The Aggies went into spring practice trying to forget their rough ending to last season, which found not one but two five-star quarterbacks bolt the program before losing in the Music City Bowl.

Wanting a fresh but not-so-new look on offense, the Aggies welcomed in Noel Mazzone and his up-tempo offense to pump life into what was recently one of the most prolific in the SEC. Along with Mazzone comes Oklahoma graduate transfer QB Trevor Knight to direct his system on the field.

Nobody is expecting Johnny Manziel-type results, but just having everyone on the same page offensively is a big step in the right direction. Plus, Knight brings much-needed leadership to that side of the football.

Having recently completed spring workouts, we can now begin to see the strengths and weaknesses of what will be the 2016 edition of Texas A&M Aggies football.

STRENGTHS

  • Pass rushers: Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall are two names that need no introduction. The two have led the Texas A&M defense the past two seasons in both tackles for loss as well as sacks. Garrett led the SEC last season with 12.5 sacks and tied for the lead with five forced fumbles. He was also second in the league with 11.5 sacks in 2014. Garrett and Hall are among the best defensive end tandems in the SEC, if not the country. They anchor a defensive line that is the best the Aggies have put on a football field in quite some time.
  • Receivers: Christian Kirk burst onto the scene last season and was nothing short of amazing. Third in the SEC in both receiving yards (1,009) and receiving yards per game (77.6), Kirk led the Aggies receiving corps with 80 catches and 7 touchdowns. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Josh Reynolds and Ricky Seals-Jones are quality receivers as is Speedy Noil when he’s on the football field. It makes up one of the most talented groups not only in the conference but in the nation as well.
  • Safeties: Experience and talent make this position a big strength for the Aggies in 2016. Armani Watts and Justin Evans are among the best duos around. Watts led the Aggies last season with 126 tackles, which was second in the SEC to Missouri’s Kentrell Brothers (152). Evans is a bone-crushing tackler from the secondary as well, and combined the two put up a formidable roadblock for opposing runners and receivers.

WEAKNESSES

  • Offensive line: The departures of three high-quality interior linemen offers up a daunting task in the return of line coach Jim Turner. Mike Matthews, Joseph Cheek and Germain Ifedi aren’t your average everyday linemen. Finding suitable replacements is going to take some doing. Plus, Turner must mold an inexperienced group into a cohesive unit if the Aggies are to fully utilize a talented group of skilled players. However, Turner has produced for the Aggies in the past. His 2011 Aggies line allowed just nine sacks, ranking third-fewest in the nation. Avery Gennesy and Keaton Sutherland, who missed the spring game because of injury, are among those Turner will count on heavily. Right tackle Koda Martin had a great spring and could figure prominently as well.
  • Experience in the backfield: Tra Carson rushed for more than 1,000 yards in his senior season. His departure leaves a huge void that a group of talented hopefuls looks to fill. Oklahoma transfer Keith Ford, who sat out last season and missed time during the spring with an injury, looks to be the frontrunner. Freshman early enrollee Trayveon Williams had an outstanding spring, and James White returns after rushing for 196 yards in 2015. Kwame Etwi and Kendall Bussey are also capable backs short on experience.
  • Linebacker: It’s been sort of a sore spot for a few years now, but the Aggies must develop some ballhawks at linebacker. That could be the final piece to the puzzle for John Chavis, who improved the Aggies defense in his first season at College Station. There’s some talent in the group, but remaining healthy is also a big key. Otaro Alaka and Richard Moore have been bitten by the injury bug. Shaan Washington is coming off a good season, finishing second on the team with 81 tackles. Another big year from him could go a long way in continuing the upward trend under Chavis.