Texas A&M's Newfound Focus on Run Game Will Make Aggies SEC West Contenders
In November 2012, Texas A&M topped Alabama in Tuscaloosa and announced its SEC presence with authority.
Since then, though, the Aggies have been more sizzle than steak.
A nine-win season in 2013 followed by eight wins last year have relegated the Aggies to more of an afterthought in the most grueling division in college football rather than contender.
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Based on his coaching moves this offseason, head coach Kevin Sumlin intends on changing that.
The high-profile move, of course, was Sumlin's bold move of luring defensive coordinator John Chavis from division-rival LSU shortly after LSU fell to Notre Dame in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl.
Another one, though, could be what vaults the Aggies into legitimate SEC West contention.
Former Utah offensive coordinator Dave Christensen moved to College Station this winter to become the new offensive line coach and running-game coordinator in Aggieland. The latter title is important, because the major problem with the Aggies offense last season was a remarkably unbalanced offense that favored the passing game.
Texas A&M ran just 421 running plays last year while throwing 514 times. With two relatively inexperienced quarterbacks—first sophomore Kenny Hill and then freshman Kyle Allen—that's probably not the best idea.
The addition of Christensen will spice up Texas A&M's running game, which was a goal for Sumlin this offseason.
"We feel pretty good coming out of spring football what we are doing schematically," he said on Tuesday's teleconference. "It's not a dramatic change from what we were doing, but we are doing some things—without giving away any secrets—where we can run the ball not only when we want to run it, but when we need to. That was a point of emphasis [this spring]."
Translation: When Sumlin says "when we need to," he means that more power is in his plans.
Utah finished third in the Pac-12 in rushing offense last year under Christensen, when it averaged 190.38 yards per game on the ground. What's more, the Utes led the Pac-12 with 43.46 rushing plays per game and ran the ball 59.9 percent of the time.
He's the perfect running-game coordinator to fix the Aggies' rushing woes.
Who exactly will be shouldering the load, though?
Tra Carson is the likely No. 1 running back in College Station, but he missed spring practice recovering from a broken foot. He led the team in rushing last year with 581 yards and five touchdowns on 124 carries.
When he's healthy, the 6'0", 235-pounder is a perfect option for Sumlin and Christensen to use as a workhorse in a more power-based spread attack. He clearly has the size to take the punishment, but is quicker than most people realize. As long as that still exists when he's fully recovered, he should be a star in 2015.
But a team can't win with just one running back, right?
James White saw spot duty as a freshman last year, when he gained 153 yards on 22 carries and scored three touchdowns. The 6'0", 218-pounder was one of the stars of the spring as Carson sat out. Jeff Tarpley of 247Sports compared him to a "bull in a china shop," which should play well in the new-look Aggies running scheme.
Senior Brandon Williams will bounce around between running back and cornerback. While he's not known for his power, his effectiveness on the edge and as a receiver out of the backfield will only increase after Carson and White have worn down the defense.
Up front, the change will impact the typically stout Aggies offensive line.
Germain Ifedi will likely stick at right tackle after playing some on the left side this spring, while Avery Gennesey—a junior college transfer from two recruiting cycles ago who redshirted last year—will likely lock down a left tackle spot that's a pipeline to the NFL.
Sumlin is pleased with the progress of the way that unit has adapted to the new scheme.
"We were able to develop a starting five and a backup three or four guys," Sumlin said. "That is going to be critical. As we've learned over the last couple of years, this is not just a talent league, but a depth and talent league."
Sumlin isn't abandoning its roots of having an exotic offense, whether quarterback Kyle Allen keeps his job or incoming freshman Kyler Murray takes it. A new running game will, however, be a nice supplement to the high-octane offense that already exists.
That's going to drive opposing defensive coordinators nuts and will help vault Texas A&M into contention in the West.
But wait, what about the defense?
It's not like Chavis has to be a miracle-worker.
There are plenty of talented players on Texas A&M's roster like defensive ends Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall, safety Armani Watts and linebacker Otaro Alaka. With the talent on board and a massive upgrade in defensive coordinator from Mark Snyder to Chavis, the Aggies will be dangerous simply if Chavis produces an adequate defense.
A more balanced offense will give that defense even more wiggle room than it already has, which should be enough to keep A&M in the discussion in November.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com unless otherwise noted, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings.
Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on Sirius 93, XM 208.
Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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