Texas A&M needs to get these three things started over the bye week to give Aggie fans hope
Marcel Reed improves further from Alabama game
The game against Alabama was the best we’ve seen Marcel Reed play on the road so far this season— and, frankly, the best he’s played outside of Arkansas, Missouri State, and The Citadel. He was decisive with his throws and on-target most of the time— the two interceptions, compared to some of the bad throws he’s had earlier in the year, were even arguably not so much his fault.
However, it still was far from enough for this team to get it done. Alabama is a legitimately very talented team, but the fact that A&M still lost by double digits means that they need to reach another level to have a hope in the stretch run.
If opponents respect Reed’s arm more, then that will open things up for the run game as well— it’s a win-win scenario. It’s as simple as hitting receivers on the slant routes like he did against Alabama rather than double-clutching or throwing it away— it looks like he had moved past some of the mental blocks that he had been dealing with, so if he takes another step, the Ags will have a chance in all of these games.
Youth movement takes over the front seven
The highest-graded defender against Alabama? True freshman edge rusher Tristian Givens, according to Pro Football Focus. He’s just one of the players that needs to see a lot more time, especially up front, as this team is going to have to look for what is best for next year as well as this one.
Bryce Perry-Wright has been getting increased snaps as well, as has a guy like DJ Sanders. The transfers have been okay, but far from what was expected— so at this juncture, it’s time to give the talented, high-ceiling freshmen and sophomores the spotlight.
Tamarion Watkins is flashing at linebacker. Noah Mikhail has been well-established as an impact player, as has Landon Rink. This isn’t a QB situation— you can work these guys in with increased reps rather than having them as the sole players in those spots— so it would behoove this staff to give them increased looks.
KJ Edwards gets 15-plus touches per game
There’s just a clear difference right now between Agent Zero and the rest of the Aggie running backs. Jamarion Morrow and Carsyn Baker both bring reasons for fans to be excited about them, but Edwards is in a class of his own at the moment in what could be one of the strongest stables of backs in the country going forward.
Edwards currently averages 6.55 yards per carry; the next closest player on the Aggies is over 2 yards per carry fewer than that (Rueben Owens down at 4.32). Edwards, despite being a starter, though, is fourth on the team in attempts per game.
Part of that is the fact that he was injured and unable to go in the second half of the Alabama game, but he just needs to be seeing the ball a lot more. He’s the future of the running back position in College Station— which, given the way the season has gone, means he’s also the present.
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