The first week was a disaster. But it wasn’t all bad.

I thought the offensive and defensive line play looked solid. The offensive line in particular has already taken a huge step forward from last year.

Next up is McNeese State.

I won’t go into the matchups here, as the Aggies should be able to handle an FCS team that is coming off a terrible season. McNeese did manage to pull off some transfers, but bigger problems lie ahead if Texas A&M doesn’t get going.

Instead, I’ll just talk about what I want to see from the offensive and defensive lines on Saturday.

Offensive line

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In one word: meanness.

Armaj Reed-Adams was the most impressive offensive player against Notre Dame and a lot of that was because of his approach. He’s a tough football player who wants to finish every block he makes with determination. I think it would be a boost for everyone if the rest of the offensive line tried to emulate him a little more.

With Mark Nabou out for the rest of the season, I also hope Kolinu’u Faaiu solidifies his role as center for Texas A&M. Faaiu was entered into the transfer portal for a reason. It’s time to show it.

That being said, I hope Texas A&M’s offensive line does more of the same against McNeese. The emphasis is on more, as they should dominate the running game and provide a clean pocket for the quarterback in the passing game.

Defence line

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On defense, I need to see the line take the next step.

The front four looked great on Saturday, but they just lacked a bit of finishing. Of course, sack numbers aren’t everything, and a big part of Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard’s inaccuracy was because the Aggies were under pressure.

Against McNeese State, that pressure should result in sacks.

Additionally, I think there were moments in the running game where the Aggies didn’t really have the edge they needed. It wasn’t a consistent problem, but there were some great plays that came from outside running that were successful when the edge wasn’t there. Against McNeese State, Texas A&M has a real chance to correct those mistakes before getting into the meat of the game plan.

After McNeese, we have a lot of footage to review before Texas A&M games. This contest should help the Aggies regain some confidence before a big road trip to a Florida team that struggled against Miami. Anything less than dominance would be a disappointment.

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