OFFENSE - Noel Mazzone is the new OC and while they lose 5 st'rs, they do plug in Oklahoma transfers QB Knight and RB Ford into 2 of the openings. A&M avg 44.4 ppg in Manziel's two seasons but just 35.2 & 27.8 ppg the L2Y. Mazzone uses the spread but likes to run it more and had the Pac-12's top rusher in 3 of his 4 years.
DEFENSE- It is year two for DC Chavis and he should have more of his defense in place. The Aggies do return 7 st'rs on that side of the ball and improved to just 22.0 ppg allowed in '15 (30.2 ppg '13-'14). They have one of the SEC's top D-line and secondaries and look even stronger this year.
2016- Each of the last two years I have not had A&M in my Preseason Top 25. Each year they have been the "hot" National Title contender at mid year. They were 5-0 and #6 in 2014 and 5-0 and #9 last year. They are 6-10 after that point and finished unranked both years. Both VHT QB's have transferred out as did numerous other players so there are questions. They do only have 3 SEC HG's this year (Arkansas neutral site). Their 3 HG's are vs 3 of the SEC's top 4 teams (Miss, LSU, Tenn) which means most of their winnable ones are on the road. They are 11-6 away from home in SEC play under Sumlin. The offense will be solid and the D which has been a problem area (allow 5.4, 5.0, 5.0 ypc rush L3Y) should play up to their talent level under Chavis. This is another Wild Card team this year. Three of my 9 sets of power ratings call for 5-7 but my main one has 9-3.
http://www.philsteele.com/Pdf/2016_Top_40_Countdown/30_Texas_AM.pdf
DEFENSE- It is year two for DC Chavis and he should have more of his defense in place. The Aggies do return 7 st'rs on that side of the ball and improved to just 22.0 ppg allowed in '15 (30.2 ppg '13-'14). They have one of the SEC's top D-line and secondaries and look even stronger this year.
2016- Each of the last two years I have not had A&M in my Preseason Top 25. Each year they have been the "hot" National Title contender at mid year. They were 5-0 and #6 in 2014 and 5-0 and #9 last year. They are 6-10 after that point and finished unranked both years. Both VHT QB's have transferred out as did numerous other players so there are questions. They do only have 3 SEC HG's this year (Arkansas neutral site). Their 3 HG's are vs 3 of the SEC's top 4 teams (Miss, LSU, Tenn) which means most of their winnable ones are on the road. They are 11-6 away from home in SEC play under Sumlin. The offense will be solid and the D which has been a problem area (allow 5.4, 5.0, 5.0 ypc rush L3Y) should play up to their talent level under Chavis. This is another Wild Card team this year. Three of my 9 sets of power ratings call for 5-7 but my main one has 9-3.
http://www.philsteele.com/Pdf/2016_Top_40_Countdown/30_Texas_AM.pdf
