Texas A&M Football
Sponsored by

Rewatch line observations

3,059 Views | 17 Replies | Last: 1 day ago by npc
npc
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
12:31p, 10/4/26
OL:
Lots of mix and matching. The consistents are Nabou, Formby, Adams. The other two are interchangeable, with Formby playing both right OT and OG.
-Formby is mediocre at both, but he doesn't have a lot of total fails.
- Adams is consistent with pretty good feet but lacking play strength.
- Nabou looks like the best OLman, which is a FAR cry from what I thought of him two years ago. He still lacks play strength, but he moves well and knows where he's supposed to be.
- Lamont Rogers ain't ready. He has some impressive plays because he's very, very big, but looks lost a lot, and has terrible balance. He's on the ground a LOT.
- Bough is … eh. Strong guy. Slow.
- Tyler Thomas and Bough are similar.
- something to watch for, Robert Bourdon might be the most athletic tackle on the team. He's playing in the heavy sets as a sixth OL, and while that means he's often facing a backup DLman, he looked good in the first half. I'd look for a Boudon RT, Formby RG trial in coming games.
- Overall, this OL has a bunch of fringe SEC starters, but now that Ivy isn't in there, no one guy is completely out of his element. Trouble is they have no singularly impressive strength. They are best at simply moving forward and leaning on people. They look their worst against speed and when pulling (#97 Rhodes Jr. destroyed them, and #91 won a lot as well), because they ain't a bunch of dancing bears. If they continue to gel around a consistent six guys, there's a chance at an upper half of the conference running game. If they continue to rotate in eight, I'm not so sure.

DT:
-Rink is a starter. Period. He'll get overwhelmed against good power running teams (yikes Missouri), but he's the best havoc creator on the DL, and this defense will have to live and die on havoc.
- Mims had a couple of solid power rushes to compress the pocket. I've been unimpressed with him, but he's probably DT 3.
-Hicks holds his ground. He's not great. Regis was better, but Hicks is solid. He had a great swim move on the Coney blown interception.
- DJ Sanders continues to be a mystery. He's gets off the line well, but just doesn't play much.

DEs:
-Jones finally showed a few impressive wins. To this point in the season him and Saka have mostly run themselves out of plays or get stoned. They have shown few counters. Last night, Jones pulled multiple nice rips and had a very athletic spin. Saka made his presence known with a few speed rushes, but he's just stiff laterally and lacks bend.

There's something there with a well schemed up running game and havoc defense, but neither line has enough top end talent to win with straight up Jimmys and Joes.

ETA: important context … Arkansas.
Reply Quote
24
1 edit
Fishing Fools
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
12:50p, 10/4/26
Rink (BFND) seems to get double teamed more often than not. It's hard for him to stand out when when being stood up by two 300 linemen. Just a sober observation since I don't know much about football.
Reply Quote
Rec
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
12:50p, 10/4/26
AG
Good post. I know Rink so I watch him all the time. He almost always has 2 guys on him, which leaves me scratching my head, where is everyone else?
Reply Quote
11
cevans_40
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Rec • 12:59p, 10/4/26
AG
Rec said:
Good post. I know Rink so I watch him all the time. He almost always has 2 guys on him, which leaves me scratching my head, where is everyone else?

Our LBs continue to be slow readers. I don't know if we are being overly cautious of play action but we are slow to come downhill and fill open holes.
Reply Quote
StinkyPinky
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
1:06p, 10/4/26
AG
Rink looked solid last night. Showed the emotions I expect from a DL too
Reply Quote
13
jaxisback
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
1:17p, 10/4/26
I think Rink has played well.

Our LB's over-pursue almost everything. They act like they are the contain edge which is ridiculous. That's why it seems like they are "slow" filling holes. They are actually scraping across the top instead of pursuing inside out.

When you ask yourself why we allow such massive cut-back lanes in the stretch/trap game, there is your answer.

Our LB's SHOULD be pursuing inside out and tight to the LOS where they are positioned to hammer the cut. It should look like they are slightly late to the play-side, which is actually right on time.

