2010 Record: 3-8 (2-7), 4th SWAC East2010 Post Season: None
2010 Schedule/Results
@ Tennessee State, L 27-14
Central State, W 45-0
@ Texas Southern, L 32-9
Southern, W 34-14
Grambling, L 25-22
@ Jackson State, L 30-14
@ Arkansas-Pine Bluff, L 21-14
Alcorn State, L 41-24
@ Mississippi Valley State, W 21-7
Prairie View, L 35-14
OFFENSE
326.8 yards per game
Well, this area wasn't pretty for the Bulldogs. QB play was all over the place, as DeAunte Mason and Justin Jones split time at the position. Mason passed for only 911 yards in 6 games. He did manage 8 TD passes, but still tossed 6 picks in 6 games. Jones played in 9 games, but his numbers did not reflect. Jones passed for only 801 yards and 4 TDs, while tossing 8 picks. This position needs help.
Two backs also shared time at RB, with Tony Green and Kaderius Lacey splitting the load. Green rushed for 661 yards, while Lacey rushed for 632 yards. Each rushed for 5 TDs on the season, but there is very little experience after these two backs.
There were very few great performances in the receiving game, as was eveident from the lack of decent QB play. G'Alonzo Milton was the leading receiver with 30 grabs for 517 yards on the season. Rashad Jackson had 31 grabs and Quinton Carlock had 21. These are the only 3 receivers with at least 20 receptions. If the Bulldogs would like to elevate beyond 3 wins in 2011, this has to change.
DEFENSE
312.8 yards allowed per game
Strangely enough, despite their 3 win total, the Bulldogs D was not that bad. In fact, it was borderline good. The Dogs did not give up over 200 yards either passing or rushing per game. In their 3 wins, A&M never gave up more than 14 points. The problem seemed to be that the defense got stuck with short fields more often than not, so in their losses, they gave up 25 points or more in every loss but one, a 21-14 loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
The key to this defense overall was their total lack of production in key areas. Only 2 Bulldogs defenders (DB Vernon Marshall, Frank Kearse) ranked in the SWAC top 30 in total tackles. That basically states the lack of intensity that would lead to an 8 loss season.
Kearse, Marshall, Larry Lumpkin, and Dee Lett all did register double digits in total TFLs, but only the aforementioned Kearse and Marshall were solid overall tacklers on the season. Basic fundamentals did not seem to be a big deal to this unit, and again, hence the 8 losses. Everyone was going for the big hit and missing, allowing bigger than normal plays to against the unit in those 8 losses. Willie Fuller led the team with 6 total sacks on the season, but only 3 came on solo jobs.
The secondary was not huge on making big plays on the season. Korey Morrison led the team with 3 picks and 6 passes defended, but those numbers didn't help the Bulldogs in the losses from giving up too many points for the feeble offense to keep up with, and because the offense was so bogged down, the opportunities to make big plays were hampered by having to defend short fields.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Chance Wilson was actulayy solid on FG attempts. He hit on 8 of his 11 attempts, leading one to believe that if the Bulldogs can keep games close, he can help them win. He just needs more opportunities in 2011, which hopefully, he will find with an improved effort on offense.
Wilson does need help on punting chores, however, as he only averaged 37 yards per punt in 2010. That was just one more cause for concern as A&M struggled to allow the defense longer fields of play to defend, and it must be shored up to prevent the same results as far as win/loss percentage in 2011.
Tony Green did a solid job on punt returns, having averaged just under 9 yards per return in 2010, but the offense did next to nothing to capitalize on his efforts. Green does have to improve upon his 17 yard average on kickoff returns.
FINAL NOTES
The offense struggled and the defense burned out at times due to the situations that they were placed in. These are the characteristics that you often see in a failing 3-8 football team. The Bulldogs need to see improvement in most areas of the team to dig themselves out of this hole next season. The problem I see is that if a star playmaker or two does not develop in the spring and fall practice sessions, the Bulldogs may not have the ammo necessary to climb in the conference standings. The opportunity exists as so many teams in the SWAC will be rebuilding next season, but unless those stars are found in the rough, A&M will be stuck in neutral, and maybe even reverse.
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