Aggie Roundtable II

This is my second time doing the Aggie Roundtable, the first time the questions are my own. Be sure to check out the responses of the other Round Table members: Aggie Sports Blog, 12thManchild, TAMABINPO, and Offtackle.

1. What play in our offense would you like to eliminate or see called less often? Give a valid replacement play or series that will attack the same area, i.e. if you hate the option to the short side of the field, how do you propose we attack the C & D gaps shortside to keep the defense honest?

I actually don't have many complaints with our playcalling, save a few 3rd and short situations last season here we didn't give J-Train the ball, or where he wasn't carrying the ball in the 4th quarter to run out the clock at the end of a game.
If anything, I would like to bring BACK a series we used back in 2004. We had a nice Power-T goal line series that we used effectively to punch it into the end zone, which I'd like to see more of. I'd also install a Belly Series from a shotgun-T backfield formation, and run Inside and Outside Belly, as well as a true quadruple option. First read is inside belly, attacking the A gap. Second read is outside belly, attacking the B gap. Third read is option, attacking C and D gaps.

2. What was your favorite season of Aggie offensive football? Give a year and explain why.
I'll have to go with the 2000 season. We had Robert Ferguson at WR, Ja'Mar Toombs at TB, and Mark Farris at QB. We had the Steve Kragthorpe-Pete Hoener-Larry Kirksey braintrust guiding our offense. We ran a beautiful Fly series, which was installed by Pete Hoener. We were a fun offense to watch, and we scored plenty of points. All three coaches (Kragthorpe, Hoener, Kirksey) were snagged by the NFL, and left after the season was over.

3. If you could steal any assistant coach from one of our conference opponents, either to improve our program or weaken their program, which coach would you take and why.

I would take Kevin Sumlin away from Oklahoma. Two reasons: First, he coached at A&M from 2001-02, leaving after Fran arrived, so he knows A&M and knows our traditions. Second, he was an outstanding recruiter, as well as an incredible offensive coordinator. He turned around our 2002 offense in one short week, eventually leading us to an upset win over then-#1 ranked Oklahoma at Kyle Field. I'd love to steal him back from OU.

4. Given that we have gone back to the old timing rules during games, do you expect our defense to experience a slight setback in total yardage given up per game? What about points per game?

I expect to see ~12 more plays per game, which comes out to roughly 6 more plays per team on offense, or 24-30 more yds given up per game. I expect to see A&M's yards per game numbers go up by ~15 yds per game, but average points given up per game to go down to <20 per game. Hopefully, experience on defense will help us.

5. Playing athletic director for a day, if given the chance, what sport would you add to A&M's athletic department, assuming the funding is there for scholarships, facilities, support, etc.

Women's hockey. It would even out all the Title IX issues with football, and would put A&M at the forefront of the women's college hockey in the South, meaning we'd get all the good female players from this region. Besides, can you imagine the brawls that would erupt when we'd play t.u.? A game might break out!!!

6. Fran tells you he's going to let you coach a whole game as an assistant coach. You can coach any position you want, including both coordinator positions. Which coaching job would you take, and why?

Offensive Coordinator/QB coach. Basically, I'd take over playcalling duties from Fran, to make sure we didn't get stupid, and pass the ball on 3rd and goal from the 2 yd line.

7. Ignoring LSU, Arkansas, and the former SWC teams, what BCS team would you like to see A&M start a non-conference series with? Do you want to play home-and-home or at a neutral site?

No question about it, I want Notre Dame in Arlington at Jerryland. A non-conference game with Notre Dame would get us national attention, and give us a big leg up in the national championship race whenever we beat them. I think Notre Dame would go for that deal, b/c it would be a guaranteed game in Texas every year, opening the state to them for recruiting.