Texas A&M Football

Jordan Pugh talks Rakeem Boyd transfer, Texas A&M's 2017 schedule

By Gabe Bock

May 18, 2017

6,598

I saw the Rakeem Boyd news late last night. I think it hurts, but I don’t think it hurts that much. I think we have three backs you can count on if you throw Bussey in the mix. I think him transferring is something he needed to do personally to get back on track. I don’t think it’ll hurt too much in the backfield on this year's team, but I also think there is a possibility of him coming back after his time at JUCO.

I think with the here and now it's not a big deal, but it might be a problem in the future. I think with the way we bring recruits at the running back position on though we can find a way to replace him for the future. You could have some concern going into 2018 with Trayveon as the only proven guy in the backfield.

With the 2017 schedule, I see a typical SEC schedule. I see an SEC West gauntlet, I see a tough opener like we’ve had the past four or five years and I see a lot of winnable games. I see a schedule where we could have the possibility of eclipsing that 8-5 mark. With UCLA, that will be a tough test to open the season in the Rose Bowl against Josh Rosen. Nichols State and University of Louisiana-Lafayette are wins. Arkansas is the one game for me that always scares me every single time. You know what they are, a tough team who runs downhill. Now they have a solid quarterback coming back and with the losses in our defensive line, I think that game will tell us everything we need to know about this team.

The way that you balance it, football is football. My senior year when we played Arkansas at AT&T Stadium in the fourth game of the year, my calendar was circled for Arkansas. I knew I had to get through those first three games of the year to get to Arkansas. That game was what fueled me to get through the first three games and the summer. Now with them opening up against UCLA, that’s where all the focus is throughout the summer. I think the guys will be ready regardless, they know what is at stake. That's what you go to Texas A&M for, to play on that big stage.

I could definitely see a 5-0 start, Alabama is Alabama, we know that. Then Florida comes next, that's a tricky game because they play solid defense. I think the schedule could be a mirror image of last year. I think this is where the true coaching ability of Kevin Sumlin, John Chavis and Noel Mazzone is really going to have to come into play, because now you don’t have Trevor Knight. How are you going to game plan around the talent you have? I think this year will be based on what the coaches do to put guys in situations to succeed.

Outside of Alabama, the hardest game is Mississippi State. Last year I was really impressed with their quarterback (Nick Fitzgerald) and I think they are a tough matchup because you never know what you will get from them. That to me is the one game that I don’t now how it will turn out because I don’t know which Mississippi State team will show up. That is yet to be seen as the season plays out, but I think that’s the game people need to watch out for.

When you look at A&M, we always find a way to lose games we are supposed to win. I compare Mississippi State to Auburn because of that zone read misdirection offense that always seems to give us trouble. It’s one of those things where you know you have better talent, but can we handle this team after dealing with Florida and Alabama? Where will our focus be in the last quarter of the season? That’s why that game is a big focus to me.

When you say easiest, there are no easy games in the SEC, but I’d have to say South Carolina. They are too inconsistent, I know the defense will be better but I don’t see a lot consistency coming back from last year for them. I don’t see them bringing anything that can threaten Texas A&M, I don’t see them strong on either side of the ball. I think that’s the one SEC game that Texas A&M should win easily.

When I look at the close of the season, it will be tough. That is just how its been since we’ve been in the SEC. I think we will be prepared for Ole Miss coming off of the New Mexico game, they know what Shea Patterson can bring after last year. Going into LSU, I think you have to be ready for the physical play. We’ve talked about the coaching staff, how can they coach us into wins throughout the year? For LSU, will the offensive line and defensive lines be ready to go? Whether they can they hold up to the physicality of LSU up front will be a big question at the end of the season.

I definitely see eight wins, but that is not enough. Eight or less wins is unacceptable in my eyes. I think we will surprise some people early in the season, but whether we can we finish the season is the real question.

Never miss the latest news from TexAgs!

Join our free email list