It’s Thursday night, and you know that means it’s Mail Call time!

Q: Why are we so passive on defense?

A: I don’t think they have been passive on defense the last few weeks. Certainly not against Alabama. But they have two problems: one, the linemen I thought were going to apply consistent pressure do not and two the blitzes aren’t as effective as they were a year ago.

If we have an offensive staff overhaul, what is Elko’s philosophy he is trying to implement. (ShowMeYourTDs)

Probably get back to what it was last year, where it was control time of possession but also have the ability to go after chunk plays.

Q: Give me a plausible explanation for why Elko is sticking with Reed and what’s he telling Hart privately. (Gruvin1)

A: Coaches hate major disruptions during the season, especially ones that could change everything you prepared for in the offseason. Like it or not, a quarterback change is a major disruption (one he’s still shown he’ll make). As for what he’s telling Hart, there’s a few things: one, you still have three years left thanks to 5 for 5. Second, you are one snap away from being out there, whether it’s my decision or an injury. Third, make the choice easy for me. Clearly outperform him in practice and force my hand.

Q: Seems a lot of people discounted the massive collapse at the end of 2024 when it mattered most and the mini collapse of 2025 when it also mattered most. Elko had the chance to get to Atlanta twice and missed it. Is it possible there have been signs Elko is not a great Gameday coach but glossed over because people believe he knows so much about football?

A: Ok, let’s go back to 2024. A&M had no business being in that position. He got more out of that team than Jimbo would have, by far. That group was thin, and he and the staff got creative to keep them around as long as they did. As for whether or not he’s a great gameday coach, I’d go back to 2018 and start there and you tell me how many games were won because of adjustments he made at halftime.

As for the Duke argument in his time as head coach, Manny Diaz had the same level of success record wise in his first two seasons and possibly more depending on how you score him lucking into the ACC Championship game but actually winning it. (Chewy)

With Elko’s personnel. This idea that Mike Elko can’t coach is deserving of permanent eyeroll.

Q: What should we think about Elko now?

A: That he’s having a bad year and learning some painful lessons he can’t repeat.

Do two years of progress give him enough capital to get a benefit of the doubt for next year?

It should.

How many coordinators are replaced this off-season?

Let’s see how the year finishes.

Why did Elko not get proven and established coordinators last year?

Because he trusted Wiggins and Hemphill. Sometimes familiarity helps your overall vision for the program; sometimes, it leads to mistakes in judgment because you don’t have to leave your comfort zone.

Q: Has our board of regents failed us for the last 10-15 years or was it mostly on the Athletic Directors? What’s a program we should model ours after who’s never had the level of mediocrity we’ve become accustomed to?

A: Better question – has our board of regents failed us for the last 60-70 years? Look, A&M has had the “benefit” of bumbling regents, bad ADs (until recently) and meddling donors (which is still an issue). If you want to build a program, I guess I’d look at Alabama or Ohio State – but A&M’s old AD is at Ohio State, so maybe not. There’s only one other program that has the size, fanbase, active donors, inherent wealth and deals with things unique to our state – Texas. So there is no real program that you can look at apples to apples. And they’ve had stretches of mediocrity too.

When it comes to job security, on a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being the most secure and unlikely to be fired) where are our coordinators?

I think we’ll have a better idea in a month.

I personally like Wiggins (hell of a recruiter and seems like a players coach) and he seemingly knew the right things to say at the start of the season (“using players strengths to build the offense”) … why then are we still watching Reed deliver, or more notably, struggle to deliver so many throws from the pocket? i can’t understand the disconnect from Wiggins fall camp press conference when he spoke to reporters for the first time to today.

You’re not alone. I firmly believe a lot of Marcel Reed’s issues are between the ears, and I’ve said that multiple times. But the playcalling hasn’t helped him, either. I don’t think Reed is confident in himself and I’m not sure Wiggins is confident in his own abilities as a playcaller yet.

For my own sanity, can Joey Lynch be the fall guy we fire immediately after the season? (ChampKindWFAA8)

You’ll have to talk to Elko on that one, but if someone is on a hot seat, he’s it.

Q: If you take play calling duty away from Wiggins this week, who do you give them to?

