While some Power 5 football programs return to game action this week, the Aggies must wait a bit while longer. On Thursday afternoon, Jimbo Fisher, tight end Ryan Renick and offensive lineman Kenyon Green spoke to the media during the fourth week of A&M's fall camp.
Video courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics.
The following are live, paraphrased notes from head coach Jimbo Fisher's press conference on Thursday.
- Sorry, I’m a few minutes late. I was watching film.
- Isaiah Spiller had a big responsibility and a quick responsibility to be a starter after game two last year. He played great. He is getting better and better. He will be counted on extremely hard, and he needs to have a great year.
- I think our overall ability to be diverse will help us offensively. We have to be physical and run the ball, but I think we can create more big plays down the field. Big plays are probably the second most important thing other than turnovers. Defensively, our secondary looks good, as are our guys up front. I definitely see some improvement there.
- I haven’t caught up with many other coaches from different programs during camp because of the time crunch. It’s important to talk to them so we can bounce ideas off of each other. There was a lot of interaction and bouncing ideas off each other during the offseason. I’m constantly listening regardless if I like them or not because none of us have all of the answers right now.
- Blake Smith and Baylor Cupp are out for the year. One is having surgery today. They’re both doing well.
- We haven’t had anybody else opt out. Jhamon Ausbon is still with our team. Sometimes guys miss practices for different reasons. Ausbon is still with our team, but some younger guys are getting some work.
- I didn’t realize Kellen Mond has a chance to break some records, but he’s been fantastic. He has taken some significant steps, and hopefully, it’ll show on the field. He has an understanding of what we want to do. Guys around him are as well. Our two young guys are playing well. I’m very pleased with Kellen right now as well.
- Ryan Renick will play a role like he did last year. He was huge in our game. He can catch the football, and he will do some of that again. He can do so much. Run with the ball, catch, block - all of it. He is a brilliant football player. He is an invaluable piece to a football coach and what we want to do and how we do it.
- Darrell Dickey has been a very successful football coach at different levels and different positions. It takes so much to be able to do that. He is a very creative mind. I think our offensive staff is one of the best we’ve ever had. It understands what is going on not only at their position but how it fits in. Darrell has done an outstanding job. I feel very comfortable with where we’re going right now, and he’s been a huge part of that.
- I think offenses probably won’t have silent counts with fewer fans in the crowd. It’ll be interesting. Pro players in the NBA and MLB have said they can’t feed off the crowd anymore. It’ll be a learning experience for us all. We won’t be able to answer that question until we get in that arena. It’ll probably be ongoing. You might hear some interesting things you’ve never heard before - bad and good. It might open up the game to people some things that they’ve never heard before.
- Clifford Chattman, Erick Young, Devin Morris and Brian George are all playing in that nickel position, and they’re all playing well. As you know now, nickel is just as important as any other position with how the game is played today. You’ll see them all play it.
- I have an idea of our starting lineup, but there are still scrimmages and work to be done, so I don’t know it yet. There are still some battles to be won and competition to be had. We’ll have another scrimmage on Saturday.
- I like Smart Chibuzo at center, and I think he can play there. You can never have enough centers. He’s smart. He’s big, and he’s physical. I think he has an excellent chance to be a good center in the future.
- Kenyon Green is tremendous. He’s intelligent and loves ball. He works at it. You have to have tough and smart guys up front, and he’s both. He can play multiple positions across the board. I think he has a tremendous future in the game. He could go down as one of the best we’ve had here. I love everything about him. He allows you to coach him and challenge him. He needs to have a heck of a year to allow us to do what we want to do.
- We’re doing excellent COVID-wise. I’m very proud of our guys and how we’re handling things. It’s very minimal of an impact in us.
- Scrimmage wise, I was surprised by the lack of issues we had. Very few pre-snap penalties. Not many turnovers. Very few issues with communication. Those things are self-inflicted wounds. Our guys have been locked in. They’ve been very focused on those things in camp. The competition was very good. We tackled well in space. We made plays. We’ve got the right guys here. We have to keep developing them.
- I think experience and knowledge, athleticism and more of a pass rush will create more turnovers. Sometimes you make them, and sometimes you don’t. We’ve emphasized it, but we have to stay fundamentally sound. We’re going to provide more depth for pass rush guys. All of those things will matter.
- Kenyon can play inside and out. He’s inside this year. He could play all three spots if he wanted. He has the ability to do all things. We’ll work him some at tackle and guard. You have to have alternate plans, so all of it will be required of him. He better get his rest and know his playbook.
- Micheal Clemons isn’t hard to find. He’s playing well. The relentlessness on every play has been impressive. I’ve been very pleased with his game. He’s been a trendsetter.
