Tide seeks revenge against Aggies
Game of the year status is canceled as the Aggies have struggled, but the offseason smack talk will still come to a head under the lights of Bryant-Denney on Saturday night.
By: Dave in Tuscaloosa
Photo via Butch Dill, AP Photo
For months, this was supposed to be THE game of the year in the SEC, pitting two top 10 (maybe top 5) teams seeking national titles. It was supposed to be the game that would see two coaches that had a very public spat meet in person and settle the score on the football field. This was supposed to be a revenge game for one, and validation that their program has arrived for the other. This was to be a matchup of the old guard vs the new, the teacher vs. student. Well, that week has arrived and only a part of the picture painted months ago remains true today. Top ranked Alabama is battle-tested yet unbeaten, possibly looking stronger than ever. Texas A&M arrives in Tuscaloosa unranked, twice beaten, and flirting with serious questions surrounding the program’s offense. Sounds a bit familiar? Circumstances leading into last year’s tussle in College Station look quite familiar to this year’s game…unbeaten and top-ranked Crimson Tide going against a scarred Aggie squad coming off a tough defeat to Mississippi State. The venue has changed, but the records remain the same. In addition, Texas A&M has Bama coach Nick Saban and his Crimson Tide’s full attention this time around.
Jimbo Fisher’s Texas A&M Aggies enter Saturday night’s contest sitting at a disappointing 3-2 after falling to Mississippi State last week, 42-24. Offensively, the Aggies have struggled, as the unit ranks 105th in the country and averages 334 yards and 21.8 points per game. Quarterback Haynes King (60%, 3 touchdowns to 4 interceptions) gave way to LSU transfer Max Johnson (60%, 3-0) after the Aggie loss to Appalachian State on September 10th, yet both signal callers have struggled with inconsistency and uneven performances. Johnson injured his throwing thumb last week against Mississippi State and is questionable for Saturday. Could we possibly see true freshman Conner Weigman make his college debut? Doubtful, but still an option for Jimbo. In addition, top receiver Ainias Smith suffered a season ending injury against Arkansas. Freshman Evan Stewart is off to a good start to his Aggie career with 18 receptions for an average of 10.9 yards per catch.
Much of the offensive production is coming from tailback Devon Achane, who is averaging 5.8 yards per carry and has scored 3 touchdowns so far. The speedy tailback is also a threat in the passing game, as he has 15 catches on the season. The line has been inconsistent and will need their best effort so far against the powerful Bama front seven. Kicker Randy Bond has hit on 3 of 5 attempts with a long of 31 yards, and Caden Smith has hit on 1 of 3 attempts with a long of 40 yards. Defensively, A&M has been decent, ranking 57th in the nation and 9th in the conference as the stop troops give up an average of 358 yards and 17.8 points per game. Junior safety Antonio Johnson leads the Aggies with 46 tackles and senior linebacker Chris Russell Jr. leads the team in sacks, recording 1.5 so far this season. For the season, the Aggies rank 112th in the country in sacks, recording just 6 through five games.
Meanwhile, Alabama enters a perfect 5-0 after dispatching a pesky and talented Arkansas squad 49-26 last week in Fayetteville. The Tide return home in an attempt to exact revenge from last season’s 41-38 upset in College Station to the unranked Aggies. As of Thursday, there is still a question whether or not Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Bryce Young will play. Coming off an ACL shoulder sprain against the Hogs, Young has been listed day-to-day all week and we most likely will not know his status until kick-off on Saturday night. If he can go, that’s a definitive advantage for the Tide, as Young has been a difference-maker, hitting on 67% of his passes for a 14-3 touchdown to interception ratio. In addition, he is the team's third leading rusher, averaging 8.6 yards per carry with 3 touchdowns on the ground. Young is leading an offense that currently ranks 4th nationally, averaging 525 yards and 48.4 points per game. If Young cannot go, redshirt freshman Jalen Milroe will run the offense. In limited action, Milroe is completing 59% of his passes and has thrown 2 touchdowns against 1 interception. Milroe is a good passer, yet his real gift is on the ground as he is a powerful runner (literally…he stands at 6-2, 212 pounds and runs like a gazelle) as evidenced last week as he made the play of the game, a 77 yard scramble that set up a key Tide touchdown early in the 4th quarter.
Tailback Jahmyr Gibbs had a breakthrough game on the ground against Arkansas, going for a career best 206 yards and he had monster touchdown runs of 72 and 76 yards. He is the team’s leading rusher (averaging 8.8 yards per touch) followed closely by Jace McClellan and his 7.3 yards per carry. Behind an offensive line that is starting to dominate, the Bama rushing attack is 7th best in the country, averaging 251 yards per game. The receiving corps is improving every week, and injured difference-makers JoJo Earle made his debut last week. Speedster and downfield threat Louisville transfer Tyler Harrell may be making his debut against A&M. Traeshon Holden and freshman Kobe Prentice have led the way so far this season, averaging 13.4 and 14.1 yards per catch, respectively, while fellow freshman Isaiah Bond, sophomore Ja’Corey Brooks, and junior Jermaine Burton are emerging as dependable receivers that can stretch the field. Bama placekicker Will Reichard missed his first field goal last week, yet has hit on 6 of 7 for the year with a long kick of 52 yards. A nice surprise has been punt returner Kool-Aid McKinstry, who is averaging 21.1 yards per return and is a threat to bring it to the house each time he fields a punt.
On the other side of the ball, the deep Bama D is having a nice season, ranking 5th nationally and first in the conference as opponents are averaging a mere 236 yards and 11 points per game. The defense has recorded 15 total sacks so far this year, ranking 15th nationally. All of the pre-season attention was on the Tide linebackers, and Will Anderson, Henry To'oto'o, Jalen Moody, and Dallas Turner are having excellent seasons. The story five games in really is the Tide defensive line that is controlling the line of scrimmage and a secondary that has shown massive improvement from last season. Overall, the stop troops are playing like Bama defenses of old and Tide fans could not be happier to see a return to the glory days.
Here’s saying that Bryce Young does play and the Tide come out firing, smelling blood in the water. Much like Arkansas last week, A&M’s backs are against the wall and they will come out with their best effort this season. The Aggies may be struggling, but they are a solid squad who remain dangerous. The problem for Texas A&M is that they will get a focused Tide squad playing in the friendly confines of Bryant-Denney, a place A&M last tasted victory in 2012. The Aggies need whoever plays QB to have a big night, taking pressure off of Achane. If the Tide makes A&M one dimensional, it could be a long day for the Aggies. No matter who plays quarterback for Alabama, if Texas A&M can have some early success in slowing down the suddenly potent Bama rushing attack, the Aggies can make this a game. In the end, Bama’s season long revenge tour hits a high point on Saturday night as they pull away in the second half and get a huge win.
ALABAMA 41
TEXAS A&M 13