Jimbo Fisher explains why planning for Alabama is a challenge

This Saturday, Texas A&M will host Alabama for a key SEC West game. In what could be an incredibly big win for head coach Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies, Texas A&M knows it needs to be prepared to get Alabama’s best effort this season.

As Fisher explained, preparing for Alabama is a challenge because they’re so well coached that there is very little margin for error.

“Very hard because they’re sound and listen, you can see things on film and you’ll get into gameplan time and say, ‘You know, that formation we can get this,’ and there’s things there you feel very comfortable about,” Jimbo Fisher said. “The thing about them, when you look at them whether it’s offense or defense, they give you nothing. They don’t give you play. Well, front, where do they give you the advantage? Well, we’re gonna have to as I say you hear me say, when you have a good team and when both sides do it right and when both sides and guys beat guys with great technique, great play, because they’re all lined up in the right place.”

Jimbo Fisher is one of Alabama head coach Nick Saban‘s many former assistants who are now head coaches. Since becoming the head coach at Texas A&M in 2018, he’s coached against Saban five times and has a 1-4 record in those games.

One of the biggest issues with playing Alabama, in particular, is the Crimson Tide’s ability to capitalize off mistakes, according to Fisher.

“A lot of games and a lot of plays are made because the other team makes a mistake. There’s a hole, misalignment, a misread. That’s what the majority of your big plays in ball come from. With Alabama, you don’t see that. Guys are always in the right place, the right time, with the right leverage, and the right situation in what they’re doing and so you have to earn and you know you gotta do things right yourself and if you are not lined up in the right things and doing the right things with the right calls, whether it’s protection or how you’re fitting runs on defense that they’re going to exploit you,” Fisher said.

“They make you, because of how well they’re coached, to be well coached and play well yourself. Don’t give things away because as soon as you do, they capitalize on them.”

Coming into the game, both Alabama and Texas A&M are the only remaining unbeaten teams in the SEC West.

Jimbo Fisher shares mindset to approach for Alabama

Ahead of that game against Alabama, Jimbo Fisher shared the mindset that Texas A&M has to approaching the Crimson Tide.

“You worry about beating Alabama, you know who they are. But, I mean, I don’t mean any disrespect to them but, at the same time, that’s your next opponent. You’ve got to get ready to play. Of course, it’s Alabama who’s a very, very good football team,” Fisher said.

“Our guys are learning to understand that. All you can control is yourself – how you prepare, how you think, the self-talk you tell yourself. What you see on film, how you prepare, and the intensity and focus you come to practice with. As I say, you can go through the motions and sometimes you’re not there. You’ve got to be there in practice, you’ve got to be invested. It’s like the old Michael Jordan saying that every play for him in practice was for the NBA title. That’s why he could do what he did at the end of games. You’ve got to buy into that, that mentality, and how important it is.”