A: Trooper Taylor, probably.

How bad is Brady Hart?

Who said he is bad? That’s one hell of an assumption to make.

Please explain why Elko went into the season without a serviceable back up QB – or did he miss that bad on the Hart evaluation too? (91Ag)

Again, one hell of an assumption to make. It wasn’t just his call on Hart; the offensive staff all thought he was capable of doing the job and, so far as I’m concerned, he’s the starter in 2027.

Q: Are recruits getting paid by schools for visits? If so, how is this considered NIL?

A: Probably, and no, because it’s dirty as hell.

Can Cushing improve the play of some of this year’s portal addition for 2027?

Yes.

If our freshmen RB was hurt in the first half vs Bama, what options did we have in the second half? (QuickDrawMcGraw77)

What you saw: Morrow and Owens.

Q: Do you consider Hart to be a transfer risk when the portal opens?

A: No. I mean, I could be wrong, but I don’t think so.

In the flip side, if Reed enters the portal does he have takers? (H273)

Yes, but I don’t think he’d be at a program where A&M would see him again in his final season.

Q: After Monday’s Thoughts you seemed pretty sure that Wiggins at least, wouldn’t be brought back next year. Assuming Reed and Ruben Owens are also not on the roster next year, can you give me a “Wish List” of OC that would fit our personnel?

A: No, it’s too early for that. I’d really have to go and watch a lot of teams and see which ones are going to stay coordinators and not be head coaches. Assuming Wiggins is moved, of course.

Assuming we have a new OC next year, do we just assume there’s going to be a clean sweep of the entire offensive staff?

No, I doubt that highly.

Are there any you think Elko would pressure his new OC to retain? (Boone8466)

Personally, I’d like what they did last year with the defense with the “co-” designation. I want to keep Wiggins as a position coach at the very least. I’d also say Taylor and Cushing need to stay.

Q: 1. Will we go on the Portal market for a seasoned QB after this year?

A: I’m thinking so.

2. If so, who are the likely targets?

Let’s not get into that yet.

3. Is our QB coach getting therapy?

I would be.

4. What’s the difference in your opinion on why the secondary is not living up to expectations?

A fundamental lack of discipline. They don’t consistently do their jobs. The mental busts are ridiculous.

5. Will the amount of blitzing increase next weekend and beyond?

Probably.

6. Why don’t African swallows migrate? (tsip despiser)

Do they need to?

Q: Can you think of another Aggie coach (in any sport) that had such a quick drop off as Elko? 11-2 last year and likely headed to 4-8 this year. (WhartonBones)

A: How much time do you have? This could be very long. Fran? Sherman? Rob Childress? Countless basketball coaches?

Q: 1. How are you and the family doing?

A: Arie is doing better – considerably better – and Cody has all A’s in AP classes. She’s also really coming along as an actress. I’m the problem child. This pinched nerve in my neck is causing a lot of pain in my left arm and I need to be putting out a better product for y’all and bringing in more revenue. Add in my dad rapidly deteriorating and I’m pretty stressed out.

2. It appears to fans that Elko’s choices for offensive and defensive coordinators was ill advised. Will any high quality coordinators on other teams, including the NFL, seriously consider TX A&M if Elko pursues them after this season mercifully ends?

Yes.

3. How much did injuries (like Bussey’s season ending one) affect the team as the season wore on? Does the conditioning program need another overhaul?

I think Bussey’s was a killer. I really do. I don’t think we realized how important he was until he was gone, especially with Ashton Bethel-Roman essentially disappearing. But, outside of that, they’ve largely avoided serious injuries. I think this is more of a mindset thing than a physical thing. If you don’t think you can go out and whip someone’s…well, you know… then you’re not.

4. Will the NIL money keep the 2027 recruiting class from imploding if the last 4 games slip away? (Chuck70)

I am under the impression that it will. I don’t like big spenders like Notre Dame and Miami continuing to pursue A&M’s top talent, but those guys haven’t shown any signs of wavering. If Mark Matthews had gone to Miami to watch the FSU game a few weeks ago, I’d be worried about him and thing anything could happen. He didn’t.