Texas A&M took care of business of Saturday, doing what it needed to do in order to open the 2022 season on the positive side with a 31-0 victory over Sam Houston. It wasn’t an overly impressive victory, but it was a game the Aggies needed to knock off some rust and begin the process of getting the plethora of young talent some playing experience.

There was a lot to like about the Aggies’ performance on Saturday, and still a couple of areas that need improving upon. Here are 3 things I liked about the victory and 3 things I didn’t like.

I liked

1. Defense

The Aggies’ defense made it much more comfortable for Haynes King and some of the true freshmen to settle in. It was an impressive beginning for new Texas A&M defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin.

While King was getting his feet underneath him, it was defense that kept Sam Houston’s offense under wraps. Six of the Bearkats’ first 7 possessions ended up 3-and-out. The defense allowed just 91 yards passing and only 107 rushing, holding the Bearkats to 1-for-12 on 3rd-down conversions.

And perhaps most impressive is that it was a team effort. Fadil Diggs and Jardin Gilbert were among the many standouts, and the Aggies recorded 3 sacks and 6 tackles for loss. Demani Richardson and Chris Russell Jr. were also among the many that impressed.

2. Evan Stewart/freshman receiver group

The true freshman 5-star recruit stepped right in and performed like a seasoned veteran. He ran crisp routes and made his presence felt. In short, he looked like he belonged. He caught 5 passes for 57 yards.

But he wasn’t the only true freshman receiver to make an immediate impact. Both Chris Marshall and Noah Thomas were targeted as well. Marshall hauled in another 4 passes for 41 yards.

3. Finish

With a 31-point lead, it would have been easy for the Aggies to relax and loosen up on both sides of the football, a situation ripe for giving up points. But that didn’t happen. The Aggies played full steam to the final whistle. That’s why they were able to complete the shutout.

Playing to the end is how you beat the teams on your schedule. It’s how the Aggies were able to pull of a victory over Alabama last season.

I didn’t like

1. King’s overall performance

Sure, he hasn’t played in a while, and the mistakes could certainly be corrected with more playing time. But King struggled with timing and decision-making, especially in the 1st half, when he was just 10-for-19. The good news is that King has some outstanding receivers to throw to, and they will make him look good as the season unfolds.

On Saturday, King showed all the signs of a quarterback knocking off the rust. It took him 3 series before beginning to settle in. His 66-yard scoring strike to Yulkeith Brown was impressive, hitting the sophomore receiver in stride, as was the 62-yard TD to Ainias Smith. And King was accurate on a couple of NFL-type sideline throws across the field.

But he still has to make better decisions, and hopefully that comes with more experience. Statistically, he was impressive, throwing for 364 yards (20-for-31) and 3 TDs. But he also threw 2 interceptions, and he must take better care of the football as the SEC portion of the schedule approaches.

2. Run blocking

The Aggies’ offensive line struggled mightily in run blocking. Devon Achane rushed 8 times for 8 yards in the 1st half after leading the SEC last season with 7 yards per carry. If I told you that the Aggies would rush for a team total of 110 yards, you wouldn’t believe the final score.

That seasoned offensive line did, however, do a good enough job at pass blocking to give King enough time to work through his progressions. But the run blocking left a lot to be desired, especially in a ball-control offense like Texas A&M’s.

3. Dependence on the big plays

Granted, big plays are exciting and all. But you can’t depend on those types of plays to win games, at least not on a consistent basis. The Aggies couldn’t run the ball, but they made up for it with 3 TD plays of more than 40 yards.

King’s 2 60-plus-yard touchdown passes in the 1st half marked the 1st time an Aggies QB has sent multiple passes of more than 60 yards to the end zone since Oct. 15, 2011, when Ryan Tannehill tossed a pair of 68-yard passes to Ryan Swope against Baylor.

They’re certainly exciting plays, but that’s not Aggies football. and it is a scheme that is unsustainable in the SEC over the long haul.