Aggies expect to find early answers
COLLEGE STATION — August camp leads to decisions made for seasonopening games, while spring drills lead to decisions made for August camp, Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher explained this week.
“What you try to do in spring is create scenarios and evaluate people, so you can make decisions over
the summer for fall camp, and where you put (players) and how you put them where they fit,” Fisher said. “Then you still have to experiment, because you
have new guys coming in, and plus see how guys (fit) who are coming back from surgeries and other things.
“(Spring) is never a question you fully have answers to.”
Regardless, the Aggies figure to answer a few questions for August with their first spring game in two years at 1 p.m. Saturday at Kyle Field. Admission is free, and gates open at noon.
A&M, like most every other program in 2020, did not hold spring drills or a spring game because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Masks are required Saturday at Kyle Field, and officials estimate a crowd of about 25,000 in the stadium, which has a capacity of more than 100,000.
“Hopefully it’s getting back to normal, and it will be great to see people in the stands on Saturday,” Fisher said. “You get so engrossed in what you’re doing as a coach, sometimes you forget about all of that … Saturday will be the first time you really feel it.”
A&M also was at 25 percent capacity for the 2020 season, but Saturday likely will feature a much more relaxed atmosphere with the Brazos County health district on Thursday reporting its fewest number of COVID-19 cases in six months.
“I hope (the players) appreciate how much having spring ball helps them, because it’s another chance for them to develop,” Fisher said. “It’s just like going to class, and it’s in the major that you want. You come here to get an Aggie ring in your educational major, which is huge; it’s the biggest thing you have.
“But right there even with it is you’re coming here to win championships, to win SEC championships and play pro football. And there’s nothing wrong with having both.”
The Aggies were 9-1 last season with a condensed schedule because of the pandemic, and finished fourth in the final Associated Press poll. They return nine starters on defense, including four senior starters who elected to return for a “bonus” senior season, after the NCAA did not count a year of eligibility in 202021 because of the pandemic.
“I wanted to improve myself personally and physically,” said defensive tackle Jayden Peevy, one of those returnees. “… This program is making steps toward being a big-time program.”
While the Aggies’ defense is among the most experienced in memory, the offense is another story, and Fisher hopes to help answer a couple of questions Saturday.
“You’re replacing an offensive line and replacing a quarterback,” Fisher said. “The pressure is on the receivers, running backs and tight ends; that’s the experience (returning). They’ve got to play flawlessly, so the other guys can work their way into playing.”
The “other guys” in this instance are four offensive linemen, along with a quarterback to take over for departed four-year starter Kellen Mond, who might be an early-round selection in next week’s NFL draft.
Kenyon Green, who’s shifted from left guard to left tackle, is the lone returning starter on the offensive line. The top two quarterback candidates are redshirt freshman Haynes King and sophomore Zach Calzada.
“Manage the game, run the show, make decisions,” Fisher said of his expectations for his quarterbacks during the spring game. “Like they have all spring.”
No matter Saturday’s outcome, fans will not see plenty of players who are expected to contribute in the fall on offense. Tight ends Jalen Wydermyer, Blake Smith, Baylor Cupp and Max Wright all are expected out with non-severe injuries, along with a handful of the offensive linemen vying for the four open slots.
Fisher added that the Aggies have about nine healthy offensive linemen going into the spring game, but should have the normal load of 18 starting in August.
“We’ve still got a lot of work to do,” Fisher said of the Aggies’ overall task of entering August.