For the third straight year, Texas A&M has started the season strongly with five straight wins. In 2014 and 2015 they followed this by going 3-5 to end the year a disappointing 8-5. This year will see the Aggies take the next step and finally push towards ten wins. Here are the three reasons why you should trust Texas A&M in 2016.
Strong Defense
Defensive co-ordinator John Chavis is only in his second season with Texas A&M but has already had a huge impact on the team. The Aggies lead the nation in tackles for a loss (50) and are giving up just 15.4 points per game. Last year they averaged 21.8 points per game against which is a great improvement thus far.
Last Saturday was an opportunity to see this defense without its best player as Myles Garrett didn’t travel to Columbia for the South Carolina game. The Gamecocks have had problems on offense this year but the Aggies managed to hold them to just 13pts despite an inconsistent performance from the A&M offense. Daeshon Hall produced two sacks and 3.5 tackles for a loss solidifying his stock as one of the best defensive ends in the nation.
Trevor Knight
The run game has certainly improved this year with Trayveon Williams averaging just short of 10 yards per carry and Keith Ford providing a consistent rushing threat. But the experience of graduate transfer Trevor Knight at quarterback has been invaluable already. Knight certainly isn’t one of the best passers in the country but he’s made the plays he’s needed to through the air whilst keeping the turnovers to a minimum.
Against Arkansas we saw Knight’s ability as a runner with two long touchdowns that changed the complexion of the game. Its his experience and leadership that has created a different atmosphere in the changing room. This is something that many commented on when he first came into the locker room and that he very quickly had the trust of the entire team.
Easier Schedule to Finish
Traditionally Texas A&M has played its four non-conference games earlier in the season. Three of those games have been against smaller schools who they have beaten comfortably. In 2014 for example the Aggies went 5-0 but three of those wins were against Rice, SMU and Lamar whilst the wins over South Carolina and Arkansas looked less impressive by the end of the season. This meant the toughest part of the schedule was all still to come in 2014.
If you compare that to this year where the Aggies are already 3-0 in the SEC and have a win over UCLA. They still have non-conference home games against UTSA and New Mexico State to come that should be comfortable victories. Of the remaining seven games, Texas A&M is at home for five of them with only T and Mississippi State left to play on the road.
