#7 Texas A&M Aggies Season Preview
By Editorial Staff
Ryan Tannehill earned the Aggies starting job down the stretch. Does he have enough offensive talent to help Texas A&M get a BCS Bowl bid?
Offensive Outlook: Ryan Tannehill did a fantastic job filling in for Jerrod Johnson earning the starting job down the stretch. Tannehill has bookend tackles that will buy him time in the pocket. Left Tackle Luke Joeckel and Right Tackle Jake Matthews make a beastly bookend tandem. Jake Matthews is indeed the son of Hall of Fame left tackle Bruce Matthews.
Tannehill has a premier supporting cast of playmakers to throw to. Jeff Fuller who has the best speed among Big 12 receivers will be Tannehill’s primary target. Secondary wide receiver option Ryan Swope and tight end Nehemiah Hicks will help out the Aggies passing game.
The Texas A&M Aggies have tons of depth on the interior offensive line. The depth on the interior offensive line should open up some run blocking holes for running backs Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael. Gray and Michael are arguably the 2 best backs in the entire big 12 this season.
Defensive Outlook: After Von Miller true freshman Damontre Moore led the the Aggies in sacks last year. Moore should get to the quarterback even more in 2011. This season I am projecting that Damontre Moore gets 7.5 sacks for the Aggies as the Aggies new 3-4 right outside linebacker.
3-4 middle linebacker Garrick Williams will be the Aggies primary run stuffer. Wiliams led Texas A&M in total tackles among the current starters returning last season. What is to keep Williams from repeating his 2010 results in 2011?
Coryell Judie anchors the Aggies secondary at cornerback. Another cornerback who covers well is Terrence Frederick. Both cornerbacks practically eliminate the passing game. Nickel corner Dustin Harris does well when getting the chance to cover and convert potential interceptions.
Prediction 10-2: Texas A&M should go 10-2 on the year with losses to Arkansas and Oklahoma. The Aggies are too good this year not to be in a BCS Bowl game even with these two losses. If Oklahoma runs the table and goes to the BCS National Championship then Texas A&M should be in the Tostios FIesta Bowl. Even if A&M knocks off Oklahoma and wins the conference I still see them in the Fiesta Bowl regardless of whether the team finishes 11-1 or 10-2.