Experience, Petrino equates to more emotion & motion for A&M in 2023
According to senior tight end Max Wright, Texas A&M football fans can expect more emotion and more motion from the Aggies in 2023.
The source of the additional emotion is the disappointing 5-7 finish last season.
“Obviously, last season was really frustrating,” Wright said at a press conference on Wednesday. “I think guys came into spring with a chip on their shoulder. No one wants to ever have the year that we had last year. It was embarrassing on a lot of fronts.
“There’s a little bit more ‘rah rah’ out there on the field with guys getting into each other. Like, ‘Hey, this is the same stuff that happened last year, and we allowed that. Look what that led us to.’”
The source of the additional motion is the influence of offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, who apparently is making much more pre-snap moves than the Aggies did in 2022.
“We have different personnels where we have three tight ends on the field at one time,” Wright said. “Sometimes (we’re) creating some mismatches in terms of blocking schemes being able to utilize two tight ends and also have a tight end in the backfield at the fullback spot.
“I really like how (Petrino) uses the tight end in deception in terms of motions. Multiple motions in different directions at different times. Disguising different alignments for different receivers by moving two guys at once and creating a single receiver side.
“I think the way he uses the tight end is really versatile and I really love it.”
Last season, the Aggies seemed to rarely put players in motion. That might have been because so many freshmen were in and out of the starting lineup.
In most games, the entire right side of the offensive line — from tackle to center — was a redshirt or true freshman.
In a loss to Auburn, the Aggie offensive starting lineup included seven true or redshirt freshmen. Also, eight true freshmen started at least one game.
Motion can cause confusion for the defense. But it can also leave inexperienced offensive players confused.
Coach Jimbo Fisher said a more experienced offense allows for more motion.
“We have an older team,” Fisher said. You’ve got an older team. You have more experienced guys.
“Understand something… When you shift and motion, you can be deceiving, but you can deceive yourself. The defense is going to change, too. So when you get older guys, they can process when you shift a tight end and motion a guy or double shift or lift.
“As soon as you shift, they (opponent) shift. You’ve got to make different calls. You’ve got to make different things.
“What we’re excited about is we have more experienced guys which allows you to create more deception and more of those things.”
Subpar play from the offensive line was a significant factor in A&M’s struggles in 2022. The Aggies ranked just 11th in the SEC in rushing and allowed 25 sacks.
However, Fisher said he’s been encouraged by what he’s seen from several linemen in spring drills.
“I’ve been very pleased this spring,” Fisher said. “I thought we made some huge development this spring. I thought some guys are really coming on and playing well. The young guys are really developing.
“Remy (sophomore center Remington Strickland) has had a tremendous spring. (Freshman Mark) Nabou played center the whole spring and has had a tremendous spring. I’m really happy with him.
“I’m really excited about that whole group on the offensive line.”
Behind projected starting center Bryce Foster, the importance of strong play from Strickland and Nabou as backups were magnified with Matthew Wykoff’s announcement that he was entering the transfer portal.
Wykoff started nine games at center last season.
Fisher also praised sophomore guard Kam Dewberry, senior guard Layden Robinson and junior tackle Reuben Fatheree.
But perhaps the lineman that’s generated the most buzz is freshman tackle Chase Bisontis, who has impressed Wright.
“Chase Bisontis is going to be an absolute key factor to the offensive line,” Wright said. “He’s going to shock a lot of people this year in how he plays. He doesn’t play like a freshman. He’s going to be really good.”
NOTES:
- Spring drills conclude on Saturday with the annual Maroon & White Game at 3 p.m. CT at Kyle Field.
- Fisher said sophomore tight end Donovan Green won’t play because of an ankle injury.
- Fisher said receiver Tyrin Smith, a transfer from UTEP, was likely to return to El Paso.
