Story Poster
Jimbo Fisher
McKinnley Jackson
Layden Robinson
Texas A&M Football

Skid equals 50-year low as inept offense dooms Aggies at Auburn, 13-10

November 13, 2022
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AUBURN, Ala. — Jimbo Fisher’s image as a great offensive football mind began its ascension nearly 30 years ago in the same stadium where it appeared to crash.

The Texas A&M troubled offense plummeted to new levels of futility at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday night in a 13-10 Southeastern Conference loss to Auburn, which had allowed at least 39 points to each of its last four opponents.

It was yet another embarrassing loss in a humiliating football season for the Aggies (3-7, 1-6), who suffered a sixth consecutive defeat for the first time since 1972.

After such a lackluster offensive showing, Fisher, the fifth-year A&M coach who began his major college coaching career at Auburn, faced hard questions in a postgame press conference.

Yet, those questions may not be as hard as those Fisher may have to ask himself.

“The offense we run is still the same. It’s similar to all schemes across the board. We’ve just got to call it better, coach it better and do it better. If we bring somebody in or whatever happens, it doesn’t matter. Verticals are still verticals. Smashes are smashes. We’ve got to get it coached better ...We’ll evaluate everything.”
- A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher

Why did this season become a disaster? 

Can I find it in myself to surrender play-calling responsibilities?

Do I bring in a new coordinator to help overhaul the offensive system?

“Listen, the offense we run is still the same. It’s similar to all schemes across the board,” Fisher said. “We’ve just got to call it better, coach it better and do it better. 

"If we bring somebody in or whatever happens, it doesn’t matter. Verticals are still verticals. Smashes are smashes. We’ve got to get it coached better. Do a better job of it. We’ll evaluate everything.”

Quite frankly, there’s not much to evaluate. The Aggies posted their lowest-scoring output of the season. They managed negative two yards of offense in the third quarter and had only 85 total yards in the second half. 

Most of those came on an 80-yard touchdown drive in the final three minutes when the Tigers played soft defense.

There will be the temptation to portray Fisher as a victim of circumstances. The offensive line previously has been ravaged by injuries. Suspensions have taken a toll.

Further complicating matters, star running back Devon Achane watched from the sidelines in warm-ups, his left foot in a walking boot.

Also, Moose Muhammad — A&M’s second-leading receiver — came out for the opening kickoff but curiously never came back onto the field.

Further, tight end Max Wright sustained an undisclosed injury after an 18-yard catch in the first quarter. He was taken to a local hospital.

Achane was replaced in the starting lineup by true freshman Le’Veon Moss. True freshman Noah Thomas replaced Muhammad.

In fact, the Aggies starting offensive featured five true freshmen, including quarterback Conner Weigman.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs
Totaling just 215 total yards, the Aggies averaged a meager 3.6 yards per play. 

Fisher might have felt like he was fighting with a hand tied behind his back. But, to his credit, he would not use that as an excuse.

“Those other guys are good players,” Fisher said. “We’ve got to coach them better and do better. That’s my fault. I have to do a better job getting that done for them. There are injuries that occur and different situations that occur, but you have other good players, too.”

There is no doubt A&M has talented players. But there was still too much confusion. Too many penalties. Too many time outs taken way too early. And too much pressure on Weigman, who was battered like a piñata.

He was sacked three times for 26 yards in losses. The last sack caused him to lose a fumble. He was pressured six other times. It seemed like much more.

“We were just making mistakes and missing assignments,” junior guard Layden Robinson. “There’s no other excuse for it. We’re not going to make any. We just have to get better at it all across the board.”

The sputtering offense took attention away from the defense, which again gave up rushing yards at an alarming rate.

Auburn running backs Tank Bigsby and Ja’Varrius Johnson and quarterback Robby Ashford toyed with the Aggies. They rushed for 143 rushing yards in the first 18 minutes and led Auburn to 270 rushing yards.

It’s the third consecutive game the Aggies have allowed 270 rushing yards or more.

Auburn sliced through A&M’s defense for 173 rushing yards in the second half. Their overpowering running game set up a 16-yard Ashford touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs
With the loss, A&M has now dropped nine of their last 11 games against FBS opponents. 

Yet, somehow the Aggies trailed just 7-0 at halftime. With Auburn’s help, A&M stayed close. The Tigers missed a 54-yard field goal attempt on their first series of the second half. Then, on the second series, Ashford overthrew a wide-open receiver on a wheel route that would have easily gone for a 76-yard touchdown.

