Tag: Texas A&M offensive line

Five players to watch ahead of Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State

Will the Aggies’ secure bowl eligibility? Here are five players to watch out for ahead of Texas A&M’s home bout with Mississippi State.

Texas A&M’s (5-4, 3-3 SEC) 2023 football season has been underwhelming, to say the least, as sixth-year head coach Jimbo Fisher has once again landed on the evergrowing “hot seat” list as his future at the helm is still somewhat unknown with three games remaining.

After falling to Ole Miss 38-35 last Saturday, Texas A&M has dropped five straight to the Rebels and the Aggies’ upcoming opponent, Mississippi State (4-5, 1-5 SEC). Yes, this is very ugly on its face, but a chance to beat the Bulldogs for the first time in two seasons will at least place a much-needed bandage in the form of bowl eligibility.

This will be the Aggies’ first primetime kick-off of the season, and at this point, it may not mean that much to those watching from home, but for Aggie fans attending the game, expect a raucous crowd with plenty of implications still on the line. While the Bulldogs have dealt with plenty of adversity, quarterback Will Rogers is still listed as day-to-day but is 2-1 against A&M, including three touchdowns in their 2022 meeting.

This week, we have provided several storylines to help provide the full scoop on what to expect on Saturday night.

Focusing on the players that need to make plays this weekend, here are the five players to watch ahead of Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State.

Five players to watch ahead of Texas A&M vs. Ole Miss

Will Jimbo Fisher finally end his SEC road woes? Here are five players to watch ahead to Texas A&M’s road trip vs. 10th-ranked Ole Miss.

Texas A&M’s (5-3, 3-2 SEC) 2023 football season has been underwhelming, to say the least, as sixth-year head coach Jimbo Fisher has once again landed on the evergrowing “hot seat” list as his future at the helm is still somewhat unknown with four games remaining.

However, after the Aggies’ 30-17 Week 9 home win over South Carolina last Saturday, confidence inside the locker room has never been higher heading into this weekend’s pivotal road matchup vs. 10th-ranked Ole Miss (7-1, 4-1 SEC), and of course, Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin.

This will begrudgingly be Texas A&M’s fourth early kickoff this season, but this time, it may work to their benefit as the road team in front of a home crowd that may lack energy early on. Still, Ole Miss is a Top 10 team for good reason behind a potent offense, scoring an average of 38.8 points per game this season.

Seeking his first true SEC road win since 2021, Fisher will likely have to rely again on the Aggie’s 7th-ranked defense, while quarterback Max Johnson must show up in a big way for four quarters.

This week, we have provided several storylines to help provide the full scoop on what to expect on Saturday afternoon.

Focusing on the players that need to make plays this weekend, here are the five players to watch ahead of Texas A&M vs. Ole Miss

Texas A&M’s struggling O-line sets embarrassing program record per Pro Football Focus

Per PFF (Pro Football Focus), Texas A&M’s porous offensive line set a pressure rate program record in Saturday’s 20-13 loss to Tennessee.

As you already know, Texas A&M (4-3, 2-2 SEC) dropped its second straight SEC game after falling 20-13 on the road to Tennessee (5-1, 2-1 SEC) on Saturday afternoon, as Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher’s future with the program is wearing thin with the fan base after matching their 2022 record through seven games.

As we covered last week after the loss to Alabama, Texas A&M’s offensive line, one of the worst in the country if we’re going by metrics, has continued to destroy any offensive consistency with quarterback Max Johnson under center since the veteran southpaw took over for the injured Conner Weigman just three weeks ago.

Already allowing 14 sacks on the year, half of said takedowns were in the past two matchups, culminating in two more against the Volunteers. Still, the real story of the O-line’s struggles lies in the pressure rate allowed on Saturday, setting a truly embarrassing program record in the process. Max Johnson was pressured on 25-39 of his drop-backs for a record 64.1% clip, including 11 quarterback hits (just brutal). According to GigEm247’s Carter Karels, this is the highest-ever pressure rate allowed in a game for the Aggies since PFF began tracking the measurement in 2014.

The overall pressure rate becomes even less surprising when looking at the pass protection grades for all five starting linemen. Sticking out like a sore thumb, redshirt sophomore center Bryce Foster has been a liability outside of his passable performance in the win vs. Auburn, receiving a 34.1 PFF grade, including a 16.7 pass protection mark, both the lowest among starters.

