Greg McElroy took some time to preview Texas A&M, as the Aggies look to turn the page from a disappointing 5-7 season, and bring on Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator. McElroy recalled that leading into last season, there were expectations of the Aggies crashing the College Football Playoff and challenging Alabama in the SEC West.

Conner Weigman is back as the incumbent quarterback, although there will be a competition at that position and others, as usual.

“The weapons are significant for the Aggies,” he said. “The problem is the chemistry and a lot of it was, I guess, youth and inexperience.”

McElroy then addressed what could be the deciding factor for the Aggies this season.

“How much will Jimbo Fisher meddle in what Bobby Petrino wants to do offensively,” McElroy said. “I don’t think he’s going to meddle that much to be honest with you. I think you go out, you hire a guy like Bobby Petrino, you’re not going to tell him what he can and cannot do. You might give some advice. I see this, I see that. I want to try this, sure, you might make some suggestions. But are you ultimately going to call a guy in that has that many skins on the wall to call plays and then not let him do his job? I have a hard time envisioning that.”

Keith’s take on the situation

Fisher earlier this week bristled at some of the questions at the start of spring practice, as he often takes a defensive tone about his program and decisions. This will be the most difficult part of Fisher’s career, because it goes to the heart of his success — offensive play-calling. The trouble is allowing someone else to take the reigns. Now, he’s already taking a significant step by making the hire in the first place. This spring will be a good transition period to the working relationship as they install the offense, or at least Petrino’s twist on it.

The turning point will be when the offense struggles. It’s not about Texas A&M’s offense, it’s every offense goes through a rough patch or 2. Fisher needs to see that coming, and be ready for the questions and the scrutiny, not to mention internal meetings with Petrino and the offensive staff and players. Their working relationship will be under a microscope the entire season, good, bad or ugly. How Fisher handles that dynamic will go a long way toward determining the kind of season the Aggies have.