3 Reasons You’ll Suck In 2016: Texas A&M

Siblings of Mark Wahlberg9 years ago

3. Your Quarterback

Trevor Knight is an Oklahoma castoff who lost his job to a walk-on (I realize it’s Baker Mayfield, but still a walk-on) and is better known for a singular Katy Perry tweet than anything he has ever done on the field.

Knight, who trails only Blake Bell on the list of Big Game Bob’s highly rated disappointments, stands alone in the raging dumpster fire that is the Aggie QB depth chart after the sudden departures of former 5-star recruits Klyer Murray and Kyle Allen.

Without any semblance of a backup, an injury prone retread with only one year in the system and the massive step up in defensive talent from the Big 12 to the SEC, A&M might be having open tryouts by midseason.

2. Your Coach

Remember the glory days of just a few years ago? First round picks littering the offense, Johnny Football, Mike Evans, and Jake Matthews forming the best QB/WR/OL trio in recent memory, and the Aggies stacking titles? Oh wait, neither do I.

Coach Sumlin, though a strong recruiter and capable of unleashing prolific offensive barrages, doesn’t actually do a lot of winning. At least when it matters. Aside from Manziel dominating Bama to an extent, A&M football can be remembered for its flash more so than its substance.

Currently, the staff seems in the midst of a full-fledged meltdown. Transfers, de-commits, and Twitter tirades from assistant coaches suggest a climate of restless nervousness in College Station. Perhaps the passengers are starting to realize the peril of this titanic voyage.

1. Your Schedule

You’re in the SEC West. Need I say more? LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Auburn, Arkansas, and what will likely be a down Mississippi are all on the schedule, in perpetuity.

But where things really get rough here, aside from the expected gauntlet of West giants, was the ballsy decision to schedule a home and home with UCLA and the terrible luck of drawing Tennessee from the SEC East the first time they will supposedly be relevant in the last decade.

Starting with UCLA, the Bruins feature perhaps the most purely talented QB in the nation in rising sophomore Josh Rosen. Rosen, famous for both his outrageous behavior and stellar first season, looks to be a future first round lock, biding his time in dorm room hot tubs and countless coeds. After a string of stellar recruiting classes reeled in by Jim Mora Jr. (not the “PLAYOFFS?!” Colts legend) and a second year in the system, the Bruins look like a PAC 12 favorite.

Tennessee on the other hand, I’m not sold on, but the historically weak SEC East (this year is a complete disaster, trust me) probably affords the Vols the privilege of being rolled by whoever wins the West. No pun intended.

Reason for hope:

The WRs and defensive line are young, but absolutely stacked. If Knight goes down again it is probably time to line up sophomore Christian Kirk in the unending wildcat. Just get the ball in his hands any way possible; he is that good. Myles Garrett, the anchor of what should finally be a defensive front able to attack the passer while at least slowing between-the-tackles rushing attacks, looks to cement himself as a possible number 1 overall pick heading into the 2017 season.

Projection:

The Aggies struggle mightily, falling in front of the “12th Man” to both LSU and Ole Miss. The away slate will be even less fruitful, with losses to Auburn, Alabama, and a shocking let down against barely .500 Mississippi State.

7-5. Sumlin’s seat is on fire..

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