Eyes on offense as Aggies begin spring practice
COLLEGE STATION — A new era has arrived at Texas A&M, thanks to the addition of an old coach in former Atlanta Falcons, Arkansas and Louisville boss Bobby Petrino, who will call the offense in the coming season under his new boss, head coach Jimbo Fisher.
Spring drills crank up Monday, and here are five things to watch leading to the spring game on April 15 at Kyle Field — or at least half of Kyle Field (more on that in a bit):
New dynamic
For the first time in more than two decades, Fisher will not call plays in his offense, or at least that’s the idea in bringing Petrino, 62, onboard from UNLV, where he’d just agreed to be offensive coordinator after he was head coach at Missouri State for three seasons.
Petrino, in serving as only an offensive coordinator for the first time in more than two decades, will begin installing his plan for scoring points this week. It’s been at its most basic described as an adaptable approach centered on “just feeding the studs,” according to one ESPN analysis. Leading to the first player to watch in spring drills: Conner Weigman.
All eyes on Weigman
Fisher entered last spring with three quarterbacks competing for the job: Weigman, fresh out of Bridgeland High, Haynes King and Max Johnson.
Because of various injuries and ineptness, Weigman, a five-star prospect, wound up starting four games late in the season, and threw eight touchdowns with zero interceptions.
Overall the Aggies were awful on offense under Fisher in 2022, ranking 101st out of 131 Football Bowl Subdivision programs in scoring (22.8 points per game), but that wasn’t on Weigman, a late arrival trying to save a 5-7 season.
King has transferred to Georgia Tech and Johnson is the backup, so this will be the first spring where the gig is Weigman’s to lose, and he’s got fresh eyes on his approach in Petrino.
Budding D-line
Signing top-rated defensive linemen has been Fisher’s biggest strength since arriving coming upon six years ago from Florida State, thanks to line coaches Terry Price and Elijah Robinson.
Defensive line is one of those positions needing some serious maturation, however, and even with a handful of five-star recruits the Aggies were one of the worst defenses in the nation last year against the run, at 123rd nationally in allowing 209 yards per game on the ground.
This spring will be vital in the continued growth of former fivestars Walter Nolen, Shemar Stewart, Shemar Turner, left tackle Overton and Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy.
Staff changes
Fisher, entering his sixth season at Texas A&M, hired running backs coach Marquel Blackwell from Mississippi to take the place of Tommie Robinson, whose contract was not renewed.
Fisher also promoted Bryant Gross-Armiento from defensive analyst to secondary coach after linebackers coach Tyler Santucci left to become Duke’s defensive coordinator (A&M defensive coordinator DJ Durkin will now coach linebackers).
Dameyune Craig will shift from coaching quarterbacks to receivers, while James Coley will move from receivers to tight ends.
Fisher, in trying to rebound from a losing season that included a home loss to Appalachian State, has a lot of moving parts to fine tune and adjust starting Monday — and that’s just on his coaching staff.
About Kyle Field
A&M’s spring game to wrap up drills at 3 p.m. on April 15 will have a much different look this year, and it’s sure to keep away some fans who don’t care to watch football’s version of halfcourt basketball.
Thanks to construction on the south end zone stands as A&M adds suites that should be ready for the start of this season, the Aggies will play their spring game on the north half of the field.
It’s too bad A&M can’t use one of nearby College Station, A&M Consolidated or Bryan high schools for the game, but apparently that’s against NCAA rules for a spring game.
In keeping with the half-field spirit, A&M should make the game “make it-take it” and “win by two.”
At least the modified spring game is free for fans (as it has been for the most part) and concession stands will be open — on half the field anyway.