Texas A&M eyes improvements in Week 2 meeting with McNeese

Having failed a major exam, Texas A&M nows looks to ace an open book test.

Except, the Aggies (0-1) cannot be sure if they’ve actually found the answers against an overmatched McNeese State (1-1) football team at 11:45 Saturday morning at Kyle Field.

The Aggies need to see vast improvement from quarterback Conner Weigman, who suffered through the worst game of his career in a 23-13 loss to No. 5 Notre Dame last week.

Also, the run defense, which allowed 198 yards, must be tightened up.

Those quests — and any others — should be easily corrected against McNeese, an FCS member who did not win a game last season.

But corrections against McNeese, which last week rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Southern 21-7,  won’t necessarily mean problems have been solved.

“Certainly, there are some pieces on their roster that we need to respect and prepare for,” A&M coach Mike Elko said. “But at the end of the day — just like last week — it’s going to be about us playing this game to our standards. Making improvements we need to make going into Week 2 to get this thing going where we want it to go.”

The Aggies want to go on a long winning streak which, hopefully, would lead to a berth in the 12-team College Football Playoff field.

A&M certainly appeared capable. The Aggies were tied with five minutes to play but then continued a disturbing two-and-a-half-year trend of failing to make the clutch plays required to win close games.

The score against McNeese shouldn’t be close. The Aggies have beaten their last five FCS opponents by an average of 43.8 points.

That doesn’t mean McNeese is void of talent. Linebacker Micah Davey is an All-American who led all FCS players in tackles last season.

Also, quarterback Clifton McDowell, a senior transfer, led Montana to the FCS national championship game last season.

However, there is speculation that he won’t be in the starting lineup. If McDowell, an elusive runner, is out, he’ll likely be replaced by redshirt freshman Kamden Sixkiller.

Elko said the Aggies should expect to face the best possible version of McNeese.

“When you look at these types of teams, I think the biggest thing to know is they are going to be at their best,” Elko said. “This is their opportunity to come play on this big stage.

“Kids are competitors. They’re certainly going to rise to that challenge. We certainly anticipate their best football game.”