 season. Saturday showed it will be a work in progress.
Fisher was frustrated with the route running of veteran Ainias Smith. Under Fisher, the better you are, the more is expected of you. (Photo: Sam Craft, Houston Chronicle)
On the other side of the trenches though, it was the defensive line causing havoc. A&M’s defense was mean last year, and it started upfront. It looks like not much will change this year, even as Bobby Brown III left for the NFL and the Aggies were without multiple D-line starters in the game. The secondary is also going to be experienced and extremely talented. Demani Richardson showed he’s going to be a force once again with the pick-six of Calzada. The biggest question is at linebacker in who replaces Buddy Johnson. From the production in the spring game, the Aggies have three good options to line up beside Aaron Hansford in Antonio Doyle, Edge Cooper and Chris Russell Jr. Ke’shun Brown did not play, and he’s also in the mix.
One player that impressed a bit unexpectedly was RB Earnest Crownover. His stats don’t jump off the page, but the man runs mad. At 6’3 215, he’s a freight train running downhill, and he laid some wood on Saturday, at one point truck-sticking Antonio Doyle Jr., who is 6’3 250 himself. Isaiah Spiller is the unquestioned starter with Devon Achane providing the lightning, but Crownover looks like he’s earning some playing time with his performance in spring ball.
In classic Fisher fashion, this was a watered-down scrimmage that told us little about what the Aggies will look like to start the 2021 season. Fisher indicated that there were 15 players who were on the two-deep roster who did not play. For pass catchers, this included Jalen Wydermyer and Demond Demas, who said he was held out with a minor injury. Luke Mathews, the presumed starting center, also did not play, and the defense was missing two key pieces in Demarvin Leal and Michael Clemons, among others. Jimbo didn’t tip his hand much and wanted to get the reps in and get to the locker room.
There’s more work to do.