Jamie McCoy analyzes areas in which the Aggies have regressed

Despite being ranked in the preseason top ten, Texas A&M sits at an alarming 3-6 with just three games to play. On Tuesday's edition of TexAgs Radio, former Aggie quarterback and tight end Jamie McCoy discussed the disappointing campaign and where A&M has regressed.

Key notes from Jamie McCoy interview

• I've always said it since day one, whether we lost someone on the recruiting front or in the transfer portal, if you don't want to be an Aggie, I'm OK with you leaving rather than stringing us along. Still, losing Anthony Hill‍ hurts, especially because we need a linebacker. To have a recruit of that stature leave is always disappointing. I won't ever hate on a kid. He could be the fix to a struggling defense, but he also has to do what's best for him. I want Aggies who want to be Aggies.
   
• On offense, it seems like we have a good game plan going into the week, and we know how we want to attack. Our problem has been second-half adjustments. Mike Elko was a master of second-half adjustments on defense. Jimbo Fisher has struggled, for whatever reason, to make those adjustments on both sides of the ball this year. You have to be able to do something or come up with a new wrinkle to get the ball moving.
   
• The offensive line also didn't do Haynes King any favors, and I know we had however many players out. Still, the standard is the standard. I felt bad for King because he was taking hits all over the field, and I know he was banged up entering the game.
   
• You can find a way to move the ball, and there are ways to have quick screens to the outside. It still comes down to blocking, but you can get the ball out quickly. Maybe you stack one side of the field. It comes down to the offensive line, and they have to be beasts up front that can get you three or four yards on the ground. We're missing blocks and can't do anything when you're already trying to make people miss in the backfield. It seems like it keeps getting worse and worse.
   
• It is paramount to get the ball in Devon Achane's hands. He has to have the ball in his hands. I don't know if we need to simplify it or run a toss sweep or put him in motion or what. There are different ways to get him the ball, but it seems like we're depending on this old form of offense.
   
• We have to do something quickly because it's about to be the early signing day, and right now, we don't look like a team that you want to play for.
   
• With as bad as it has gone, I haven't seen finger-blaming or guys yelling at each other on the field. There have been no fights on the sidelines. We've been in these games. There are positives, and I like that we've come out early and scored. We can throw the ball downfield. That being said, there was a time in the second half when Florida was throwing it downfield on us. We need to throw it downfield throughout the game to give our guys a shot.
   
• A&M is missing blocks. There are times when guys are getting beat by the one guy they have to block. I hate watching linemen turn around and watch our quarterback or running back get hit. I don't like how we dial up the blitzes on defense, and I feel like we could do more off the edge. Still, the biggest regression is with the blocking.
   
• When you lose a guy like Antonio Johnson, who you draw all your momentum from, it is a huge loss. I love it because it gives somebody a chance to step up, but nobody has done that. I hope Johnson is not lost for the year, and he's a guy we have to get back into the fold. If he's out, somebody has to step up for us.
   
• If it were me, my message would be to finish the year strong. We fell short of all of our goals and everything we thought we'd do. I'm hoping a couple of guys come back rather than going to the NFL, kind of like what Von Miller did when his stock wasn't at its highest. I think Jimbo Fisher is saying to finish strong and reminding them that not all is lost. If they can win these last three, they can become bowl eligible. I'd take a bowl game and a win over LSU as an early Christmas gift. Optimistically, they could still finish 7-6.