Mike Elko didn’t say anything that suggests Texas A&M is headed for a quarterback switch.
After the game in College Station, the Aggies coach kept his stance on the position exactly where it has been for the past couple of weeks, and his comments made clear that Marcel Reed is still the guy. Elko’s evaluation of Reed leaned positive, even though there were a few incompletions on the stat sheet. He pointed out that a couple of those should probably have been caught.
Brady Hart got a more measured review. Elko said the young quarterback was likely still moving too quickly in the pocket, but he added that it was important to get him on the field and get him reps.
Elko was asked again later about Hart’s lone touchdown pass, and he gave the freshman credit there. Even so, he said the overall passing operation still needs work, and he called out both the routes and the timing of the routes.
That tracks with the broader problem for Texas A&M this season. The passing game has struggled, and while plenty of attention has fallen on the quarterback play, the issues have stretched across the whole operation.
For anyone hoping Hart might take over when the Aggies head to Tuscaloosa next week, Elko’s answer was hardly encouraging. It does not sound like he wants to throw a true freshman into his first start in that kind of setting.
Reed’s long-term status is still another matter, but next week’s trip to T-Town will force Texas A&M to show something different. If the Aggies don’t find another gear on the road, they’ll go into the bye at 4-4.
In Other News...
Mike Elkos Ashton Bethel-Roman Update Raises New Concern For Texas A&M
Mike Elkos latest update on Ashton Bethel-Roman added another layer of uncertainty to Texas A&Ms receiving room, even after a lopsided win over The Citadel kept the focus on the larger picture. Bethel-Roman was not with the team for the game because of personal reasons, and Elko said the program is giving him space as he handles the situation. For an Aggies offense that has already had to work around injuries at wideout, it is another reminder that the position group has been anything but settled.
Bethel-Romans absence comes after he had already dealt with an injury earlier this season, leaving him with limited production through the first seven weeks. Texas A&M did get useful contributions from Aaron Gregory and TK Norman in the latest game, which helps soften the immediate blow, but the broader concern is how many moving parts remain in a receiver rotation that has not been able to find much stability. As the Aggies move deeper into the season, the status of Bethel-Roman is now one more storyline hanging over the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Saw Something Encouraging In A Blowout That Fans Needed
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The defense also turned in a shutout, even if it gave up more than 100 rushing yards along the way, which leaves room for refinement rather than celebration alone. Still, for an Aggies team dealing with some players missing from the game, the overall picture was encouraging enough to keep in mind as the schedule gets tougher and the margin for error starts to shrink. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Suddenly Faces A Lineup Problem Fans Can't Ignore
Texas A&Ms injury list keeps growing at a time when the Aggies can least afford it. Heading into the matchup with The Citadel, the group will be without seven more players because of injury, a wave that comes on top of previously sidelined Terry Bussey and Blake Ivy. Six of the new absences are starters, which makes this more than just a depth concern and puts a spotlight on how the roster holds together in the weeks ahead.
Younger players are expected to see more snaps as the staff pieces together the lineup, and that kind of turnover can change the feel of a game fast. It also adds another layer of urgency as Texas A&M tries to navigate the final stretch of the season with a patched-together group and no real margin for more setbacks. [Read more 🡒]