I have to say, our QB was a lot shakier than I remember. Yeah, I'll get flamed, but I was surprised at how many bad throws were there, at least compared to some of the top QB play we saw from most playoff teams later in the year.

There were a lot of big plays that were missed, and even some of our big plays were severely underthrown.or thrown inside instead of outside.

Not saying Marcel didn't have a few great throws and some big plays, just that overall it was a lot more inconsistent than I remembered.

On the other hand, our OL (without the penalties) and defensive play were pretty impressive. Here's to improvement in 2026. I haven't given up the thought that Marcel can take us deep, but it's going to take quite a transformation in QB play I think.

Still, one of the great Aggie games and wins in the last 20 years.

I wouldn't really blame Elko, but I DO hope they are giving our backup every chance to get better as quickly as he can. In no way should that process be limited. Elko has definitely gone to bat for Reed and given him every opportunity, but the deep ball continues to be a real struggle.

I think our O comes down to how quickly our OL can develop,and how creative our OC is in mixing it up to help Reed with what he CAN do well.

People either don't know it or don't want to admit but Reed got bailed out of a lot of blunders in 2025 by an elite WR corps. Elite. Yes they had some drops but more than made up for them. They made up for his inaccurate throws time and time again. The issue is and we saw this, WR can't be expected to be Superman every game and WRs can't make up for terrible throws or the wrong read.
He has to improve at least an entire letter grade of we want to actually compete for a title.
The book is out on how to stop him. Luckily we have a better play caller and schemer in Wiggins that will put Reed in a better position to succeed. Reed has to set his feet, stay mechanically sound under pressure, and deliver the ball on time and in a position where the WR can YAC. He also has to start taking what the defense gives him underneath, an accurate throw on a short pass can be a huge play with the talent we have. Less boom or bust. He needs to get to the high 60's in completion %.

I think we need to give whoever the back up is meaningful series with the starters as often as possible during the season instead of running up the score in out of conference games. It has been proven that style points don't matter as much anymore as long as the W-L column shows we beat who we need to. Marcel has had enough time to "develop" we need to keep him healthy now and start to develop the next qb because Reed is more than likely gone after next year if we have another deep run.

Yeah he was shaky but he made the plays when it mattered.

I was there and when he got injured, the entire A&M section I was in did a collective "well this was fun but now it's over"

We could always go back to a spread dink and dunk offense that churns between the 20's and stalls out but maximizes completion percentage so folks could be more comfortable about our qb "missing" passes.

Those were fun times under Sumlin, right?

Divining Rod said:

---

I have to say, our QB was a lot shakier than I remember. Yeah, I'll get flamed, but I was surprised at how many bad throws were there, at least compared to some of the top QB play we saw from most playoff teams later in the year.

There were a lot of big plays that were missed, and even some of our big plays were severely underthrown.or thrown inside instead of outside.

Not saying Marcel didn't have a few great throws and some big plays, just that overall it was a lot more inconsistent than I remembered.

---

I didn't realize we scored 10 points and were held to under 200 yards.

I thought we scored 41 and had almost 500....on the road.

AgDotCom said:

---

Divining Rod said:

---

I have to say, our QB was a lot shakier than I remember. Yeah, I'll get flamed, but I was surprised at how many bad throws were there, at least compared to some of the top QB play we saw from most playoff teams later in the year.

There were a lot of big plays that were missed, and even some of our big plays were severely underthrown.or thrown inside instead of outside.

Not saying Marcel didn't have a few great throws and some big plays, just that overall it was a lot more inconsistent than I remembered.

---

I didn't realize we scored 10 points and were held to under 200 yards.

I thought we scored 41 and had almost 500....on the road.

---

"You're wrong. Marcel is the worst QB ever to come through A&M. Everything that happened before the Texas and Miami games didn't count." - posters on here after the season ended

Divining Rod said:

---

I wouldn't really blame Elko, but I DO hope they are giving our backup every chance to get better as quickly as he can. In no way should that process be limited. Elko has definitely gone to bat for Reed and given him every opportunity, but the deep ball continues to be a real struggle.

