Aggies OC Bobby Petrino Reveals Play-Calling Plans For 2023 Season
COLLEGE STATION -- Those from the outside can question if Jimbo Fisher can hold himself from micromanaging new Texas A&M offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. Those close to the vest know he'll be given complete control of the offense Week 1.
Now comes the bigger question; stand on the sidelines alongside Fisher, or up in the press box left to his thoughts?
“I haven’t made the complete decision yet, but I’m leaning toward the press box,” Petrino said of where he’ll call plays this season Sunday at Kyle Field's media complex. “The ability to be up there and see things and call the game … when I was a coordinator before I was mostly up in the press box but then I thought, 'Maybe I will get a head [coaching] job one of these days, I talked Coach [John L.] Smith to move down the sidelines."
Petrino, 62, likely isn't returning to the head coaching headset these days. He's content running one side of the football rather than an entire program.
For months, speculation has surrounded the Aggies — who finished 101st in scoring (22.8 points per game) under Fisher's play-calling — on what exactly Petrino's role would be with the program. He's a jack-of-all-trades based on his comments at Texas A&M's media days.
He's the quarterback's coach. He's the surgeon in the film room when dissecting plays with his passers. And he's the offensive play-caller in practice.
Fisher might be calling the shots of the program's imagining, but it's evident Petrino is running the show on Saturdays.
"We've mainly met with Coach Petrino in all the meetings," said redshirt junior quarterback Max Johnson. "That's who we've pretty much been learning from. '
Petrino mentioned that plays would be implemented throughout the week as a staff. On Saturdays, he'd make the final decision, so fans know who to boo when it's a bad call.
All eyes are on the quarterback position as Johnson and sophomore Conner Weigman continue to battle it out for first-team reps. Petrino said each player possesses particular strengths, which could factor into the final decision on who starts against New Mexico come Sept. 2.
"Conner has a really quick release and he can get the ball out accurately and fast," said Petrino of the 2022 five-star recruit. "He does a good job of understanding coverages. Max is doing a great job throwing deep down the field and handling one-on-one coverages and reading progressions...they're a little bit different."
During his time with the Razorbacks and Cardinals, Petrino implemented the "FTS philosophy." The concept — feed the studs — was a mechanism taught for quarterbacks to work on timing and their release in finding receivers.
The Aggies have countless options in the passing game, including senior receiver Ainias Smith, junior Moose Muhammad and sophomore tight end Donovan Green.
"How do we get the ball to our best guys?" said Petrino. "I've never called a play just to be like, 'This is a fancy play.' I call the play to get the ball to Noah [Thomas] or Ainias or Moose. It's all about how we get the ball to them."
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