Jimbo Fisher defends decision on Texas A&M running back Isaiah Spiller

Texas A&M and head coach Jimbo Fisher have a good problem on their hands, despite the 29-19 loss against Ole Miss on Saturday. Throughout the game – and the season – the Aggies have leaned on running backs Isaiah Spiller and Devon Achane in a regular rotation which had great success over several games. However, Saturday, the production leaned heavily toward Achane.

During his postgame press conference, Jimbo Fisher addressed the decision to stick with Isaiah Spiller in the rotation, rather than lean on the hot hands of Devon Achane.

“We try to rotate them back – but listen – the guy has 3,000 yards, man,” Jimbo Fisher said about Isaiah Spiller. “That was our guy. 3,000 yards. One of the greatest backs in our school history and he’s playing well. We keep them in the same rotation and that’s the way it was going. And that had nothing to do with the 15-13, because the first play was a batted ball and the second play was a pick. It went through his hands so he wouldn’t have touched it anyway.”

Spiller finished Saturday’s game with 15 carries for 41 rushing yards and three catches for seven receiving yards. His counterpart, Achane, finished with 12 carries for 110 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Isaiah Spiller, a junior, has run for 2,896 yards and 24 touchdowns, adding 585 yards and a touchdown in the air. He averages 5.9 yards per play over three seasons, making 33 appearances.

Jimbo Fisher on analytics

During his postgame press appearance on Saturday, Jimbo Fisher was asked about the safety his team took in the second quarter that gave Ole Miss a 15-0 lead. The Aggies tried to run the ball but were tackled for a loss in the end zone. Fisher was asked if the analytics supported his decision to run that play in that scenario.

“I ain’t no analytics… I ain’t into analtyics,” dismissed Fisher before the question was finished. “We run good plays that run. I ain’t an analytic guy. Analytics are — that play had been making yards and we made it. What happened was, we didn’t get off the ball. I’m not trying to — analytics are just what we’ve been running, been running well.”

Needless to say, analytics are not for everyone. Jimbo Fisher has become one of college football’s most well-respected coaches and has drawn interest on the market, despite his long-term deal with Texas A&M.