NEW MEXICO AT TEXAS A&M
A good warmup for new quarterback Zach Calzada before conference play starts next week. 11 a.m., SEC Network
COLLEGE STATION — Forget Zach Calzada. OK, don’t forget Texas A&M’s new starting quarterback, but he is not the No. 7 Aggies’ biggest concern with SEC play right around the corner. That would be the offensive line, which had trouble protecting Calzada and creating openings for the Aggies’ alleged high-revving running attack a week ago in A&M’s 10-7 victory against Colorado in Denver. They will get another chance on Saturday against New Mexico.
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
Is A&M’s offensive line any good?
1 Like a handful of Calzada’s passes as he worked out the jitters, that’s still up in the air following last weekend’s performance. Guard Layden Robinson hobbled through an injury for much of the Colorado contest, making one wonder about the depth behind the starting five.
Tackle Kenyon Green, who made his name last season as an All-American guard, struggled in protecting Calzada and clearing holes for Isaiah Spiller and Devon Achane. And the Aggies have a true freshman at center in Bryce Foster, who has loads of potential but is still quite green.
Jimbo Fisher’s tallest task with No. 20 Arkansas on tap in a week in Arlington’s AT&T Stadium is getting the offensive line rolling — and that’s not an overnight deal as the Aggies replaced four of five starters from 2020.
Will McKinnley Jackson’s return impact the defensive line?
2 Yes — although it likely won’t be as noticeable this week against an overmatched New Mexico line. Jackson missed the first two games, A&M wins over Kent State and Colorado, because of an offseason arrest by university police, and his next court appearance is not until after the season.
Fisher said this week Jackson has been cleared by the university to play, and he immediately becomes one of A&M’s top four or five defensive linemen at a team strength.
Fellow defensive lineman Micheal Clemons returned to action last week against the Buffaloes following his own offseason arrest, and his run-stuffing play on fourth down late in the first half saved the day for the Aggies — although they didn’t realize it at the time.
Did we say to forget Calzada?
3 We didn’t mean it that way. It’s just that Fisher has his plate full with plenty of positions on offense not named quarterback.
Fisher, who calls the plays on offense, is in a bit of a fix against the Lobos, in planning ahead for the Razorbacks. He needs the strongarmed Calzada to continue working on his passing, but he also needs to game plan enough to get the Aggies’ running game rolling, with the notion they’re still capable of establishing the run.
Fisher’s ultimate plan on offense perhaps is Saturday’s biggest mystery, and adds some intrigue to what should be a blowout in favor of A&M. The Aggies are still more than four touchdown favorites despite losing starting quarterback Haynes King to a broken tibia against Colorado.
Is a fast start on tap for the Aggies?
4 Recent history not only says no, but no way. A&M led Kent State 10-3 in the third quarter before pulling away from the Golden Flashes and prevailing 41-10. The Aggies didn’t squeeze into the end zone against Colorado until less than three minutes remained — and they were fortunate to do so then.
A&M could dearly use a fast start to buoy the players’ confidence for what happens a week later: The SEC opener against an Arkansas squad that led Texas 16-0 at halftime last weekend in Fayetteville, Ark., and forced the Longhorns to punt on six of their first seven possessions.
Does this program still have a shot at a national title?
5 As of Week 3, no. But the same thing could have been said a year ago, and the Aggies wound up a College Football Playoff committee debate away from making their first four-team postseason. A&M will need to get its act together in a hurry, however, after failing to score a touchdown over the first 57 minutes of its game against Colorado.
The Aggies hung around this week in the Associated Press top 10 courtesy of their late comeback against the Buffaloes, and still have everything in front of them — including one rather bulky object in top-ranked Alabama on Oct. 9 at Kyle Field.
Fisher’s teams traditionally have grown stronger as a season wears on — and he’ll need his fourth A&M squad to do so on the double if the Aggies continue to own any hope of winning their first national title since 1939.