I know we’ve discussed the depth chart since it came out earlier this week but I wanted to make some points about it that I hadn’t been able to because I’ve been writing articles about Arizona State’s personnel and schemes.

Freshman Keaton Sutherland could be getting the start for the Aggies Saturday night against the Sun Devils

The biggest item in my mind that no one is discussing is the fact that Jeremiah Stuckey and Keaton Sutherland are essentially listed as co-starters at left guard. That’s doubly interesting for a couple of reasons. First, Stuckey came in as a junior college transfer, redshirted, and hadn’t done much until the arrival of new offensive line coach Dave Christensen. Christensen uses more movement in the offensive line than did former offensive line coach B.J. Anderson. Stuckey is listed at 6 foot 4 and 305 pounds but that appears to be generous.

Second, Stuckey has missed virtually all of fall camp. Dave Christensen really likes him and he was apparently performing well in the summer when he wasn’t having to snap the ball to anyone. However, rarely does someone get handed a job in August when they haven’t been participating and they’re not a returning starter.

Moving on….

I like the idea of redshirt freshman Koda Martin as a swing tackle. He needs to get out there and play offensive line…every rep is important to him because he was a tight end and defensive lineman in high school. Erik McCoy has moved into the depth chart at center because he can snap and he has some size. A&M is learning how difficult it can be to teach someone to snap no matter their pedigree. We discussed how J.J. Gustafson was being tried there but he’s missed a lot of fall camp and that’s obviously put him behind there.

On the outside, A&M has done a better job of matching up its first and second team receivers with their physical skills…Edward Pope and Josh Reynolds are tall and lanky on one side and Speedy Noil and Damion Ratley have similar skill sets on the other side.

The Aggies are going to try to use a H back as much as possible even though slot Christian Kirk is more productive in the passing game and can be a adequate blocker. It’s been tough asking Jordan Davis to transition so quickly from an outside receiver to what is essentially a fullback spot. He’s going against guys who have been in a college weight program for a couple of years and it shows.

It remains interesting to me that Qualen Cunningham (more of a weak side end) is backing up Daeshon Hall on the left side (usually the offenses’ strong side since most quarterbacks are right handed) and Jarrett Johnson (more of a strong side end) is backing up Myles Garrett on the right side. Although the A&M coaches have talked up Cunningham to the point that you might look at him as the third end at the position they’ve played Johnson and he at the same time together in fall camp rather than just spelling Hall or Garrett. It certainly does provide a different look for a right tackle when they’re facing a taller, lankier end like Hall on one set of downs and then face a pure speed rusher with good hand fighting skills and bend in Cunningham the next.

We’re discussed this last week but the Aggies go seven deep at defensive tackle and your place on the depth chart really doesn’t matter. A&M can put as much size or athleticism or any combination thereof on the field as they want. They get bigger as they get younger because the older guys have spent more time in a strength and conditioning program and don’t have much excess weight (if any at all). Freshmen Kingsley Keke and Daylon Mack are going to play as much as their stamina will let them.

You see junior Shaan Washington listed as the Sam linebacker on the depth chart with Richard Moore behind him. However, if Otaro Alaka can’t play at the Will spot, Washington will be starting alongside Josh Walker Saturday night. The Will linebacker typically plays inside while the Sam lines up over a tight end or slot and is supposed to be more of an outside backer who can cover people. However, the skill sets of the Sam and Will backers are somewhat similar and Washington has the skills and length to play either position.

When Alaka returns, he can start inside with Josh Walker and Washington can move back to the outside. However, A&M is primarily going to use two linebackers with a nickel this season and so Washington is probably going to rotate with Walker, A.J. Hilliard, and Alaka at those two spots depending on how junior college transfer Claude George comes around. You’ll probably see George more when A&M sees West Coast teams with 21 personnel and Washington has to spend more time at Sam.

Donovan Wilson and Noel Ellis are listed as the nickel backs and they’ll rotate them according to the offense that A&M is facing as well as individual game situations. For example, you’re more likely to see Ellis versus spread teams with four receivers and Wilson against the Arkansas’ and Alabamas of the world. Ellis will also play on passing downs, Wilson will see more time on early downs, and they’ll both play in the Mustang.

- Now, on to Arizona State…

I’ve mentioned this before but I don’t see Arizona State winning this game because if you’re in a Power Five conference not named the SEC your resume is something of an illusion. You can win games, score a lot of points, and even play good defense relative to your peers. However, SEC teams are bigger than virtually all of Pac 12 and Big 12 teams. They’re bigger than most of the teams in the ACC outside of those that recruit the same areas as the SEC such Florida State and Clemson. They’re faster than the teams in the Big 10. At some point, all of that size and the physical nature of the league comes into play unless you’re turning over the ball. Arkansas and A&M faced middle echelon Big 12 programs in bowl games last year and just physically pounded them into submission and it’s not like A&M was an overly physical team last season.

It’s the same thing with Arizona State. They’re just not as big as A&M for the most part, especially on defense, and they have to gamble somewhat to make up for that.

- One thing I didn’t point out in my writeup on Arizona State’s defense was the loss of Marcus Hardison and that’s because I focused on watching their spring game as opposed to anything they did in 2014. Hardison was a big part of their defense in 2014 and brought some badly needed size and athleticism to the table. He not only had 10.5 sacks but freed up their blitzers to make plays of their own (eight other Sun Devils had 5.0 tackles for loss or more in 2014; A&M only had four such players).

When you lose a guy like that (much like South Carolina lost Jadeveon Clowney between 2013 and 2014), it really impacts your ability to play simpler, less risky defenses. Teammates are less well protected because you don’t have to account for a Hardison by doubling him or running away from him.

Last year, South Carolina came in without Clowney and Auburn came in without Carl Lawson (lost to a knee injury prior to the season). Their pass rushes went away, they played lots of man coverage, and once A&M offensive coordinator Jake Spavital figured out that they couldn’t dial up any pressure he started throwing the ball on almost every down. That led to explosive first halves for A&M’s offense and forced both teams to play catch up. I can’t predict that will happen this time but it’s certainly something to look for.

- Finally, the college football season opens tonight with multiple interesting games on tap. South Carolina plays North Carolina in a neutral site contest at Charlotte and we get to see if one of A&M’s upcoming opponents has improved its defense at all from last season. In addition, we get to see how much South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier has left in the tank. When head coaches begin to lose energy, their recruiting begins to go downhill which manifests itself on the defensive side of the ball. In addition, there’s already talk after last season of how much Spurrier can coach and he didn’t take well to losing in the NFL. If the Gamecocks lose tonight, then talk of Spurrier’s future will increase exponentially.

The Michigan/Utah game marks the return of Jim Harbaugh to the college ranks. Harbaugh is going to win games with his running attack and defense. Last season, the Wolverines played great defense against the Utes and imploded with turnovers. That probably won’t happen this time around and so Michigan should be pretty competitive in this one.

Finally, much heralded TCU heads north to Minnesota. The Frogs catch everyone’s attention with their offense led by quarterback Trevone Boykin. This will probably be a closer game than the 30-7 contest that the two teams played last year as TCU breaks in several new defensive starters and Minnesota doesn’t turn the ball over five times. In all likelihood, that’s going to be enough to make people doubt how good TCU is and maybe knock them down a notch or two in the rankings even if they win.