Next, Ashford and Bigsby fumbled a handoff exchange, and A&M’s McKinnley Jackson recovered at the Aggies’ 27-yard line.

When Auburn added a field goal for a 10-0 lead with 39 seconds left in the third quarter, it appeared the issue was settled.

However, the defense started providing opportunities in the fourth quarter. Jackson tipped an Ashford pass, and Edgerrin Cooper intercepted at the Auburn 39-yard line.

That set up a 48-yard Randy Bond field goal that brought A&M back within a touchdown.

But Auburn added another field goal to re-establish a 10-point lead with just three minutes to play.

After the ensuing kickoff, Weigman, finally given a measure of protection, led the Aggies 80 yards in seven plays for a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Preston.

The Aggies’ faint hopes for a miraculous rally ended as Auburn recovered an onside kick.

The 13-10 defeat was A&M’s fifth loss by a touchdown or less.

But losing to Auburn, which snapped a five-game losing streak, was the most disappointing and frustrating.

No question.

Discussion from...

Skid equals 50-year low as inept offense dooms Aggies at Auburn, 13-10

12,410 Views | 23 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by yonose
Humorous Username
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AG
I really want to look back on this article in a few years after Fisher has won a NC here, and remember this as the low point that caused him to changes his ways.

Unfortunately, all probability is that this is just a preview of the final article written about how Jimbo refused to change, stubbornly thinking that he could coach better than anyone.
newbie11
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Sick of Jimbo and his lame excuses. He still can't see that he and Adazio are the problems on O. He needs to fire someone NOW.send a message. God knows we've got some coaches that need to go. Jimbo is going to set us back a decade.

Fact is…the team has quit. It's pathetic.

Off-season is going to be brutal with record numbers of players transferring.

Why do they keep rolling Layden out there? If he's the leader on the oline, it's easy to see why the line is so poor. He's a very boy but terrible. Can't block, missed assignments, etc etc.

DrAg14
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50 years! 50 years!

You have to work really hard to break a 50 year mark.


It is all part of the Fisher master plan. Assemble the best talent available, provide them with the most incompetent coaching staff, coach them on how not to execute week in and week out, then cash in the check.

Fool us once shame on you. Fool us 4 coaches in a row then Ags are just too flipping stupid to figure it out.
TMF
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Not sure the players have quit but the coaches sure have. They took the year off after signing day.
Aggie1188
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Someone tell Olin we absolutely sucked before any players were injured or suspended too. Ffs
CowboyBob
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90 mill guaranteed. What' the motivation. According to those close to him he is really, really hoping to get fired.
Wrecking Crew 21
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Thanks Olin!
Humorous Username
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CowboyBob said:

90 mill guaranteed. What' the motivation. According to those close to him he is really, really hoping to get fired.


If that's true, then I hope we have an army of lawyers looking for anything to use as leverage.

Dude came here to retire. What a joke.
ohioag67
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Humorous Username said:

CowboyBob said:

90 mill guaranteed. What' the motivation. According to those close to him he is really, really hoping to get fired.


If that's true, then I hope we have an army of lawyers looking for anything to use as leverage.

Dude came here to retire. What a joke.
It's pretty obvious that he won't be able to coach anywhere else after this stop even if he wants to, so he really is going to retire here..........with $90mil.
TxAg76
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AG
CowboyBob said:

90 mill guaranteed. What' the motivation. According to those close to him he is really, really hoping to get fired.


"According to those close to him…."
WTF? And who are you?
jrdaustin
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AG
CowboyBob said:

90 mill guaranteed. What' the motivation. According to those close to him he is really, really hoping to get fired.
Ha! You join yesterday, yet have insight from "those close to him"?

You're nothing but a troll, and an inept one at that.
Aggie1188
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TxAg76 said:

CowboyBob said:

90 mill guaranteed. What' the motivation. According to those close to him he is really, really hoping to get fired.


