Texas A&M Football
Kevin Sumlin rings in the spring, Aggie Football's new outlook
Above: Watch video of Kevin Sumlin's post-Monday practice press conference.
Texas A&M quarterbacks and other offensive players got their first on-field work and began acclimating to new terminology under new offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone as the Aggies opened spring football drills on Monday night.
“Terminology is a lot different,” Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said. “Any time there is a little change in terminology you get people’s interest quicker. You see guys mixing up signals from a year ago.”
Jake Hubenak and Trevor Knight are obviously among those adjusting to the terminology, but Sumlin said they have made progress.
“I think (Knight) and Jake have done a nice job during what we call Phase 1 of the winter workouts,” Sumlin said. “There’s a time coaches can be with you, but really the quarterbacks have to run the seven-on-sevens and team-led workouts. It’s the same with the defense. We’ve got veteran safeties back there.
“I think (Knight) and Jake have done a nice job through the winter workout period with installations. It’s new for both of them with terminology, but they’re doing a good job.”
Sumlin confirmed that linebacker A.J. Hilliard and defensive tackle Justin Manning are no longer with the team, but remain in school on medical scholarships.
He also confirmed that defensive tackle Deshawn Washington has left the team.
Lindsay Caudle, TexAgs
The arrival of Noel Mazzone has the Aggies open to considering unique position changes – after enough practice has taken place.
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Sumlin also said safeties Donovan Wilson (shoulder) and Justin Dunning (ACL), linebacker Riley Garner (knee) and offensive lineman Keaton Sutherland (shoulder) will miss spring drills because of injuries.
“I was looking at (Wilson) today and he’s over 200 pounds for the first time,” Sumlin said. “All those guys will be back with us in June.”
Sumlin said that defensive players may be used at tight end in some packages, which is consistent with what Mazzone has done before.
The previous two seasons, UCLA linebacker Myles Jack was also used at running back.
However, Sumlin said at this point there are no plans for any position changes, though that could change when the Aggies start the second week of practices after Spring Break on March 22.
“By that time we’ll have a pretty good idea if we want to do something with moves,” he said. “We want to leave people in a position for first couple of weeks — six practices — and then see where we are.”
He later added: “I think it’s important to figure out what our guys can do. Since we’ve got new coaches we’ve got to get guys in the right place instead of jumping them around all over the place. (We’ll) assess where they are and then playing to our strengths, which is what we had a discussion about when we hired (Mazzone).”
Texas A&M quarterbacks and other offensive players got their first on-field work and began acclimating to new terminology under new offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone as the Aggies opened spring football drills on Monday night.
“Terminology is a lot different,” Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said. “Any time there is a little change in terminology you get people’s interest quicker. You see guys mixing up signals from a year ago.”
Jake Hubenak and Trevor Knight are obviously among those adjusting to the terminology, but Sumlin said they have made progress.
“I think (Knight) and Jake have done a nice job during what we call Phase 1 of the winter workouts,” Sumlin said. “There’s a time coaches can be with you, but really the quarterbacks have to run the seven-on-sevens and team-led workouts. It’s the same with the defense. We’ve got veteran safeties back there.
“I think (Knight) and Jake have done a nice job through the winter workout period with installations. It’s new for both of them with terminology, but they’re doing a good job.”
Sumlin confirmed that linebacker A.J. Hilliard and defensive tackle Justin Manning are no longer with the team, but remain in school on medical scholarships.
He also confirmed that defensive tackle Deshawn Washington has left the team.
Lindsay Caudle, TexAgs
The arrival of Noel Mazzone has the Aggies open to considering unique position changes – after enough practice has taken place.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"The arrival of Noel Mazzone has the Aggies open to considering unique position changes – after enough practice has taken place.","MediaItemID":67424}
“I was looking at (Wilson) today and he’s over 200 pounds for the first time,” Sumlin said. “All those guys will be back with us in June.”
Sumlin said that defensive players may be used at tight end in some packages, which is consistent with what Mazzone has done before.
The previous two seasons, UCLA linebacker Myles Jack was also used at running back.
However, Sumlin said at this point there are no plans for any position changes, though that could change when the Aggies start the second week of practices after Spring Break on March 22.
“By that time we’ll have a pretty good idea if we want to do something with moves,” he said. “We want to leave people in a position for first couple of weeks — six practices — and then see where we are.”
He later added: “I think it’s important to figure out what our guys can do. Since we’ve got new coaches we’ve got to get guys in the right place instead of jumping them around all over the place. (We’ll) assess where they are and then playing to our strengths, which is what we had a discussion about when we hired (Mazzone).”
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