Texas A&M's annual spring game likely left Aggie fans with more questions than answers. The game was played on a storm-threatened Friday night and 13 expected starters did not participate in the festivities. The few die-hard fans who attended the scrimmage to get a sneak peak at what head coach Jimbo Fisher's second season could look like at Kyle Field will need to wait until after summer workouts are over in College Station.
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Some will say the Aggies looked good in spite of the bad weather and missing starters, but it's just too hard to tell. However, there were still a few key observations from the Maroon and White Game to talk about this offseason.
Here are the five biggest takeaways from the scrimmage:
1. Kellen Mond Looks the Same
Kellen Mond had a pretty good season in 2018, but some were hoping to see some immediate improvement during the spring game. However, he threw an interception on his first pass and that didn't make the fans or coaches feel good because his biggest challenge is improving his accuracy. Mond looking pretty much the same is not a bad thing. Despite completing 14 of 26 passes for 172 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, you have to consider is he had no real incentive to play all-out. He is the starting quarterback without any real competition and he was without wide receiver Quartney Davis, his favorite target. Mond's backup is a different question. Although Zach Calzada is the frontrunner, it appears this position is wide open.
2. The Aggies Have a Great Replacement Center
Texas A&M junior Ryan McCollum played really well at center with the first-team offense and was named the team's Offensive MVP of the spring. He will be a big help for Mond in the passing game in replacing Eric McCoy and dealing with the monster pass rushers that the Aggies will face this season. The Aggies will play Alabama, LSU, and Clemson, just to name a few teams.
3. Texas A&M Will Have a Strong Defensive Front
The defensive lines were a problem for both teams during the spring game and were one of the brighter sides of the scrimmage. There are still questions, however. One, was the team playing so well because a lot of the Aggie offensive starters were out or not playing full-force? And two, what will the Aggie secondary look like this season? The Mond interception is a given, but will they be ball-hawks against the elite quarterbacks in the SEC? Fives sacks and an interception is still pretty good, though. One person we know is for real on this defense is Tyree Johnson. Remember that name.
4. The Aggies are Stacked at Tight End
With Jace Sternberger going to the NFL, it left the the tight end position wide open. At 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds, Baylor Cupp will be the starter, but Jalen Wydermyer will make a lot of plays, too. This a great problem for Jimbo Fisher to have.
5. Aggie Fans Are Optimistic About 2019
Jimbo Fisher has recruited well and his system works in College Station. People really do have a reason to believe good things will happen this fall.
