Texas A&M's offense under first-year coach Kevin Sumlin was like nothing the SEC had ever seen before.
While the Aggies dominated with their aerial assault, it was the ground game led by Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel that gave it success.
With the success of quarterbacks like Manziel in the NFL, it's no wonder one pro team is bringing in coaches to study his play.
As Kareem Copeland of NFL.com writes, Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is sending his coaches to Texas A&M to learn how to counter the read-option offense that is sweeping the NFL.
"We're studying the read-option," McCarthy said at the NFL Scouting Combine. "Actually our defensive staff is going to take a trip to Texas A&M. Kevin Sumlin is someone I have great respect for. With his ability to share, both the offensive side and the defensive side, his experience with the read-option.
"It's something from a preparation standpoint we will grow as a staff and be better prepared for in the future."
The Packers allowed 579 yards in their 45-31 divisional-round playoff loss last season to Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers.
The ties between A&M and Green Bay run deep. Former A&M head coach Mike Sherman was once the Packers head coach.
As Copeland writes, Sumlin was the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M in 2001 to 2002 when he first connected with McCarthy. Packers special teams coach Shawn Slocum was an assistant on that staff.
Studying Manziel and the Aggie offense can help the Packers next season against an offense that is gaining popularity in the NFL. But, it may be a pre-cursor to teams preparing for Manziel should he declare for the NFL Draft following the 2013 season.
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