Fisher staying with King over Weigman
COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher claimed “we’ve got to find those inches this week” in trying to defeat No. 15 Mississippi at Kyle Field.
Some frustrated A&M fans figure an addition could happen by subtracting an inch, however, when it comes to the Aggies offense. Sure, freshman quarterback Conner Weigman at 6-foot-3 might have an inch on 6-foot-2 sophomore starter Haynes King, but he owns one more significant thing over King at this point, at least to program outsiders: Intrigue.
Despite the ongoing mystery of Weigman — although his allure has lessened a bit in the past week following the former fivestar recruit’s first college action — Fisher said he’s sticking with who he knows best entering the final five games of the regular season. And that is King.
“His shoulder is recovered very well,” Fisher said this week of King bouncing back from an injury late in the Aggies’ 30-24 loss at South Carolina last weekend. “He’s moving well and throwing well … you’re always banged and bruised this time of year.”
The Aggies (3-4, 1-3 SEC) will try to snap a three-game losing streak at 6:30 p.m. in A&M’S first home game in almost six weeks. The Rebels (7-1, 3-1) are coming off a 45-20 loss at LSU.
With no hope for any kind of title this season for the Aggies, the friendly environs seem ideal to give the former Bridgeland High star Weigman, who’s considered the future of the program, a shot at starting quarterback. Fisher, however, is not into ideals in trying to prop up his wobbling program down the stretch.
“You play for the moment,” Fisher said. “You say you play for the future, but what do you tell (a) senior? What do you tell that junior who’s (leaving)? They want to win now and you make decisions based on the ‘now.’ If (a newcomer) is good enough to play and (also) play in the future, and you feel they’re good enough to play now, you play them.
“We’ve played a lot of (young) guys … but we have to do what we have to do each week to put the best team on the field and compete.”
In other words, and in the case of quarterback, Fisher believes King’s three seasons in Fisher’s detailed system give him the edge among the remaining healthy quarterbacks. King started the first two games but was replaced by LSU transfer Max Johnson in Week 3 against Miami, and following the Aggies’ stunning 17-14
home loss to Appalachian State in Week 2.
Johnson, who led the Aggies to narrow victories over Miami and Arkansas, broke his left (throwing) hand late in a 42-24 A&M loss at Mississippi State on Oct. 1, and King has reemerged as starter. Fisher said King has found his stride as the season has pressed on, and despite a foot injury suffered in the Aggies’ 24-20 loss at Alabama on Oct. 8.
“Go back and watch, Haynes played a very good football game and made a lot of good throws,” Fisher said of King’s performance against the Gamecocks. “He put us in great positions … and made some good third-down throws. He led us on some really nice drives and made some really big-time plays.”
Still, the Aggies have scored less than 25 points in nine consecutive games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents, ahead of only Colorado and Rutgers among the 131 FBS programs on that front, according to ESPN Stats & Info. A&M ranks 108th in total offense (342 yards per game) and 109th in total scoring (22 points per game) with Fisher as its play-caller on offense, and no matter the quarterback.
Fisher directed one of the top offenses in the nation in 2013 with a generational quarterback in Florida State’s Jameis Winston, when the Seminoles won the national title and Winston won the Heisman Trophy.
So, a solid offense under Fisher is possible – and whether Weigman can be that type of quarterback is to be determined. Weigman
finished 8-of-15 for 91 yards in filling in for an injured King in the fourth quarter against the Gamecocks, and much like his predecessors at the position was under consistent duress because of a bad A&M offensive line.
“He played with a lot of poise and made some really nice throws,” Fisher said of Weigman’s debut. “You can see his talent and arm talent and he has very good instincts to play the game. … He gave us a chance to win the game; we were throwing the ball to the end zone with a chance to win the game.”
King and Weigman have not been available for interviews to the traditional media covering the A&M program this season. A&M senior tight end Max Wright said the Aggies can’t go wrong with either quarterback moving forward.
“Haynes is a warrior, he goes out and fights,” Wright said. “He’s out there giving his all on every single play, and I respect him a lot for that. … (And Weigman) did great. Anytime someone has to come in late into a game and try and step into a high-pressure situation, it’s tough. He came in, read his keys and handled the ball well. … The kid is super smart; he’s got a great future.”