A&M matchup comparison

[18IsTheMan]

We have a very good run D, currently 15th nationally with 102 rushing yards/game allowed. A&M, however, is VERY good at running the ball with 205 yards/game, good for 17th nationally, so we'll have a tall task before us.

We are decent at running the ball with 161 yards/game, 58th nationally. But A&M has an even better run D than we do, good for 7th nationally with 94 yards/game. We have not run the ball particularly great in SEC play, with fewer than 100 yards against UK and OU. We had 243 yards against LSU, but the bulk of that came on the 2 long runs by Sellers and Sanders. which accounted for 141 yards. The other 39 runs accounted for 93 yards.

A&M gets the overall edge here.

We are considerably better at pass D where we rank 35th nationally at 196 yards/game. A&M's passing offense checks in at 112th with 177 passing yards/game.

On the other side, we are ever so slightly better on passing offense with 180 yards/game. A&M's pass defense is 103rd nationally, though, with 253 passing yards/game allowed.

I think we have the overall edge here. LSU had 11 sacks vs A&M (not sure how many after they made the QB change), so Kennard and Stewart have to be licking their chops.

We are neck-and-neck at turnover margin (+0.7 vs +0.6) so that seems to be a wash.

A&M has a huge advantage when it comes to sacks allowed, but the LSU game showed they can be had here.

It'll take our A game to win. No turnovers. Strong D. No stupid penalties.

 

[LonghornsGamecocks]

I'll be contrarian - especially with A&M's mobile QB, they can use an option and counter and delayed run game to give our aggressive DL absolute fits and shred us. To me that's where the big risk is. If they run the ball on 2/3 of their snaps and utilize that type of attack.... it could be ugly.

 

[Lurker123]

I think we have the overall edge here. LSU had 11 sacks vs A&M (not sure how many after they made the QB change), so Kennard and Stewart have to be licking their chops.

Just going off memory, and I did channel surf to other games, but when A&M made the qb switch, it was night and day. LSU was in their backfield all night getting sacks, then the new qb just ran away from all of them.

Meaning, the sacks were pretty much all against the immobile qb.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Just going off memory, and I did channel surf to other games, but when A&M made the qb switch, it was night and day. LSU was in their backfield all night getting sacks, then the new qb just ran away from all of them.

Meaning, the sacks were pretty much all against the immobile qb.

Yeah, that's why I had to add that qualifier. I didn't see any of the game. I assumed that was probably the case. It COULD work to our benefit that we know about Reed now. Better than getting surprised with him in our game. At least we know what we're up against.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I'll be contrarian - especially with A&M's mobile QB, they can use an option and counter and delayed run game to give our aggressive DL absolute fits and shred us. To me that's where the big risk is. If they run the ball on 2/3 of their snaps and utilize that type of attack.... it could be ugly.

I'd look at the Arkansas tape. He had 10 rushes for 13 yards in that game.

He had really good outings running against UF (who has a lousy run D) and LSU (who just seemed unprepared for him to come into the game).

 

[Lurker123]

Yeah, that's why I had to add that qualifier. I didn't see any of the game. I assumed that was probably the case. It COULD work to our benefit that we know about Reed now. Better than getting surprised with him in our game. At least we know what we're up against.

I watched part of their Missouri game, and it was the opposite. I tuned in when the passing qb had been inserted, and they went off on missouri. Suddenly, it was the passing game that really opened their offense.

Imho, it was the switching that made a big difference.

We need to prepare for both qb's. If we go all in on one, they are going to give a series or two to the other guy, and go with him if hes hot.

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

I'll be contrarian - especially with A&M's mobile QB, they can use an option and counter and delayed run game to give our aggressive DL absolute fits and shred us. To me that's where the big risk is. If they run the ball on 2/3 of their snaps and utilize that type of attack.... it could be ugly.

I think the difference maker is the quickness of our edge rushers and LB's which is a primary reason why we have a highly rated run defense along with a secondary which is also very good at tackling on the perimeter.

 

[muscleknight]

LSU adjusted to our DL shift and we never changed it. LSU ran right to the vacated position. I'm sure TAMU will do the same

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

LSU adjusted to our DL shift and we never changed it. LSU ran right to the vacated position. I'm sure TAMU will do the same

Surely White has addressed this during this off week

 

[18IsTheMan]

Surely White has addressed this during this off week

One can only hope.

We're gonna have to play disciplined D, for sure.

 

[18IsTheMan]

One thing is for sure, if the offense plays comparably to how they played at OU, this one will get ugly fast.

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

I agree with this take from SDS​

No. 10 Texas A&M vs. South Carolina — I know the Marcel Reed hype is through the roof, but …​

That guy deserves all the credit in the world for staying ready and dominating LSU on Saturday night. Shoot, he deserves a ton of credit for being 3-0 as a starter, and if you want to count the LSU win, he’s essentially 4-0 as a starter. Reed looks like an excellent fit in the Collin Klein offense, which took off for 5 scoring drives after trailing 17-7 against the Tigers.

But … let’s remember something.

