Longhornfrenzy 🤘🏼 · @Longhornfrenzy1
22nd Aug 2022 from TwitLonger
Chin Pubes Sunshine
Billy Liucci's TexAgs Premium
Sunday camp wrap
Staff Only
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Liucci
- I'm going to start with a point that too many of the various 'scrimmage reports' left out following yesterday's Kyle Field session. The fact of the matter is that the Ags got pretty banged up along the offensive line (nothing long-term), and the first-team was working without three projected starters shortly into the day's work (Layden Robinson, Akinola Ogunbiyi and Bryce Foster). In addition, center Matthew Wykoff was also out.
The fact of the matter is that the offense had a very good day a week ago in Scrimmage #1. As you might imagine, the defense took the field on Saturday on a bit of a mission and it showed. That was especially so in the trenches, where the A&M defensive line had a day. Per every report, D.J. Durkin's crew generally controlled the line of scrimmage and got after the Aggie quarterbacks for most of the afternoon.
As you can imagine, that made things tough on the three signal-callers competing for the starting job. Haynes King threw what was nearly a pick six to Demani Richardson, and the passing game and offense in general had a much rougher go of it than they did a week ago.
- Great day for the defense on Saturday, good day for the offense a week ago, but it's what was in between that really caught my attention this week.
Throughout the week, insiders have been going on and on about how well the Aggies were practicing. In fact, one longtime observer who was in Tallahassee for Fisher's incredible run said Thursday's practice was as good as any he's seen since the 2013 season at FSU. Just the energy, execution and competitiveness of it all was championship level stuff.
And on a day when all three quarterbacks excelled, it's worth noting that Max Johnson may have put together his best showing of fall camp. I'm not sure when Jimbo Fisher will make his final decision (probably sometime in the next 3-4 days if I had to guess), but what I do know is each of the QBs have looked good during camp.
Haynes King may have been the most consistent performer to date, but Johnson could be making a move at just the right time, certainly enough to make Jimbo's decision a very tough one. As I've said before, how Fisher handles this choice and how to bring soon-to-be sensational freshman Conner Weigman along (I'm not saying Weigman is Trevor or Tua, but I think he's a special talent and you have got to get some kind of feel for what he can do in game action along the way) is why this is the head coach's most important QB derby since he went with redshirt freshman Jameis Winston over Andrew Coker at FSU prior to the 2013 season.
Why? Because Fisher has stockpiled national championship-caliber talent in College Station, and the next 2-3 seasons are set up for one hell of a run.
Another thing I do know? Jimbo's decision won't be made by overzealous donors. I know you human potatoes in burnt orange who frequent this board are reading this, so I figured I'd throw you a bone. I'd also love to remind you how insanely dumb you are to think Steve Sarkisian has any real power in Austin these days. I know you hate to hear this, but Sark wasn't Chris Del Conte's choice to coach Texas, and Ewers wasn't Five Win's desired pick to open the season as the Longhorn starter. Now go run along and enjoy your Sunday.
Back to business...
- Devon Achane (along with Evan Stewart and Ainias Smith) was wearing a yellow jersey on Saturday, meaning they were off-limits in terms of tackling. Achane saw light work, which allowed the Aggie staff to get an extensive look at the rest of the backfield. On Saturday, it was Amari Daniels who I was told ripped off a few nice runs. This is a position of real strength, as all of the backs not named Achane have had their moments and are more than good enough to keep the chains moving and produce big plays when #6 isn't on the field. I said it before and will again, however: Keep an eye on Le'Veon Moss as the season progresses.
-I mentioned Foster, Wykoff and the center position earlier in this piece, and it's a spot that's beginning to get pretty interesting. Bryce has missed a good portion of fall camp (he returned to action a little more than a week ago) and also didn't practice during the spring while making a run at the national championships in track & field. Along the way, the second-year center from Magnolia has received very valuable reps with the 1s and versus a first-team Aggie DT rotation that's as good as anything that the A&M offense will face this year. Steve Addazio probably feels pretty good about the depth Wykoff is now providing in the middle, and as the season-opener nears, I think it's fair to say keeping an eye on the reps at center between now and Sam Houston would be wise. Don't get me wrong, there are few better than Bryce as far as young centers go, and I'd expect the two-sport standout to fight his way back into the starting lineup. I'm just saying that I don't think it's a lay-down guarantee from day one when you factor in how Wykoff has performed and how much time practice time Bryce has missed.
- Demani Richardson's theft of a King pass was one of many highlights the senior safety has produced during camp, as both he and fellow veteran Antonio Johnson have both looked exceptional from wire to wire. Richardson doesn't get talked about nearly enough for a four-year starter with what will likely be a long NFL future. Both from talking to him and hearing about the results, it certainly sounds like Demani is going to thrive playing in D.J. Durkin's system, where he'll likely spend a lot more time on the boundary and also creeping a little closer to the line of scrimmage more often than he did under Mike Elko.
- Speaking of the safety spot, there's a pretty interesting battle heating up opposite Demani between a pair of Louisiana products. True freshman Jacoby Mathews is making a real push to become one of the first members of A&M's ballyhooed Class of '22 to force his way into the lineup. The ongoing to battle between he and second-year man Jardin Gilbert is a very good one. Gilbert has had a strong camp, but Mathews has the look of a future star. Both will play and play a lot early, but I'm not sure Mathews isn't No. 2 on my current list when it comes to true freshmen most likely to open the season with the 1s come opening day.
- I've mentioned pretty much all of the true freshmen defensive linemen plenty throughout camp, but one I don't think I've brought up enough is former Katy standout Malick Sylla. The long, rangy defensive end still needs work in the weight room, but he's actually already very strong and his length, get-off and twitch off the edge make him a guy that one trusted source believes "is a guy who can help us rushing the passer this year and possibly in a big way." That freshman defensive line class is absolutely loaded, folks. Look for Durkin and Co. to roll them out in waves throughout September.
- Despite the defense ruling the day, there were a handful of offensive highlights from the scrimmage, including:
King to Evan Stewart during two-minute drill on a beautiful throw-and-catch in the end zone...Max Johnson finding Moose Muhammad deep down the field for a big gain...Jake Johnson with an excellent grab and fellow true freshman Donovan Green with a couple of snags...another long strike down the sideline from Johnson to Muhammad that was nullified because the whistle was blown due to a would-be sack (a terrific throw and catch, nonetheless