As Texas A&M heads into the bye week with a host of issues on offense, the continuous struggles in the trenches are a clear sign that changes need to be made sooner rather than later, starting with a re-evaluation of second-year O-line coach Steve Addazio, who has completely failed at developing a deep group littered with blue-chip talent and proven experience.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Texas A&M’s offensive line is a problem, but not a lost cause just yet

Texas A&M’s 26-20 loss to Alabama left us with more questions than answers regarding the progress made on the Aggies struggling O-line.

Throughout Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher’s tenure with the program, the offensive line, outside of the 2020 season featuring a veteran-led group with NFL potential, has been consistently underwhelming. Through the halfway point of the 2023 campaign, the current starting five have taken a notable step in the wrong direction. Here was the Aggies starting five in the trenches against the Tide:

  • Left tackle: RS sophomore Trey Zuhn
  • Left guard: Sophomore Mark Nabou
  • Center: RS sophomore Bryce Foster
  • Left guard: Senior Layden Robinson
  • Right tackle: Freshman Chase Bisontis

On Saturday afternoon, Texas A&M fell to the visiting Alabama Crimson Tide 26-20 in a game where the Aggies led 17-10 at the half. Led by backup quarterback Max Johnson, the offensive line held up through two quarters, utilizing a “bend but don’t break’ like-game plan, keeping Johnson clean for the most part in pass protection during the Aggies’ three scoring drives.

However, as Alabama defensive coordinator Kevin Steele adjusted his elite defense in the second half, Johnson became well acquainted with the grass for the rest of the afternoon, pressured on 52.9% of his 34 dropbacks for the 7th most in Week 6. Sustaining five sacks (12 allowed this season), the Aggies’ struggling O-line failed to hold their blocks long enough to provide Johnson even the average amount of time to work through his progressions.

According to PFF, starting center Bryce Foster received a 31.2 grade in pass protection, second lowest in the starting five, to RT Chase Bisontis’s 17.4 grade, one of the weakest in the country. Even worse, right guard Layden Robinson (40.6) and left tackle Trey Zuhn (55.4) took a steep decline from their performance against Arkansas last in Week 5. While Bisontis’s struggles in his first season are alarming, he remains the only option before right tackle Reuben Fatheree is deemed to return. However, sophomore Dametrious Crownover has shown some ability.

Mark Nabou Jr. finished with the highest starting grade in pass protection at left guard with a 72.6 mark, his highest PFF rating in pass pro this season, reigniting the debate regarding changes in the interior, specifically switching Nabou back to center for the rest of the season.

Since earning the starting center spot as a freshman in 2021, Bryce Foster has dealt with a rash of lower body injuries that have hindered his development, leading to his worst performance of the year. While Nabou isn’t perfect, his lone start at center against UL Monroe yielded a 63.6 pass pro-grade, similar to his guard production but substantially better than Foster’s performance.

This doesn’t completely erase Foster’s future as a starter, as his noted size and versatility provide an opening at guard. Still, if Nabou were to make the switch, sophomore guard Kam Dewberry likely deserves a shot to pick up where he left off in 2022. Look, this all falls at the feet of Aggies offensive line coach Steve Adazzio, whose coaching seat has progressively heated up after yesterday’s results, so if any progress is to be made with six games remaining, it’s time to shake things up.

Texas A&M will travel to face the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 2:30 p.m. CT, inside Neyland Stadium (TV: CBS).

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Texas A&M’s offensive line play will likely determine the final outcome vs. Miami

After a solid showing in the Aggies 52-10 win over New Mexico, Texas A&M’s experienced O-line will need to win, and win consistently in the trenches vs. Miami.

Texas A&M (1-0) and Miami (1-0) entered the 2023 season with clean slates after matching each other record-wise with dismal 5-7 finishes in 2022, both experiencing more lows than highs, with their worst finishes in over a decade.

After going head-to-head last season, the Aggies narrowly defeated Miami 17-9 after previously losing to Appalachian State. While many of us saw this as a potential turnaround going forward, the parity of college football took us all for a loop for the preceding nine weeks.

Turn the page to the first weekend of September, as Texas A&M’s took care of New Mexico 52-10 behind starting quarterback Conner Weigman’s five touchdowns, while Miami’s balanced offense and impressive ground game aided the Hurricanes to their 38-3 drubbing of the visiting Miami (OH) Warhawks on Friday night.

Off to solid and convincing starts, the Aggies will now travel to South Beach, which, by most of the Miami fanbase, has been dubbed as a “revenge game,” even though the Hurricanes failed to reach the endzone in their first meeting. Even though Texas A&M holds several advantages on paper, specifically from a talent perspective, I believe that the game will be determined in the trenches between the Aggies’ offensive line vs. Miami’s defensive line.

