Fisher's backfield optimism provides Ags another reason to be hopeful

By and large, people seem to be fundamentally optimistic.

We hope for the best. We expect the best.

But some are overly optimistic.

They dismiss data. They ignore warnings.

They see the glass as half full rather than half empty.

Meanwhile, others wonder what’s the alcohol content of their drink.

Sometimes it seems the Maroon Kool-Aid has been spiked, but here are a myriad of legitimate reasons to believe the Aggies can rebound from last year’s 5-7 debacle and be contenders in the SEC West. There are even predictions that A&M will surpass Alabama and LSU to win the division.

Those reasons?

The celebrated receiving corps of Evan Stewart, Ainias Smith, Moose Muhammad and Noah Thomas is a reason.

The expected emergence of quarterback Conner Weigman is a reason.

Chris Swann, TexAgs

Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino is expected to call plays from the press box this fall rather than field level.

Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino is a reason.

An anticipated improved offensive line, a year’s growth for defensive linemen Walter Nolen, LT Overton and Shemar Stewart and a damn good secondary are also reasons.

College football season projections typically focus on who returns from the previous season. That’s the half-full glass.

Too often, though, the projections fail to take into account who has been lost.

There is a big reason to see Texas A&M’s glass as half empty. That reason now resides in Miami.

Devon Achane, a third-round draft choice of the Miami Dolphins, was a shot of adrenaline to last year’s dull offense. Most of A&M’s offensive success could be attributed to him.

Achane was vital in victories over Miami, Arkansas and LSU. He accounted for 1,610 total yards. A&M’s next three yardage producers combined for 1,700.

His absence leaves a gigantic crater in the offense.

Or does it?

This season, the A&M offense doesn’t figure to revolve around the running backs. The receivers are too good to ignore. They should flourish under Petrino’s influence.

Stewart, Smith and Muhammad have proven they can turn short passes into long gains. Maybe Thomas will, too.

Still, the Aggies need to punish defenses that become preoccupied with A&M’s receivers. Achane would have been an even more dangerous weapon this year. He may have consistently tormented opponents the same way he did when rushing for 215 yards against LSU.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Moss appeared in seven games as a true freshman last fall, tallying 114 yards and one score on just 27 carries.

As great as Achane was, A&M coach Jimbo Fisher seems optimistic the trio of Amari Daniels, Le’Veon Moss and five-star freshman Rueben Owens can replace much of that production.

Fisher said all three looked strong in August camp and particularly in a recent scrimmage.

“Those guys can run the football,” he said. “I was very pleased with our production out of the backfield — running and catching and picking up blitzes.

“They all had plays and broke tackles, made tough yards, expanding yards.”

But can they match Achane as a big-play threat? Achane had 11 runs that covered 20 yards or more last season.

Although Fisher, too, loved to see those big plays, he also looks for something else

“I look for a guy … can take that 3-yard run and make it a 6-yard run? Can that guy get in space, make a guy miss and then create a play?” he said. “When it’s wide open … that’s great. Can they get through cracks? Can they read? Can they break tackles? Can they set up blockers and then catch the football? Can they pick up blitzes?”

Fisher appeared to imply Daniels, Moss and Owens have done all those things in practice.

That’s another reason to view the glass as half full.

If they do it in games, the glass may be half empty…

...because champagne will have been consumed.