Texas A&M’s 50-0 demolition of Missouri State gave the Aggies plenty to feel good about, but it also left a few clear areas to clean up before Arizona State comes to town in Week 2.
The biggest concern is up front. A&M’s four new starting offensive linemen struggled early, losing assignments and opening the door for several jailbreaks that resulted in two sacks and multiple pressures. Marcel Reed’s mobility helped cover some of those issues, as the veteran quarterback slipped through the Missouri State defense for positive yards when the pocket broke down.
The good news for the Aggies is that the line settled in after halftime, and the running game followed. Freshmen Carsyn Baker and KJ Edwards both made strong first impressions in their A&M debuts as the blocking improved and the offense started to find its rhythm.
One player whose role could be worth watching against Arizona State is Jamarion Morrow. The sophomore scored his first touchdown of the season in the opener, finishing with 29 rushing yards and two catches for 18 yards, but coach Mike Elko said Wednesday on his Aggie Football Hour radio show that Morrow has been dealing with a minor issue from camp.
“Jamarion, we were able to kind of limit a little bit, which we were trying to do. He had something nicked up through camp, so we were able to pull back on him a little bit, which was good. He got enough carries to kind of get the opener out of the way, and we’ll continue to bring him more and more into the fold.”
Against Arizona State, Morrow is expected to be used in the passing game on swing passes, while Rueben Owens is slated to start and handle most of the carries. Baker and Edwards are also expected to get on the field as part of the rotation.
In Other News...
Rival Coach Just Turned LSUs SEC Controversy Into A Bigger Story
Mike Elko did not need much prompting to weigh in on LSUs recent run-in with the SEC, and the Texas A&M coach used a pointed analogy to describe what happened around Baton Rouge. Speaking after LSUs dispute with the league over its attempt to roster former NFL players, Elko compared the episode to a child pushing limits before the consequences arrive, a sharp way to frame a controversy that briefly had the Tigers staring at possible expulsion.
The SEC ultimately backed off after LSU filled those roster spots with eligible student-athletes and severed ties with the former NFL rookies, defusing a situation that had threatened to become much bigger. Elko said he expects things to settle down and LSU to remain in the league, but his remarks added another layer to a strange little saga that already had the SEC office and one of Texas A&Ms biggest rivals in the middle of it. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Elko Just Turned Up Texas A&Ms LSU Tension Again
Mike Elko has a way of making the SECs biggest rivalries sound a little more personal, and his latest remarks only added to the edge around Texas A&Ms meeting with LSU. The Aggies coach drew a comparison between the conferences disciplinary response and a parent correcting a child, a blunt way of saying LSU is being kept in check as the league weighs the fallout from the Tigers offseason activity.
For Texas A&M, it is the kind of comment that keeps an old SEC tension simmering in public view rather than letting it fade into the background. With future games between the Aggies and LSU looming, Elkos framing only sharpens the sense that this is about more than one isolated conference issue, because the rivalry already has enough history without needing any extra fuel. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Is Bringing Back One Of Kyle Fields Most Meaningful Traditions
Texas A&M will add a familiar layer of meaning to its upcoming Red, White and Blue Game against Arizona State at Kyle Field, using the matchup to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The Aggies are planning to wear special red, white and blue helmets and gloves, reviving a tradition that stretches back to the years immediately after 2001 and has long tied the programs on-field presence to a larger moment of remembrance.
The game has also carried a charitable side in the past, with previous Red, White and Blue Games helping raise funds for organizations connected to 9/11 relief efforts. For a fan base that values the symbolism attached to Kyle Field traditions, this one will once again be about more than just the opponent across the field. [Read more 🡒]