Anticipation for Fisher's first season at A&M cresting as fall camp begins
So far, everybody is thrilled with Texas A&M football coach Jimbo Fisher.
Well … maybe not everybody.
Some of the spurned Florida State populace will hold a grudge against Fisher. A few in the national media who ridiculed A&M for pursuing Fisher might still be irked for being made to look silly.
Sulking Oklahoma fans and coaches, bitter for losing the recruiting joust for Jeffery Carter, likely aren’t thrilled with Fisher.
But Aggies are thrilled with him. And they will remain thrilled if Fisher can guide A&M to success this season.
The next step in that process begins Thursday with the start of August camp, which will lead into the season-opener against Northwestern State on Aug. 30 at Kyle Field.
Fisher said at SEC Media Days that he was encouraged by the progress he’d seen during spring drills and in the summer.
“The guys are really starting to grasp what we want to do and how we want to do it, and looking forward to the challenges,” Fisher said. “We have a very challenging schedule, great season coming up, and looking forward to it.”
Aggies, frustrated by five consecutive seasons in which A&M finished fourth or worse in the SEC West Division standings, are looking forward to the season, too.
The success of Fisher’s first season figures to depend heavily on strides made in August at quarterback, receiver, along the offensive line and in the secondary.
Last season, A&M was ranked 85th in the nation in pass defense and allowed 46 pass plays that covered 20 yards or more.
Vast improvement is needed and could be attained through the various coverage schemes of new defensive coordinator Mike Elko, the eligibility of cornerback Clifford Chattman and the continued development of corners Charles Oliver, Debione Renfro and Myles Jones.
Offensive line play has been a concern for the past four seasons. Last season the Aggies were average to below-average in run blocking and pass protection.
Fisher is demanding a more physical, powerful line, which seems to jibe with the style of play that offensive line coach Jim Turner prefers.
Fisher has indicated that junior Erik McCoy will move to guard from center. Junior Colton Prater will get a close look at center. Also, Fisher has indicated he’s optimistic production at that the tackle positions could be upgraded as rising sophomores Dan Moore and Carson Green become full-time starters.
Christian Kirk’s decision to forego his senior season to enter the NFL draft left the receiving corps with significant questions for the first time since A&M joined the SEC in 2012.
Sophomore Jhamon Ausbon looks to build on a strong freshman season in which he amassed 50 catches. No one else at the position filled with freshmen and sophomores have more than 17 career catches. However, the passing game figures to get a big boost from tight end Jace Sternberger, who was the star of the spring game.
The quarterback competition between sophomores Nick Starkel and Kellen Mond could extend past August and well into the season. Both had flashes of success and occasional struggles last season, but reportedly are making progress under Fisher’s tutelage.
Their skill sets differ — Starkel has a bigger arm, Mond is a better runner — but that may be of secondary importance in the competition for the starting job. Fisher indicated he’s also looking for a measure of physical and mental toughness from his quarterback in camp.
“When that quarterback is tough and he is competitive and they know he can make the plays, to me, it energizes your defense because they know if they get the ball back to him one more time, he can play,” Fisher said at SEC Media Days. “He’ll win the game on offense. They are going to block for him. They are going to make catches. They are going to do the things you have to do.”