Fisher remains sold on Mond at QB over young backups
COLLEGE STATION — Haynes King’s view through his facemask changed quite a bit from one October to the next.
Last year at this time King, then Longview High’s quarterback, faced Rockwall-Heath High. This fall King faced what occasionally doubles as a rock wall in college football — Alabama’s defense.
King, a true freshman at Texas A&M, played the final offensive series in the No. 21 Aggies’ 52-24 loss at No. 2 Alabama last weekend. His solid performance on six out of the eight plays left some frustrated A&M fans wondering if he might get a shot at significant playing time Saturday against No. 4 Florida.
For now, however, senior and four-year starter Kellen Mond is still the man at quarterback.
“He had one critical mistake,” A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said of Mond’s interception returned 47 yards for a touchdown by Crimson Tide safety Daniel Wright midway through the second quarter. “… The decision was good, but that throw can’t be left inside. For the most part his decision making on the day was really good.”
Mond, too, had good numbers against Alabama, further quelling any notion of more playing time for King or fellow backup Zach Calzada against the Gators, who’ve had a porous defense in two double-digit victories to start the season.
“But if you don’t win, that doesn’t matter,” Fisher said of Mond completing 25 of 44 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns to go with one interception. “When you’ve got the football in your hands as a quarterback, the thing you take responsibility for is there is always more you can do, because you have that control, and you get those guys around you to do those (productive) things.”
The Aggies (1-1) opened their season with a shaky 17-12 victory over Vanderbilt at Kyle Field when Mond fumbled three times, losing two.
“I did not play up to my full potential,” said Mond, who’s led A&M to 7-6, 9-4 and 8-5 finishes in his three previous seasons as starter.
Fisher, in his third season, desperately hopes to avoid a 1-2 start with a trip to Mississippi State up next. So, if Mond struggles to move the ball in the first half, King or Calzada might earn a shot at a series or two, with both having gained on-field experience in the past year.
King, who in 2018 led Longview to its first state title since 1937, completed a 17-yard pass on his first play in college against a powerhouse program. Five of the next six plays were King rushes, often after his first read was covered and he impatiently tucked and ran.
King, one of the nation’s top dual-threat prospects in the class of 2020, wound up leading the Aggies in rushing with 43 yards on five carries — a check mark for the promising quarterback but mostly an indictment of the A&M’s inability to move the ball on the ground against the Alabama defense.
The Aggies had a first-and-goal on the Crimson Tide 10-yard line when King underthrew receiver Chase Lane in the end zone, and Alabama defensive back Malachi Moore pulled down the interception.
“We wanted to get Haynes on the field and get him playing,” Fisher explained of inserting King for a series at Alabama. “I’m not disappointed in Zach (Calzada) at all. He’s doing a great job and both guys are getting reps in practice every day. Haynes hadn’t played (in college) at all, so I thought there was an opportunity right there.
“It was a very good opportunity to get him some field time, and Zach had played some last year. Get (King) some field time and see how he reacts and where his development is.”
Fisher said a disgusted King trotted off the field following the interception and told the coach, “That was ridiculous. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“He’s a guy that if it isn’t right, he’s the hardest critic on himself by far,” said Fisher, who added that Lane should have left “more room” on the route so King didn’t have to try and squeeze the ball in for a touchdown.
Mond, A&M’s career leader in completions and attempts as of last week, will continue earning first shot at revving up what’s been a slow-starting offense through two games.
“When he gets out of the pocket, he really makes things happen,” Florida defensive lineman Andrew Chatfield Jr said of Mond. “Our best (bet) right now is to try and keep him in the pocket.”