In years past, Texas A&M’s O-line under Fisher’s reign has benefitted in size but lacked the athleticism and versatility needed to win in the SEC consistently. Still, after several key recruiting gains paired with experienced veterans, things are finally looking up in 2023. Against New Mexico, the Aggies looked much improved in pass protection, only allowing two sacks on the night. While their run blocking is still a work in progress, there’s clear potential.

As Aggies Wire contributor Pete Hernandez recently pointed out, Hurricanes defensive lineman Leonard Taylor, outside of star safety Kam Kinchens, is by far the most dominant defender the program has to offer, recording 24 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, 1 INT last season.

While Texas A&M’s offensive line seems to emulate a revolving door after what the starting unit looked like on Saturday, this is simply a byproduct of the immense depth O-line coach Steve Addazio has at his disposal. Of course, I’m referencing offensive tackle Reuben Fatheree II, who was still recovering from a knee issue before surprisingly suiting up against New Mexico. Instead of lining up at his original right tackle spot, he would shift over as the second-string left tackle behind starter Trey Zuhn. In contrast, vaunted freshman tackle Chase Bisontis made his impressive debut in his place. Now that’s quality depth.

In the interior, the return of center Bryce Foster and right guard Layden Robinson, coupled with the sophomore duo of Kam Dewberry and Mark Nabou at left guard, will be counted on against the likes of Leonard Taylor, who Miaim defensive coordinator Lance Guidry will likely move around throughout the matchup.

This is the first real test for the Maroon Goons, and with everything I’ve just described, there’s simply no excuse for this unit not to find success against a stout opponent like Miami, no matter where the game is played.

Texas A&M will face the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday, Sept. 9, which will air on ABC at 2:30 p.m. CT.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

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Texas A&M’s Offensive line depth resembling shades of 2020’s elite unit

Texas A&M’s 2023 O-line returns all five starters from last season, including some highly versatile depth at all five positions.

Earlier this week, Texas A&M Head Coach Jimbo Fisher and Aggies starting left tackle Trey Zuhn took a multitude of questions from the local media before their eleventh practice of fall camp, and from this writer’s point of view, both Fisher and Zuhn’s beaming confidence regarding the progress the offensive line has made this offseason provides much-needed context with just two weeks before the Sept. 2 season opener.

For Fisher’s talented yet unproven roster to accomplish any of their lofty goals this season, it begins and ends in the trenches. For the first time since the memorable 2020 9-1 campaign, they might have the horses to compete, and the depth behind the starting five is a big reason why.

Fisher, who has consistently praised the versatility of freshman tackle Chase Bisontis and redshirt freshman guard/center Mark Nabou threw out another intriguing name from his list, as former tight end and current redshirt sophomore tackle Dametreous Crownover, who has continued to stand out this fall as yet another versatile depth piece.

“Chase Bisontis is doing a great job,” Fisher stated. “Dametrious Crownover is having a phenomenal camp. … Mark Nabou has really become a jack of all trades. He is playing center, guard and tackle. He is playing and playing well.”

In a snapshot view, the Aggie’s complete O-line, both starters and backups, is presently constructed as follows:

  • Left tackle: (RS) Trey Zuhn III. Backup: (FR)  Chase Bisontis
  • Left guard: (S) Kam Dewberry. Backup: (RS JR) Aki Ogunbiyi
  • Center: (JR) Bryce Foster. Backup: (RS FR) Mark Nabou
  • Right guard: (RS SR) Layden Robinson. Backup: (JR) Jordan Spacojevic-Moko
  • Right tackle (Jr) Reuben Fatheree II. Backup: (RS SO) Dametrious Crownover

The starting five is more than set, as Foster, Robinson, and Fatheree will hopefully handle the right side for all 12 (hopefully more) games this season, barring injury. Yes, injury is just an annoying part of the position, especially for the Aggies last season, so that versatility mentioned above, a bulk of the O-lineman has shown this month, will surely come in handy late in SEC play.

“We do it in practice all the time,” Fisher stated. “You are trying to get your best five guys across the board and where each guy can be to get your best five.”

In contrast, Kam Dewberry’s impressive play in the latter half of last season, especially his tape against Alabama, has more than solidified his spot at left guard.

Trey Zuhn, the most vital O-line member, was a sight for sore eyes during Monday’s presser, letting us all know that his previous injuries that hindered development have ceased to become a lingering issue this summer.

“Physically, right now, I’m at 110%. I’m stronger than ever. I’m faster than ever. During the season. I had a couple of nicks and knacks that forced me to miss spring ball, but right now, I’m ready to roll.”

