Press Conference: Fisher, Ags turn attention to Hogs at AT&T Stadium

Texas A&M is 1-0 in the Southeastern Conference as the Maroon & White head to Arlington for the 2023 installment of the Southwest Classic. On Monday, Jimbo Fisher, Albert Regis and Jake Johnson spoke to the media as the Aggies prepare to battle the Razorbacks.

The following are live, paraphrased notes from Jimbo Fisher’s Monday afternoon media availability:

• Proud of the guys and the way we opened SEC play. Very physical game on Saturday. Hard fought. Controlled the tempo of the game. We had 22 negative plays. The defense was outstanding. Affected the QB. Controlled line of scrimmage. Both linebackers played well. Taurean York was outstanding. Edgerrin Cooper was a spy at times. He can close space and tackle well. Deuce Harmon made a couple of nice plays. Getting Tyreek Chappell back was huge. Offensively, moved the ball well. Max Johnson came in and did a great job.
   
• We were driving, and we had a fumble. Rueben Owens fumbled. He will get a million more times. He’s got to tuck it. We ran the ball well. Le’Veon Moss had an outstanding game. We have three really good backs. Ainias Smith was outstanding. Randy Bond was excellent. Nik Constantinou wasn't on as much as he normally was. Good SEC win. Gotta a lot of room to improve.
   
• K.J. Jefferson reminds me of Cam Newton so much. He is big, strong and fast. He is hard to get on the ground. Receivers and big, long and athletic. The backs are running the ball. Scoring 36.5 points a game. Defensively, the linebacker can make plays. They have a really good team. Had a nice fake the other day. They will pull everything out. We will have to play a really good game. Sam Pittman will have those guys ready.
   
• Conner Weigman will be day-to-day. A little sprain with a little swelling.
   
• Bobby Petrino is doing a great job of moving the ball around. Getting plays and getting points.
   
• Usually, brothers aren't good enough to be on the same team. It doesn’t happen very often. Being able to throw a catch to each was outstanding.
   
• Noah Thomas should be good to go. Jardin Gilbert had surgery on his shoulder, so he will be out for a while.
   
• Adjustments are good and overrated. You sense what they do and how they do it. We are not doing anything different. We are calming the kids down to execute it. We have started fast in all the games. The kids calmed down in the second half. In hindsight, once we got the win, I was proud we kept our composure. The maturity of our team did a good job at halftime.
   
• Every QB has things they do well and not as well. There are different ways to affect him, and we will have to do all of them. There will be times when Jefferson breaks through.
   
• You are seeing different teams. The portal and the transfers have to do with consistency. You are seeing a lot of upsets and the way play is.
   
• As a coach, you see what is out there and the big picture. As a player, control what you can control. Kids do it, but you have to bring them back in as a coach and get them to do it more consistently.
   
• You have two teams that have played each other for many, many years. It's like playing your brother in a weird way. That’s what makes rivalry games so great because there is history.
   
• We controlled the pocket. We played with great execution and physicality.
   
• You have guys with experience. You can throw the ball. You know the QB will get you the ball.
   
• I thought, “How in the hell did he get the ball?” when the Auburn player ran by me. I did not see the fumble. I should not have been out there.
   
• The momentum swings off the players. I was a part of the Auburn-Alabama rivalry where it's a 50-50 crowd. I like it.
   
• Max Johnson has belief in himself. If the coach doesn't pick you start, they think the sky is falling. He believes in himself. You see that at all positions. Games and situations happen. Guys get hot hands. Max knew we didn't pick him, but he prepared well.
   
• We send a video to the SEC refs, and they tell us whether they were right or wrong. It’s part of the game.
   
• I like it. I get the home and home. Anytime you can play in Kyle Field, I love it. Our kids relate to playing at Jerry World. They play the state championship there and of course, the Cowboys.
   
• Thomas has had a heavy heart. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. He is dealing with that right now, and we are dealing it with him.
   
• Weigman’s injury is not a high ankle sprain.
   
• I like production out of the position. It’s good to have more than one RB.
   
• Now with the portal, if you don't get your way, you take off. That is not who Max is. You wish all of them would do that. The only thing about the portal that scares is when young kids don't get what they want, they could pick up and leave. When you get into the real world, you can’t just change. Grind it out. Have a little work ethic. Max has confidence in himself.
   
• I heard about Devon Achane but could not watch. It does not surprise me. He is a highly intelligent individual. For a fast guy, he is never out of control.