Aug 4, 20232 min read

Is Bobby Petrino the Missing Link at Texas A&M?

After the 2022 season, the Aggies knew they had to find someone who can really light a fire under the offense. They found such a man in former Louisville and Arkansas head man Bobby Petrino. The only issue is that, he will either kick start the engines of their offense, or perhaps be the final nail that make Jimbo's tenure crash and burn.

Last Season’s Underwhelming Performance

Texas A&M was supposed to be one of the superior teams in the country last season. With the #1 recruiting class nationally in 2022 and #8 class in 2021, the Aggies still failed to produce on the field.

Going into week 1 last year, A&M was the sixth-ranked team in the country but it did not take long to fall out of the top 10. In just two weeks they had slid all the way down to #25 following a devastating loss to the Appalachian State Mountaineers. Ultimately things never got going for the Aggies who failed to even make a bowl game in 2022, and going 5-7 overall. This proved that Texas A&M did not just overlook a lesser foe, they simply were that themselves.

Aggie failure by the numbers

In multiple statistical categories, the Aggies looked pitiful under previous Offensive Coordinator Darrnell Dickey. In the points per game (PPG) department, Texas A&M finished 101st in the country, and dead last in the SEC with 22.8 PPG.

A&M failed to be in the top 50 in the country in each of the following:

3rd down conversion percent
4th down conversion percent
Completion percentage
Fewest penalties and fewest penalties per game
Fumbles Lost
Passing Offense
Rushing Offense
Tackles for Loss Allowed
Total Offense and Winning Percent

What Does Bobby Petrino Bring to College Station?

Petrino brings 14 years of head coaching experience, six years of coordinating experience, and is considered one of the best offensive minds in the country. He has spent time as a head coach or offensive coordinator with nine different teams, including a season with the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL and with Louisville on two separate occasions.

Throughout his 20 years in coaching, Petrino’s teams have averaged a minimum of 400 yards of offense in 16 of his 20 seasons and 30 points per game.

Petrino’s offenses have broken the 500 yards per game mark five times and the 40 points per game mark three different times.

Bobby Petrino Sends Players to the Next Level

Over the years, Petrino has made a name for himself by putting quarterbacks in the NFL. At every FBS team he has coached he has sent at least 1 quarterback to the pros.

At Louisville he sent eight QB’s to the NFL, including former Heisman trophy winner and first round draft pick Lamar Jackson. Among the some of the other notable quarterbacks he has sent to the league away from Louisville include Brandon Doughty (Western Kentucky) and the late Ryan Mallet (Arkansas).

At Texas A&M QB Connor Weigman is of the highest pedigree being a five-star prospect out of high school, and showed flashes of next-level talent a season ago. Can Bobby work in harmony with Jimbo Fisher, and help take Weigman to the next level? We shall soon find out.