Just really bad team football in our first four games. We were a little better last night, but still not in sync.
Reply Quote
3
Bobby Jimbo
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
1:26p, 10/4/26
AG
Is Searcy our best DE? We heard a ton about Saka and Jones in the offseason, but it seems like Searcy has been the most productive of the group.
Reply Quote
2
npc
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Bobby Jimbo • 1:35p, 10/4/26
Bobby Jimbo said:
Is Searcy our best DE? We heard a ton about Saka and Jones in the offseason, but it seems like Searcy has been the most productive of the group.
Searcy is consistent but he is just average across the board. He has the measureables, he rarely runs himself out of a play, has a good motor, he is just ok at every attribute. He'll probably play more snaps than any DLman just because he'll reliably play his assignment.
Reply Quote
gA_CMAB_FA
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
1:37p, 10/4/26
noc - great observations. Nice and accurate.

Kinda boils down to - who the f****k signed off on signing some of these scrubs and JAGs? Is this the best our coaches and analysts could come up with in their scouting? Or did Elko just wanna go cheap, try and see if the recruits, JAGs, and scrubs panned out somehow?

Or is Elko, staff, and scouts just not very good (or average at best) in evaluating talent? We hear all about how the A&M NIL pockets are as deep as anyone out there, shouldnt we be at least be top 10 or 15 in talent on the OL and DL? A&M should be able to reload just like the Georgias, Texas', Ohio States, Alabamas, and Notre Dames of tge world, right? Or do they simply have better eval teams and inside info on players?

Or is it Moffit? Has he seen better days and is just collecting a fat check? Has the S&C game passed him by?

Thanks in advance for your further insight, npc! Great work again, there.
Reply Quote
1
jaxisback
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
1:37p, 10/4/26
I think Searcy and Rink are two of our better guys.

Searcy actually runs pretty good in addition to playing disciplined
Reply Quote
2
NoahAg
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
1:39p, 10/4/26
Thanks for the notes. What's with Echols? Did he start the first two games?
Reply Quote
Kramer
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:43p, 10/4/26
AG
Echols did not start any game.
"The only happy Aggie is an unhappy Aggie." Shelby Metcalf
Reply Quote
90ags
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:53p, 10/4/26
See Hicks as most stable and doubled more than anyone on DL thus far (frees up other DT like Rink and they have to perform as Hicks gets most attn in interior from opposition).

Overall most lack motors or maybe just thinking way too much. Txfrs have barely been much and begs question on our ability to get or scout talent in portal. Simplistically think they should only chase DTs from SEC in portal as not sure from other conferences have it. Agree on where is DJ Sanders and not good when Chace Sims went down.
______________________________________________________ Play for the name on the front of your jersey, not the back...
Reply Quote
npc
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to 90ags • 3:34p, 10/4/26
90ags said:
See Hicks as most stable and doubled more than anyone on DL thus far (frees up other DT like Rink and they have to perform as Hicks gets most attn in interior from opposition).

Overall most lack motors or maybe just thinking way too much. Txfrs have barely been much and begs question on our ability to get or scout talent in portal. Simplistically think they should only chase DTs from SEC in portal as not sure from other conferences have it. Agree on where is DJ Sanders and not good when Chace Sims went down.
I doubt a freshman DT would've made much difference. Generally agree about Hicks. He's grossly solid, flashes a couple of times per game , just nothing near the five star, number one DT in his class. He plays hard, but doesn't have a special skill.

Fwiw, not sure I agree about a lack of motor. Searcy, Rink, Hicks all go hard. The other guys seem fine, with Jones the only guy I recall appearing to loaf, after he ran himself out of the play. I think the issues are more talent, scheme, and coaching.
Reply Quote
Fishwrangler11
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to jaxisback • 9:16p, 10/4/26
AG
jaxisback said:
I think Rink has played well.

Our LB's over-pursue almost everything. They act like they are the contain edge which is ridiculous. That's why it seems like they are "slow" filling holes. They are actually scraping across the top instead of pursuing inside out.

When you ask yourself why we allow such massive cut-back lanes in the stretch/trap game, there is your answer.

Our LB's SHOULD be pursuing inside out and tight to the LOS where they are positioned to hammer the cut. It should look like they are slightly late to the play-side, which is actually right on time.

Just really bad team football in our first four games. We were a little better last night, but still not in sync.


