Texas A&M expectations in 2014

8/9 wins and no blowout losses is the minimum

Honestly I believe we can win 10+. The biggest question is the defense. If we actually improve to be a 50th or better D then we win more than is expected. If we don't then anywhere from 6 to 8 wins is what I see. I don't feel the offense is going to fall off a cliff like most opposing fans do. Tbh I will be happy with a winning season and seeing an improved defense. If we don't win something significant in 2015 I will be pissed but Sumlin deserves at least that long before judgment is passed. All of this is jmo and what do I know I'm a fan not a coach

2015-17 should be big years with the way we are stacking recruiting classes but obviously a lot can change between now and then

A&M should beat LSU but it helps that they play late in the year. By then LSU QB, RB, and WR should be more in sync... with LSU returning 4/5 offensive lineman it helps all of those 3 key positions we lost people in. The defense I am confident in because of Chavis and the fact we have talent replacing talent.

quote:

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SMU
Lamar
Rice
Arkansas
Mississippi State
Louisiana Monroe

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I'm not ready to call Arkansas a certain win just yet. MSU is no cupcake either. The rest should be easy wins.

Who is the defensive coordinator at A&M? Why didn't they go after one of the hot names this past offseason?

Mark Snyder. And I think it's because he had so many underclassmen playing this year, and because he did a pretty good job his first year with our defense. I'm not sure where we ranked nationally that first year, but it was a pretty damn solid d, especially against the run...as for passing on us...that was another story.

If he has another season like this last one, I imagine you could expect major changes on that side of the ball.

8 is my magic number, tbh.

This is a rebuilding year, make no bones about it.

I'm just in mindset that if you can't win 10 in todays NCAA then you've had a poor season. This comes from the amount of winnable games on each schedule.

Looking at A&M schedule with South Carolina, Ole Miss, LSU, Alabama, Auburn, and Missouri it may be difficult but to be among the elite teams 10 wins a year is a given (counting bowl game)

Let's look at the 2-deep (and projected 2-deep) from 2012, 2013, and 2014:

2012.

-Rush End: Damontre Moore (JR), Tyrell Taylor (SO)
-Def. Tackle: Spencer Nealy (SR), Alonzo Williams (FR)
-Nose Tackle: Kirby Ennis (RS JR), Jonathan Mathis (SR)
-Strongside End: Julien Obioha (FR), Gavin Stansbury (RS SO)
-Will Linebacker: Steven Jenkins (JR), Donnie Baggs (SO)
-Mike Linebacker: Jonathan Stewart (SR), Justin Bass (SO - Walkon)
-Sam Linebacker: Sean Porter (SR), Toney Hurd (JR - Yes, he was the BACKUP SAM)
-Cornerback: Dustin Harris (SR), Tramaine Jacobs (JR)
-Cornerback: Deshazor Everett (SO), Devante Harris (FR)
-Free Safety: Steven Terrell (SR), Toney Hurd (JR)
-Strong Safety: Howard Matthews (SO), Johntel Franklin (RS JR)

6 seniors graduated, Damontre Moore left for the NFL, and Johntel Franklin transferred to Sam Houston. Kirby Ennis tore his ACL in the Arkansas game leaving this depth chart by the end of 2013:

-Rush End: Julien Obioha (SO), Daeshon Hall (FR)
-Def. Tackle: Ivan Robinson (RS JR), Alonzo Williams (SO)
-Nose Tackle: Isaiah Golden (FR), Hardreck Walker (FR)
-Strongside End: Gavin Stansbury (RS JR), Jay Arnold (FR)
-Will Linebacker: Steven Jenkins (SR), Donnie Baggs (JR)
-Mike Linebacker: Darion Claiborne (FR), Jordan Mastrogiovanni (FR)
-Sam Linebacker: Nate Askew (SR), Shaan Washington (FR)
-Cornerback: Deshazor Everett (JR), Tramaine Jacobs (SR)
-Cornerback: Devante Harris (SO), Alex Sezer (FR)
-Nickelback: Toney Hurd (SR), Noel Ellis (FR)
-Free Safety: Clay Honeycutt (RS JR), Floyd Raven (JR)
-Strong Safety: Howard Matthews (JR), Jonathan Wiggins (FR)

4 total senior losses (Hurd, Jenkins, Askew, Jacobs) and no losses to the NFL.

Which leads to a projection for 2014, which I'm sure TMC will eviscerate:

-Rush End: Myles Garrett (FR), Daeshon Hall (SO)
-Def. Tackle: Ivan Robinson (RS SR), Justin Manning (RS FR)
-Nose Tackle: Isaiah Golden (SO), Zaycovan Henderson (FR)
-Strongside End: Gavin Stansbury (RS SR), Julien Obioha (JR)
-Will Linebacker: Darion Claiborne (SO), Donnie Baggs (SR)
-Mike Linebacker: Jordan Mastrogiovanni (SO), Reggie Chevis (RS FR)
-Sam Linebacker: A.J. Hilliard (RS SO), Shaan Washington (SO)
-Cornerback: Devante Harris (JR), Armani Watts (FR)
-Cornerback: Nick Harvey (FR), Alex Sezer (SO)
-Nickelback: Noel Ellis (SO), Tavares Garner (SO)
-Free Safety: Deshazor Everett (SR), Victor Davis (RS FR)
-Strong Safety: Kameron Miles (RS FR), Howard Matthews (SR)