I think our O comes down to how quickly our OL can develop,and how creative our OC is in mixing it up to help Reed with what he CAN do well.

---

Mike Elko is the 7th highest paid coach in America. Four of the coaches ahead of him have won a national championship or multiple national championships. There are two coaches paid in his range that haven't won one yet but the expectations are clear for them to win one. Mike Elko's pay is the pay of a man expected to win a national championship or multiple national championships. In addition, when is Elko told no on a player he wants/needs? Elko's job is to determine if Reed is capable, develop him to national championship play or get the guy he needs to win..Simple as that..

Edit-Missed DeBoer's new deal..So Three coaches ahead of Elko haven't won a title. All three are paid with that being the expectation..Kiffin, DeBoer, Riley. The others are paid for delivering and expected to deliver more.

I agree with your assessment of Reed just from memory. Also agree with his progress compared to Weigman, et al. To my question for you (managed to tone it done from my zoo reaction lol). Your mention of the defense was positive, however, we gave up 40 pts. May have been some D/ST scores, I dunno and have joined the olds. I would appreciate any additional thoughts around our defensive performance following the re-watch.

A very good running game is usually a QBs best friend. Not sure if the Ags upgraded the running game for next season or not.

A healthy LeVeon was a hell of a weapon. Oh well.

tjack16 said:

---

AgDotCom said:

---

Divining Rod said:

---

I have to say, our QB was a lot shakier than I remember. Yeah, I'll get flamed, but I was surprised at how many bad throws were there, at least compared to some of the top QB play we saw from most playoff teams later in the year.

There were a lot of big plays that were missed, and even some of our big plays were severely underthrown.or thrown inside instead of outside.

Not saying Marcel didn't have a few great throws and some big plays, just that overall it was a lot more inconsistent than I remembered.

---

I didn't realize we scored 10 points and were held to under 200 yards.

I thought we scored 41 and had almost 500....on the road.

---

"You're wrong. Marcel is the worst QB ever to come through A&M. Everything that happened before the Texas and Miami games didn't count." - posters on here after the season ended

---

Yep

I attribute this mindset to the "Johnny Manziel Effect" where ever since Johnny Aggies think any good qb has to be elite right out of the gate and never play poorly or he will forever suck

Quote:

---

Your mention of the defense was positive, however, we gave up 40 pts. May have been some D/ST scores, I dunno and have joined the olds. I would appreciate any additional thoughts around our defensive performance following the re-watch.

---

Sure thing, although as you noted, the D gave up 33, not 40. (their first TD was a blocked punt to start the game).

Also, I acknowledge there were 3 long TD drives by ND- all 75 yards each. ND is a good team. But 2 of those were in the first half, and one of those was set up AFTER we held them on 3rd down and Dez Ricks made the stupid play of the night shoving Love into their bench after he was 5 yards out of bounds. 15 yd penalty and ND goes on for a TD.



Here are the other drives of Notre Dame, in order:

1. 4 plays 17 yds, punt.

2. A&M throws interception on our 42. ND drives down to our 4 yard line, first and goal. Ags hold them 3 straight plays and they kick a FG.

3. 4 plays, Aggies Intercept.

4. 3rd and 5, driving at our 35 yard line, just before half, we sack Carr for 8 yd loss to midfield, then they have a fumble snafu that gives us the ball on their 40.

5. 6 plays punt.

6. ND TD drive 29 yards. [Aggies were backed up in own end zone, then allowed a long punt return to set up ND deep in Ag territory.]

7. at midfield, 3rd and 3, Ags hold Love to 2 yards. ND goes wide run to Love on 4th down and Ags drop him for 1 yd loss. Sanford makes one of the great plays of the night.

8. After a 34yd pass and 11 yd run, ND has 1st down on our 31. We then go inc. pass, -1 yd run, inc. pass. hold them to a FG.

I think our D came up huge time after time the entire game.

All in all, the D was great in a tough environment.


Oh, and just for the record, I think our O's performance was great too, overall. My original post was just to the great number of throws that I thought were really off, and kind of surprised me when I rewatched, because I mainly just remembered scoring 41. Which WAS awesome!