re: What is A&M's ceiling and floor next year and thoughts moving forward?

That's why I posted "if" but I believe 9-3 will happen first

Well this A&M fan's expectations are a little higher than 3rd or 4th for this season.

quote:

---

AnActualFan

---

We haven't lost to Arkansas since joining the SEC and their game plan has been the exact same every year.
That would be like someone predicting LSU to lose to aggy.
Until it happens, it won't.

Not to mention the run defense WILL be better this year, and the offense can't get worse.

So that's 3 losses. If we are good enough to head into the Tennessee game undefeated at home, it will be the definition of a toss up and is why the ceiling on our season is a reasonable 10-2.

Just my opinion.

quote:

---

I appreciate what you're doing here

Also, after reviewing the thread texag mentioned, they don't seem to believe they have much of a shot vs bama or LSU

Interesting

---

I actually read a bunch about other teams and try to impartially assess the reality against their respective schedules with what the coaching staff has done with key players.
It's no surprise their defense will be even better this year. Before Chavis the recruited well and have since. On par with pretty much every school in the West of better. Secondly, they have proven they could win with a new starter. The difference is this starter is NOT a freshman and has talent. They only needed some decent OLINE play and that is not going to be an issue. That UCLA teams success was not because of Moras ability to coach offense. He is a defensive coach. So why were they so balanced? Who was the difference maker. Other teams in the West have as many or more questions than TAMU and you can bet by the end of this season Sumlin saves his job and they win 10 games.
If it doesn't work out that way it will be because of the offense and health issues at QB or RB.
That's my analysis...

I can't stand A&M, but they're a sleeping giant. IMO. All they need is the right HC to put it all together. I personally hope that Sumlin is forever A&M. Look out if they eventually get Tom Herman or someone like that.
And i think their ceiling this year is 10 wins. Their D should be solid. Floor probably 6 games if they completely fall apart, but i doubt that.

8-4 best case scenario for the Ags...

Quoting this, because SoberAg said everything I would have said (only he was far more eloquent than I would have been).

I have zero expectations for this year. I'm an optimistic fan by nature, so I'm excited to see an upperclassmen QB under center for TAMU (haven't had that in a long time), and for year two with Chavis having built a little more depth. Not expecting us to challenge for the division, but I think we'll be a solid side that gives folks more of a problem than they bargained for.

quote:

---

Ceiling 10-2 with a floor of 7-5 in my honest opinion.

I truly think that it isn't fair to base anything off of 2012 success. The offseason before, pundits said we wouldn't win 2 games in SEC play and would be cellar dwellers. We changed their tune and haven't lived up to it since. Why?

The SECw is damned good and the East is roaring back as well. We were NOT ready for SEC play and masked our weaknesses with a generational talent in Johnny and a freak of nature in Mike Evans.

It wasn't sustainable and their were plenty of Aggys who have had reasonable expectations every year since then. However, we HAVE gotten better in the trenches, we made a hire necessary to see a LB unit even hit the field, and will field one of the best secondaries in the division.

Our QB room has been a NIGHTMARE since Johnny left, and more than likely was a nightmare while he was here too. Again, it was masked. Sumlin now has a QB who will be 'managing' with a smile on his face, instead of bitching at the first sign of adversity like Trill, Kyle, and Kyler.

Again, QB is about expectations. We are not expecting Knight to be Bama form all year. He's proven he can't play at that level with consistency. HOWEVER, he has weapons all around him and a defense that can win him 24-20 games. We have not been able to say that since joining the conference.

I know it easy to pick on the roller coaster of the aggy seasons, but we are making the changes necessary to be a competitive SEC team and not a gimmicky one. I think a lot of people will find that out this year.


Edit: just wanted to add my prediction of 9-3. I think 10-2 is unlikely but possible, 7-5 is unlikely but possible, and 8-4 is right up there with 9-3 in terms of probability.

---

quote:

---

I have zero expectations for this year. I'm an optimistic fan by nature, so I'm excited to see an upperclassmen QB under center for TAMU (haven't had that in a long time), and for year two with Chavis having built a little more depth. Not expecting us to challenge for the division, but I think we'll be a solid side that gives folks more of a problem than they bargained for.

---

Couldn't say it better, so I just copied it.

Poor coordinator choices in 2013 set us back, Chavis and Mazzone are the cure.

But depending on Knights play, anywhere from 10 to 7 wins is possible.


LSU is really in the same boat, good play from harris and LSU could contend for it all, bad play and another 7-8 win season is right there

quote:

---

Mazzone are the cure.

---

He better be
Yall said the same shite about Christenson