Author: James Taglienti

2023 Don Bosco Prep (NJ) OT Chase Bisontis commits to Steve Addazio and Texas A&M today. Bisontis announced his commitment on Twitter. https://twitter.com/CBisontis/status/1551311751936884736 Bisontis is currently listed at 6’5, 290 lbs and plays offensive tackle at Don Bosco. Bisontis is a rangy player who projects well at the next level. His highlights show a physical mauler who uses leverage well to pancake opponents. There is a little nastiness and a lot of violence to Bisontis’s style of play, and that is what you want to see from an offensive line recruit. Chase has the footwork excel in a zone scheme…

We have already looked at the Iso play and Split Zone, today we’re taking a look at a play that combines the two concepts in Split Zone Insert Iso. Split zone is usually designed for the RB to cut off the C-gap defender who is blocked by the TE/H-back coming across in slice motion.  Split zone insert iso moves the point of attack inside one gap, making the H-back responsible for the B-gap defender. Basically, split zone insert iso is the split zone form of midzone. Play Concept Split zone insert iso is power running from a spread alignment, so…

We broke down how A&M runs inside zone a few weeks ago. Today we’re going to look at Isaiah Spiller running inside zone against Arkansas in the 2021 Southwest Classic. Even though A&M struggled early running the ball (17 rushes for 49 yards in the first half),  Jimbo Fisher stuck with the running game and it paid off on this play. The simplicity of inside zone is what makes the play so dangerous, one mistake by the defense is all it takes for a big play to happen. Play Concept Quick review, on inside zone the line and tight end…

The Preseason SEC Football Media Poll and All-SEC Team was released yesterday and six Aggies are in nine slots. A&M was picked to finish second in the SEC West behind Alabama, and received one vote to win the SEC outright. Vanderbilt also received a vote to win the SEC, so a preseason prediction isn’t something to get too excited about. No Aggies made the preseason All-SEC first team offense or defense, but punter Nik Constantinou made first team as a specialist. Constantinou lead the SEC and finished top 10 nationally, averaging 46.61 yards per punt. Second Team All-SEC Is Where…

Earlier this week we looked at Earnest Crownover’s potential as RB2 in A&M’s backfield this year, today we’re looking at Amari Daniels. At 5’8 200 lbs last season, Daniels’ size and style of play was reminiscent of Trayveon Williams. Today we’re looking at Amari Daniels as he runs CG Counter last season. Play Concept We previously broke down the basics of CG Counter Read, in CG Counter there is simply no read on the end of the play. The QB hands the ball off to the RB and bootlegs backside. Field receiver and slot push vertical and stalk block. TE…

At the end of the article on A&M WR Ainias Smith’s arrest two days ago, I speculated the charges would not hold up in court. Smith was arrest for DWI, unlawful possession of a firearm, and possession of less than 2 oz of marijuana. Smith failed the field sobriety test but passed the breathalyzer test. I’m unsure if any of these charges hold up in court now. My reasoning was simple: While Ainias failed the field sobriety test, he passed the breathalyzer test. Since he passed the breathalyzer test, he was not drunk. If he was not drunk, the police…

We continue our breakdown of plays in A&M’s pro-option offense with a look at the pin-pull sweep today. Similar to A&M’s Lead Trap, Hammer concept, and Counter, Pin-Pull Sweep involves two pulling lineman. Unlike those other plays, however, the pulling linemen are not predetermined based on the play call in pin-pull sweep. Play Concept Pin-pull sweep uses a combination of zone and gap blocking rules. Like zone teams, pin-pull sweep uses covered and uncovered rules. Because it is technically a gap concept, it uses gap rules to ensure pulling lineman are accounted for in the blocking scheme. In a nutshell,…

NFL Hall of Fame TE and Undisputed co-host Shannon Sharpe had critical words for Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart on his comments regarding Name Image Likeness (NIL) and his players. https://twitter.com/shannonsharpeee/status/1549785460301451264 Sharpe looks at NIL through his own viewpoint, as someone who grew up raised by a grandmother living on $400 a month. Sharpe contrasts this meager existence with someone like Kirby Smart, who just received a contract extension making him the highest paid coach in college football. Smart earns an average of $11.25 million per year before bonuses under his new contract. There is obviously a huge discrepancy…

Previously we looked at A&M’s  ChUG play, today we’re looking at a variation of that play, Lead Trap. Like ChUG, Lead Trap involves a center-guard fold block, except this time the center makes the down block. Similar to Q Hammer Bash, the backside guard and tackle both pull on Lead Trap. The difference with Lead Trap and these other plays is lead trap attacks the interior of the defense. Play Concept The Lead Trap is a specific concept Jimbo Fisher uses to attack a specific alignment. If the defensive line features two defensive tackles in a 2i alignment, Lead Trap…

Texas A&M wide receiver Ainias Smith was arrested on three charges last night. Per details provided in Brazos County Jail Record Database, Smith is charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon, driving while intoxicated, and possession of marijuana less than two ounces. A quick search of the database shows no other history for Smith, so this is a first offense. Ainias Smith lead all A&M receivers with 47 receptions for 509 yards and 6 TDs last season.  Smith is a leader who served as a team captain for the 2021 season.  This arrest is a disappointment and out of character…