I couldn't agree more. Our linebackers are always over pursuing. In watching a lot of film of this throughout Elko's tenures, he's always coaching the LBs to over pursue which makes for boom or bust. When Elko had better dlines under Jimbo, we could get away with it because all the TFLs the dline would make. Now, you're seeing it come back to bite us with inferior dline play, especially since the LBs miss the tackle in the backfield a lot of times.

I also don't understand why our ends always crash and don't contain. If I were scheming against Elko, I would constantly run off tackle until those ends stopped crashing and then go pick on #6 since he can't cover.

It's simple gap integrity that if they'd stick to it, we would probably cut our rush yards allowed in half.

It just humbling to see how without the superior dlinemen, Elko's defense looks like an undisciplined mess
Reply Quote
2
AgFan1974
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Fishing Fools • 8:02a, 10/5/26
Fishing Fools said:
Rink (BFND) seems to get double teamed more often than not. It's hard for him to stand out when when being stood up by two 300 linemen. Just a sober observation since I don't know much about football.

Alot more to a double team than some recognize. You can get stoned by a double team and still win. Typically, a double team is a "hand off". If you have a center and guard on the double team, one will play heavy while the other attempts to "cross the DTs face". If they are successful the "support" will climb to the second level once the other crosses the face. If they are not succesful they will either both stay engaged or the guy climbing will not get to his spot because he spent too much time helping the other guy cross face.

This is circumstantial and not the design of every double team but it is something you should consider when evaluating how successful a DT is against the double. He can get stoned at the LOS and still win. The question becomes, what does the LB do with his "free space" when the DT wins.
Reply Quote
2
Chickendominochamp
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to jaxisback • 9:37a, 10/5/26
AG
jaxisback said:
I think Rink has played well.

Our LB's over-pursue almost everything. They act like they are the contain edge which is ridiculous. That's why it seems like they are "slow" filling holes. They are actually scraping across the top instead of pursuing inside out.

When you ask yourself why we allow such massive cut-back lanes in the stretch/trap game, there is your answer.

Our LB's SHOULD be pursuing inside out and tight to the LOS where they are positioned to hammer the cut. It should look like they are slightly late to the play-side, which is actually right on time.

Just really bad team football in our first four games. We were a little better last night, but still not in sync.

Noticed the same thing, but it makes me wonder about the LB fits and the way they are being coached? The majority of defensive structures now fit everything inside-out and spill to safeties..... Yet our guys seem to fit every run outside-in, makes me wonder if we are coached to do that and have to fast scrape and attempt to fit it to the BSLB instead of a downhill safety because we are possibly concerned with RPO game? I agree that up to this point we look really poor fitting the run game at the LB position, but it's so bad that I seriously wonder if we are consistently over-running everything, or if we are supposed to be a fast-flow front that makes eveything roll back instead of bounce? No clue if this is the case, but it would explain the consistent mis-fits at least to the naked eye... That said, if this is how we are fitting, we are really bad at not getting cutoff from the backside. Either way, we are no bueno at this point.
Reply Quote
npc
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to AgFan1974 • 10:22a, 10/5/26
AgFan1974 said:
Fishing Fools said:
Rink (BFND) seems to get double teamed more often than not. It's hard for him to stand out when when being stood up by two 300 linemen. Just a sober observation since I don't know much about football.

Alot more to a double team than some recognize. You can get stoned by a double team and still win. Typically, a double team is a "hand off". If you have a center and guard on the double team, one will play heavy while the other attempts to "cross the DTs face". If they are successful the "support" will climb to the second level once the other crosses the face. If they are not succesful they will either both stay engaged or the guy climbing will not get to his spot because he spent too much time helping the other guy cross face.

This is circumstantial and not the design of every double team but it is something you should consider when evaluating how successful a DT is against the double. He can get stoned at the LOS and still win. The question becomes, what does the LB do with his "free space" when the DT wins.
co-sign. This is the reason guys like Albert Regis, McKinley Jackson, and Bobby Brown rarely jumped off the screen but were absolutely pivotal to the success of their respective defenses. It's also why a superstar DT is the biggest defensive cheat code, by multiples. Dudes like Dexter Lawrence, Aaron Donald, Leonard Williams, Johnathan Simmons, Vida Vea are extremely difficult to replace in aggregate.
Reply Quote
3
Refresh
Page 1 of 1
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.