Texas A&M 44, Nevada 27: What We Learned

h9rp3UsiruHere's where we're at with Texas A&M: Three games gone by, three opponents outscored 138-67. Looks good, right? It's certainly not bad, but there's still work to do. The offense looks good, though it likely hasn't faced even an average defense yet. Averaging 46 points per game is a good start to the year, and it would be fantastic if the Aggies maintained anything close to that clip the rest of the season. You can't take a thing away from the win over ASU to open the year, and time will reveal to us how strong a victory that really was. Following that by hanging 56 on Ball State was the next logical step. But against Nevada, a team that ranked 102nd in total defense among FBS teams in 2014, and ranked 103rd entering this contest, 535 total yards and 44 points was really good, but not great. There are definitely positives here. Kyle Allen is completing passes at a 64 percent clip, making smart decisions, and looking sharper with each outing. A&M ran for 233 yards at over five yards per carry, another good sign. The concern is that combined, the three defenses the Aggies have faced finished 2014 ranked 91st in total defense. Nastier tests are coming in the next three games against two teams that finished in the top 12 in total defense in 2014 (Arkansas - 10th, Alabama - 12th). FfjycJcBdGThe defense didn't put this one away like Texas A&M fans would have hoped. With 4:02 left in the third quarter, A&M led 38-13 and an ugly blowout seemed imminent. But Nevada stuck around, with Hasaan Henderson making an incredible touchdown catch, and QB Tyler Stewart refusing to go down in his effort to keep the Wolfpack in the game. On one hand, the Aggies did their job and kept the floodgates decidedly closed, even if it got nervy on a couple third downs. On the other, Nevada closed the gap at a time when they should have been out of gas and easier to hold down. Still, these hiccups are to be expected since the worst 2014 defense to be mentioned in this space was A&M's. That they held a tricky Pistol offense to 359 yards is more of a positive than surrendering 27 points to Nevada is a negative at this point in the season. The big play element on defense is a new positive that could pay big dividends.  A key question entering the year was how much the hiring of John Chavis would improve the Aggies' defense. Would he turn one of the FBS's worst units into world beaters, or merely improve them to serviceable? So far, the returns are good, even if the last two opponents weren't world-beaters, but perhaps the most exciting part of watching the Aggies on defense has been the rise of the big play. Maybe the Aggies won't suffocate anyone this year, but they may make enough big plays to securely hold on to more leads. Kevin Sumlin has been reeling in five-star recruits for a few years now, and so far, we're getting to see Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall wreck shop, and then Daylon Mack did this on Saturday. Mercy. Pfpbz8wXly