Most importantly, the job of an offensive lineman is to move the body in front of them, something we haven’t seen from the Aggies O-line at a consistent pace since the 2020 season, but from top to bottom, freshman to senior, starter to backup, and according to Zuhn, the hog mollies have been doing just that all fall.

“Having everybody back this fall camp has been great. We’re moving guys around a lot because we want as many guys to play as possible.”

If anything, Fisher has been chasing the dream of recreating the 2020 offensive line for the last two seasons that returned 52 out of 65 career starts, including blue-chip guard Kenyon Green, who is now a starter for the Houston Texans.

So, how close is he to achieving that goal this season? We’ll have to wait and see till the games begin, but if continuity and a lack of reserve talent were an issue in 2022, the progress made by both the starters and depth pieces is a good sign that we might be calling the O-line the predominant strength on offense in 2023.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

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Texas A&M is one of eight FBS programs set to return all five starters on the offensive line

Texas A&M is reportedly one of eight FBS programs set to return five of their O-line starters from 2022, but questions remain.

Texas A&M’s 2022 season was marred by several areas of subpar play, and outside of inexperience paired with injury issues to key players throughout SEC play, Jimbo Fisher’s inability to stem the tide was at the heart of all the chaos.

This offseason, changes have been made with additions from the transfer portal and changes to the coaching staff, most notably the dismissal of long-time offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey, leading to the hiring of former SEC head coach Bobby Petrino to the same position.

One area of the offense, the offensive line, coached by veteran O-line coach Steve Addazio, was just awful in 2022, mainly due to inconsistency and injury after injury piling up as the season went on. However, through all its ups and downs, the unit is reportedly one of eight FBS programs that will return all five starters from last season. Still, the starting lineup changed nearly every week for those who weren’t paying attention in October and November.

Suppose we’re looking at it from its original depth chart in early Sept. of last year. In that case, the group consisting of left tackle Trey Zuhn III, left guard Kam Dewberry, center Bryce Foster, right guard Layden Robinson, and right tackle Reuben Fatheree II, Dewberry remains the only projected starter who found his way into the lineup midseason.

Depth at the tackle position pales in comparison to depth in the interior, as freshman tackle Chase Bisontis is presently one of the only reliable options if injuries at both tackle spots occur next season, so let’s say that Addazio once again, his work cut out form him. Overall, the continuity aspect is a huge positive going into 2023, especially for sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman whose success will significantly depend on consistency in pass protection.

Lastly, echoing GigEm247’s Carter Karels’ appearance on Bud Elliots Cover 3 Podcast, Jimbo Fisher’s reliance on “old school” O-line recruiting tactics focused on size instead of athleticism showed its weaknesses in droves last season. Still, with another year of experience, offseason training, and a sense of urgency, things will hopefully get back on track in the trenches.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

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Texas A&M Spring Football: Changes to the offensive line may be on the horizon

With two full weeks of spring football in the books for Texas A&M, potential changes to the offensive line may be coming soon

It’s not so often that big-time depth chart changes occur during spring football for any FBS programs, especially for teams as veteran-led as Texas A&M. However, one of the primary weaknesses during the disappointing 2022 5-7 campaign for the maroon and white can be blamed on the inept and disjointed play of the offensive line.

The Aggies concluded their second full week of spring football practices this weekend, and aside from a couple of notable 2024 recruiting that took place in the process, senior right guard Layden Robinson’s press conference gave an insight on potential changes to the offensive line this spring, and possibly the start of the 2023 season. When discussing junior starting right tackle Reuben Fatheree, Robinson revealed the intriguing change in practice:

“Reuben Fatheree is making transitions. He is playing left too. All of us are playing different positions. We are getting better in every aspect.”

Now that’s an interesting change because solidifying the left side with one of the more proven tackle options on the roster could make way for freshman tackle Chase Bisontis to receiver reps at right tackle this spring. During Thursday’s practice, the dream scenario became reality as offensive line coach Steve Addazio is shifting things around to yield the best possible outcome this spring.

Reuben Fatheree’s ability at left tackle will obviously need more reps to determine his overall comfort level at the spot, but if it sticks, Chase Bisontis will become the preferred option at right tackle and would follow in the footsteps of Fatheree and starting center Bryce Foster who both entered A&M as four-star recruits who earned starting positions in year 1.

Any offensive success during the 2023 season will depend on the offensive line play because if consistency isn’t established through the first four or so games, solid quarterback play in a broken pocket can only help this team so much to reach its lofty goals. Either way, this is very encouraging news moving forward. On to Week 3 of spring football, we go. Gig ‘Em.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

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