"According to those close to him…."
WTF? And who are you?
That is definitely untrue. He has and is continuing to ruin his legacy. He would want to redeem himself, altho I guess he could need an easier conference where you can win the conference with 3-stars and can really win a ton with 4-stars…granted, Jimbo loses to the better 3-star teams pretty regularly this year and last.
75Driver
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Claiming he hopes to get fired is ridiculous. There's no way Jimbo Fisher wants to stain his legacy by getting fired in a record setting, precedent setting manor. I don't think the PTB want that buyout stain on their record either. As much as I'd like o see him fired, I hate looking/listening to the guy, bottom line is we're stuck with him and can only hope he redeems himself in seasons to come.
Halconblack
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Jimbo has shown some adaptation this season. Increasing motion, getting the play in quicker, etc. The problem is he doesn't do it consistently because he is trying to be the head football coach and call the offense. If he doesn't give up play calling then this team is doomed. If a new offensive coordinator isn't hired by January 1st then Bjork needs to be fired. If one still isn't hired by February 1st, then we should remove head coaching duties from Jimbo and hire the best high school coach in Texas for $250k a year because the results will be better and the costs will be about the same.
v/r
WC94
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All part of Woodwards master plan. Well played sir, well played.
Shadow of CuervoAg
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"Inept" - OB your are being very kind in your assessment.
Do not post opposing views or you too, like me, will become a shadow of your former self.
Krautag81
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Something is wrong and TAMU needs to put their finger on it. We'll see…..clean house?
Krautag81
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WC94 said:

All part of Woodwards master plan. Well played sir, well played.
Lol, we just need to figure out what it is.
MagnumLoad
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newbie11 said:

Sick of Jimbo and his lame excuses. He still can't see that he and Adazio are the problems on O. He needs to fire someone NOW.send a message. God knows we've got some coaches that need to go. Jimbo is going to set us back a decade.

Fact is…the team has quit. It's pathetic.

Off-season is going to be brutal with record numbers of players transferring.

Why do they keep rolling Layden out there? If he's the leader on the oline, it's easy to see why the line is so poor. He's a very boy but terrible. Can't block, missed assignments, etc etc.


The team has definitely NOT QUIT. They played very very hard. Anyone watching should notice that. I am frustrated by the play calling and lack of game management, but not the player's effort.
MagnumLoad
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CowboyBob said:

90 mill guaranteed. What' the motivation. According to those close to him he is really, really hoping to get fired.
Pegged the BS meter. What a steaming load. Sip probably, or maybe just frustrated into stupid.
CS_Aggie
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"With all the expectations and momentum this program bragged about over the offseason, 2022 Texas A&M is the most disappointing team of the 21st Century." -CBS Sports

This is how sports writers at major media outlets are talking about our program. Jimbo has successfully burned our football program to the ground. The exodus will begin soon. Reminds me of that time we let Kyler Murray find another place to play football. Unreal.

I don't know how Jimbo sleeps at night. It's the biggest fleecing in the history of college athletics. Ross Bjork should be fired immediately. What a disgrace he is. One of Jimbo's many miscalculations is that 100,000 fans will continue to fill Kyle Field for every home game regardless of how low the program sinks. Well guess what? He's wrong about that. Everyone I know changed the channel last night because it was too horrific to watch. Soon the stadium will begin to look less and less full.

By the way, somebody needs to tell the university president to stop bragging about how we've entered the "new golden age of Texas A&M." What a bunch of nonsense. Our football program has made our entire school the laughing stock of the country.
sharpdressedman
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Watching the UCLA-Arizona game late last night, one of of the talking heads (the Greek) said, 'Throwing money at a program (hiring Kelly at UCLA) can fix a problem, unlike Texas A&M." His sidekick quickly quipped, "That's been going on for 40 years." and they enjoyed a big laugh.

Not a good look for our program and recruiting prospects.
yonose
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Inept offense, and a defense that can't stop the run to save their lives? We saw this a few years ago. I give this lame duck another year or two.

If he's willing to tell us that it's all the same, why don't the teams with supposedly less talent struggle all the same? They all seem to take a player no one wanted and find a way to have success with what they have. TCU is undefeated. Ole Miss whipped our guys and has passed us. LSU is playing for the league title. He's right, it's all the same. Except that those teams have coaches that adapt to the times, to the players they have, and whatever else comes their way. He's stuck on his system, which quite obviously is broken on all sides of the ball right now. He's at the same level of stubbornness Sumlin was right before the gig was over.

App State whipped us, Auburn whipped us (with 3 turnovers against them and no coach), Miss State whipped us, FL whipped us with a qb who can hardly throw a pass. All happened a a time when we thought we were done losing to mediocre teams. Through it all, he continues blaming the players and their mistakes and not his offensive scheme. A scheme so frail that if it loses one lug nut, all the wheels come off. Is that indicative of a good coach?
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