Texas A&M Football: Nicholls St win confirms three major issues

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(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

1. Kevin Sumlin and Noel Mazzone struggle with quarterbacks

The Aggies scored against Mazzone’s old UCLA Bruins team in the first half, pouring on points on the ground. Since then they’ve scored 30 points in six quarters, and most of that came against an FCS school.

Sumlin and Mazzone are supposed to be quarterback gurus, guys that know how to work with the psychological aspects of young adults with a ton of spotlight on them and a lot to digest on each play, series and week. It’s hard to get quarterbacks prepared in 20 hours a week and as Josh Rosen said, you’ve also got to attend classes and be a student-athlete.

Sumlin coached Johnny Manziel to a Heisman trophy in 2012, and a solid season in 2013. But since then it’s been a series of quarterback transfers and apparent duds at the position. Nick Starkel was 6-of-13 for 62 yards against UCLA, while Kellen Mond was 3-of-17 for 27 yards.

Mond then got a chance to get his bearings against an FCS squad before the SEC slate starts to pick up. Instead of balling out he was 12-of-21 passing for 105 yards. Jake Hubenak split duty with Mond and was 12-of-15 passing for 93 yards in the second half.

Sumlin has a plethora of Quarterbacks to choose from in Texas but can’t seem to make any work since Manziel and Mike Evans left College Station.