It’s difficult to say anything negative about a 59-7 victory. Make no mistake, there were far more positives than negatives. But considering the competition, there were still some things and still some areas that could be improved upon.

Here are five things I liked, and three things that still need to be improved as the page turns toward a Week 2 showdown against Clemson.

Things I liked

1.RB Trayveon Williams: This is the kind of game the Aggies are going to need from their featured back in the new system. His vision was incredible, seeing the holes and hitting them with authority. Combined with an acceleration that left the Demons in his dust, Williams ripped off nine rushes for more than 10 yards each, including a 73-yard touchdown dash. A career-high 240 yards (three touchdowns, on 20 carries) ranks second all-time for a single game (Bob Smith 297 rushing yards vs. SMU in 1950). It’s exactly the start the Aggies were looking for in raising the curtain on the Jimbo Fisher era.

2. TE Jace Sternberger: For a program that has largely ignored the use of its tight end, Sternberger is a boon. His five receptions (56 yards, 2 TDs), all in the first half on Thursday nearly equaled the seven catches that Aggies tight ends hauled in for the 2017 season. He equalled the number of tight end receptions for the previous two years combined. Sternberger is a weapon, that’s already been established after just one game. He can block, he can catch, and he can run pass patterns like a wide out.

3. QB Kellen Mond: His accuracy on some of the deeper throws, especially early in the first half, opened up the offense and allowed the Aggies to run at will on an inferior opponent’s defense. He was efficient in throwing for 184 yards and two touchdowns, completing 17 of 25 passes, four of those for more than 20 yards each. It’s an aspect of the Aggies’ offense that will pay dividends if it can be duplicated with consistency.

4. Tackling: Granted the opposition Thursday was Northwestern State and not Clemson, but tackling has been somewhat of a sore spot in the defense and any hint of a turnaround is certainly welcomed. Texas A&M defenders locked up, for the most part, combining for 20 solo tackles. Wrapping up and limiting yards after contact would go a long way in improving upon the defensive totals this season.

5. Workmanlike attitude: The Aggies came into the game in business-like fashion. There was no excessive celebrations, no marching with batons on the sidelines.

No, this was a taste of how things have changed in College Station with the arrival of Fisher.

Things I didn’t like

1.Targeting penalties: You just can’t have them.

The Aggies are just lucky that both targeting penalties on starters MLB Otaro Alaka, and SF Donovan Wilson on separate special teams play, were committed in the first half and only missed the remainder of the blowout. Had they been whistled for the infractions during second-half play, they would be sitting out the first half of next week’s big game with Clemson.

2. OL still appears soft: What? How is that possible? The Aggies rushed for 520 yards and totaled 758 yards of offense. Well, with gaudy numbers like that, one would assume the offensive line manhandled its opposition. That wasn’t exactly the case. The big-yardage offense was created with counters, power zone blocking, and double-teams — finesse over braun. When it came to short-yardage situations, the Aggies were not as successful. The offensive line didn’t move the opposition off the line in those situations and that’s still a concern moving forward.

3. Zero sacks: Where were the sacks? For a team that led the SEC in sacks a year ago (43) and finished in the top three in sacks among SEC teams in each of the last four seasons, the zero in the stat column sticks out like a sore thumb. Yes, the Demons used the quick pass to offset Aggies’ onrushers. But the Demons attempted 35 passes, and not one sack? That’s different.