In Reed’s 2024 debut at Florida, I’d argue that the Gators likely spent more time prepping for game-time scratch Conner Weigman than the redshirt freshman. And when Weigman was out the following 2 games with the shoulder injury, Reed was locked in as QB1. Teams had a full week to prep for him. Here’s how those went:

• vs. Bowling Green:
  • W, 26-20
  • 5.7 yards/play
  • 6.0 yards/pass
  • 55% passing
  • 2 TD drives
• vs. Arkansas (in Arlington):
  • W 21-17
  • 5.0 yards/play
  • 7.4 yards/pass
  • 50% passing
  • 3 TD drives

I’m not trying to hate on Reed. I am, however, pointing out that it’s entirely different to catch a defense by surprise and dominate than it is to dominate after a defense has had a full week of game-planning. I can guarantee that South Carolina used its bye week by intently watching A&M’s bold QB switch and it began to prep for the Reed version of Klein’s offense. Against a South Carolina defensive line that’s been elite at disrupting plays in the backfield — the Gamecocks are No. 7 in FBS in yards/rush allowed and No. 8 in TFLs/game — Reed will have his work cut out for him.

 

[Piscis]

I agree with this take from SDS​

No. 10 Texas A&M vs. South Carolina — I know the Marcel Reed hype is through the roof, but …​

That guy deserves all the credit in the world for staying ready and dominating LSU on Saturday night. Shoot, he deserves a ton of credit for being 3-0 as a starter, and if you want to count the LSU win, he’s essentially 4-0 as a starter. Reed looks like an excellent fit in the Collin Klein offense, which took off for 5 scoring drives after trailing 17-7 against the Tigers.

But … let’s remember something.

In Reed’s 2024 debut at Florida, I’d argue that the Gators likely spent more time prepping for game-time scratch Conner Weigman than the redshirt freshman. And when Weigman was out the following 2 games with the shoulder injury, Reed was locked in as QB1. Teams had a full week to prep for him. Here’s how those went:

• vs. Bowling Green:
  • W, 26-20
  • 5.7 yards/play
  • 6.0 yards/pass
  • 55% passing
  • 2 TD drives
• vs. Arkansas (in Arlington):
  • W 21-17
  • 5.0 yards/play
  • 7.4 yards/pass
  • 50% passing
  • 3 TD drives

I’m not trying to hate on Reed. I am, however, pointing out that it’s entirely different to catch a defense by surprise and dominate than it is to dominate after a defense has had a full week of game-planning. I can guarantee that South Carolina used its bye week by intently watching A&M’s bold QB switch and it began to prep for the Reed version of Klein’s offense. Against a South Carolina defensive line that’s been elite at disrupting plays in the backfield — the Gamecocks are No. 7 in FBS in yards/rush allowed and No. 8 in TFLs/game — Reed will have his work cut out for him.

Some good points there. We will see how the DL fares against an offense that is more evenly matched to them than what they have built their stats on. A&M hasn't exactly lit up the scoreboard in every game. They did put 41 on Missouri and 38 on LSU but I'm not sure they are all that. They are 39th in scoring offense so they are better than what our D has been feasting on but they aren't great. We are pretty evenly ranked on scoring D, 19th for A&M and 22nd for us.

Our scoring offense is 66th in case you were wondering.

D has to stop the run. If Reed and A&M can't run the ball we have a good chance.

 

[Beanerball]

I think this is the hardest game left on the schedule at this point in the season, with Clemson being next. Our defense can keep us in all these games, it’s definitely on the offense as to whether we can win. We should be in all these games. Losing to A &M certainly will not end our season, but yes, we can beat them. The remaining games will all be nail biters, except Wofford . I don’t see any more KU/OU blowouts left on the schedule, maybe Missouri, they are not that good.

 

[AllinGamecock]

D will have some challenges if they mix up their QB’s. Their D will feed on this O. Sacks and turnovers will probably be an issue for us. Don’t see the strides necessary on O to keep us in this game. Hope I’m wrong, cause I will be watching.

 

[KingWard]

We could beat them - could. There are no generationally great teams in the SEC this year - probably not even in the whole country.

 

[18IsTheMan]

D will have some challenges if they mix up their QB’s. Their D will feed on this O. Sacks and turnovers will probably be an issue for us. Don’t see the strides necessary on O to keep us in this game. Hope I’m wrong, cause I will be watching.

QB rotations can work very well or very poorly, depending on how they are managed.

We've had 2 weeks to prepare for both QBs, though.

Really think this will come down to our own offensive production, limiting/eliminating turnovers and not having stupid penalties.

Most unlikely that our D will generate 21 points for us again.

 

[Beanerball]

And let’s please not give them the ball inside the 40yd line on ill-advised fake punts.

 

[Irvin Snibbley]

Gotta win the TO battle by at least plus 2 in our favor and slow down their running game

 

[Maccmaine12]

Some good points there. We will see how the DL fares against an offense that is more evenly matched to them than what they have built their stats on. A&M hasn't exactly lit up the scoreboard in every game. They did put 41 on Missouri and 38 on LSU but I'm not sure they are all that. They are 39th in scoring offense so they are better than what our D has been feasting on but they aren't great. We are pretty evenly ranked on scoring D, 19th for A&M and 22nd for us.

Our scoring offense is 66th in case you were wondering.

D has to stop the run. If Reed and A&M can't run the ball we have a good chance.

I can make the argument that SC played the better offenses in the SEC so far. Playing Ole Miss, Bama, and LSU isn’t teams that our defense can “feast” on. The best offense they faced so far was LSU and they QB threw for 400 yards at their place. I’m sure our defense would look a lot better if we can play better on offense as well.