10 Things for Tuesday

Your 10 Things for Tuesday, sponsored by Brent Campbell, are takeaways from today’s press conference with Texas A&M coach Mike Elko, offensive coordinator Collin Klein and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman:

1. Yeah, they know, thanks

It’s one thing to see things when you watch, but it’s another thing when a coach says because they’ve been watching. Hearing Mike Elko talk about “losing perimeter leverage” in the running game almost elicited a “YES! THANK YOU!” (Note: I’m not stupid enough to actually do that when I’m in the front row of the press conference)

The Aggies were absolutely awful at cutting off the edge last year, and the vast majority of the big running plays against them went off tackle. If they’re going to be better against the run this year, that would be a good place to start.

2. Faster. Must go faster.

I asked defensive coordinator Jay Bateman about gaining perimeter leverage (I didn’t use words that sounded quite that good) and whether that’s one reason the defensive ends are significantly lighter this year, and while he didn’t say that was the precise reason, he did say that they’re asking their ends to do things that are “a little bit different” schematically and that they need speed off the end, including play in space and come off the edge. That sounds like, playing in space aside (that sounds like dropping so someone else can blitz), they’re looking for a better pass rush and cutting off the edge in run defense.

3. Excuse me, what?

One of the most interesting things to come out of today’s press conference was the fact Trey Zuhn has been taking a lot of snaps at center. Do I think he ends up starting at center? No, but every summer there’s something that happens that seems too unrealistic to be real until isn’t too unrealistic and then happens. So it certainly bears watching — but I think they like Mark Nabou too much to bench him.

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4. Chappell of critical importance to the defense

The importance of Tyreek Chappell to last year’s defense — and now, this year’s — has been made very clear by the coaching staff. Losing Chappell early in the season totally altered how the defense played, and having him back — and having Jordan Shaw to back him up — will probably mean the defense can be more aggressive.

5. Klein likes what he’s got at receiver

During his time at the mic, I asked offensive coordinator Collin Klein about his receiver corps and whether he had more depth at the position this year. He said he thought so, and immediately said this group is faster and changes direction better than last year’s team. That was great to hear, because I think I wrote something to that effect last night in Monday Thoughts (that’s a plug to subscribe, if you haven’t already).

6. Keep an eye out for this guy

One player who keeps coming up in discussions is wideout Ashton Bethel-Roman. Klein was very positive about him today, discussing Bethel-Roman’s ability to be a big play threat and how he’s become an excellent route runner. Expect the redshirt freshman to have a big role this season.

7. Is Klein optimistic about his offense?

He won’t say it (ok, he did say he thinks the whole group “is in a better place”) but I think Klein feels like he can do more with this offense than he did last year. He’s got more, capable backs (who are healthy), faster receivers, a versatile TE/WR threat in Amari Niblack and a line that should be very solid. It all depends on quarterback Marcel Reed.

8. This seems to be a positive development

When asked about what Reed needs to do to improve, both Elko and Klein pointed to the same things: seeing the field better and working through his progression faster. If you’re an Aggie fan (or an Aggie), thankfully both coaches also indicated that those are two areas where Reed is, indeed, improving.

9. Interesting comments on the pass rush

During his comments, Bateman mentioned that the pass rush was altered during the second half of the season due to problems in the back end (i.e., the secondary). That’s the first time that’s been said, and it’s interesting to hear. He also mentioned Tyler Onyedim as a guy with good edge rush ability, and that’s really interesting, considering he’s a 295-pound defensive end normally.

10. The kids are…good?

The inexperience behind Onyedim, DJ Hicks and Albert Regis at defensive tackle has been a concern (at least to me), but Bateman really seems to like the group of Dealyn Evans, Landon Rink, Chase Sims and DJ Sanders. While the three veterans will get the most snaps, Bateman appears comfortable with the idea of the younger tackles getting out on the field pretty early in the season, which definitely came as a surprise.

Our sponsor

Sponsored by Brent Campbell, Fighting Texas Aggie Class of 1998. Brent is a Commercial Real Estate Broker, serving all of Central Texas and specializing in sales, leasing & development. He leads a retail acquisition and sales team and was recognized by the Austin Business Journal as a Commercial Real Estate Heavy Hitter in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 & 2023.

In the last 22 years, he has closed deals with a total transactional value of over $375 million and has leased more than 4.5 million square feet. Brent currently serves as the president of the board of directors for Habitat Homes, Inc. and Pathways Youth and Family Services. He is a former president of the Heart of Round Rock Neighborhood Association and a former member of the Round Rock Zoning Advisory Committee, the Round Rock Business and Retention Committee, and the City of Round Rock Ethics Commission, which has led him to begin developing in Williamson and Travis County.

An Austin native, Brent lives in Round Rock where he and his wife have raised four boys. Brent works for Don Quick and Associates, Inc. in Round Rock, TX and can be reached at [email protected].