Texas A&M vs. Alabama preview
Photo: David J. Phillip, AP Photo
Saturday. 3:30 PM ET on CBS. We ride.
Yes, the big wheels of the SEC keep on turnin’ and there is no rest for the weary. The fightin’ Texas Aggies come off an uninspiring win against Vanderbilt and travel to Bryant-Denny to take on Nick Saban and the mighty Crimson Tide. A&M has not beaten Alabama since the inaugural SEC season in 2012 when Johnny Manziel led the Aggies to a shocking victory. While this game will be a massive challenge, as it is each year, there is hope.
Since Jimbo arrived in College Station, A&M has lost to Alabama 45-23 in 2018 and 47-28 in 2019. Despite keeping the games close at first, big plays in the passing game and special teams (Jaylen Waddle) have killed the Aggies in the last two years. Alabama lost Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, and Tua Tagovailoa to the NFL off of last year’s team, so let’s hope we can limit big plays this year. But Bama still has weapons - Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith are as talented as any wideout in the county, and Mac Jones has shown the ability to get them the ball. Jones is far less mobile than Tua and should be more susceptible to pressure.
Here is where the hope comes in. Although it was just Vanderbilt, A&M’s defense looked very good last week. The secondary appears to be much improved with Demani Richardson leading the way. A&M should be able to limit Alabama’s big plays this year more than in the recent past. The threat is still there, but we have more talent and depth on the back end than we have had in a long time, even with the departures of Elijah Blades and Clifford Chattman this week.
The front seven looked great as well. Alabama can typically run on anyone, and the Aggies defense won't be able to completely stop Najee Harris and the Tide rushing attack, like we did Vanderbilt’s, but we can contain it. That's the key word here: contain. Our defense is talented enough to contain Alabama’s weapons and make them earn points. If the Ags can hold the Tide under 30 points, it should be a competitive, close game to the bell.
The offense is a different story. Based on week one’s offensive output, A&M will need to show massive improvement to compete in Tuscaloosa. Jimbo has been able to move the ball in previous matchups against Alabama, including last year when the offensive line was little more than a speed bump for Bama’s front seven. Kellen Mond has led A&M in rushing the last two games against Alabama with 98 yards in 2018 and 90 yards in 2019. Given the lack of experience at wide receiver, we’ll need a similar performance from Kellen on the ground this year (assuming he doesn’t fumble). If A&M can’t put together 150 total rushing yards between Mond, Spiller, and Smith it’s going to be a long day offensively.
Part of containing Alabama’s offense is keeping them off the field. The Aggies only ran 55 plays against Vanderbilt, and that can’t happen this weekend. A&M needs to have good rhythm on offense and possess the ball in order to keep Alabama off the field as much as possible. The next part of that equation is the receivers. A&M wideouts looked decent against Vanderbilt, but nothing jumped out. There is going to need to be an emphasis on taking shots and throwing the ball downfield (at appropriate times) on Saturday.
Establish the run as much as possible, possess the ball, and then open things up at the right moment and take deep shots. If the Alabama secondary is not worried about getting burned, then this game is done. They’ll press all day, load the box, daring Mond to beat them with his arm, and not give an inch. This game is the right time to break out Demond Demas. Even if he is just a decoy, I guarantee you the Bama players have seen the Twitter videos of what an athletic specimen this kid is. He's a threat just being on the field, and he hasn't played a down of SEC football. Time to put him to use. Think back to when A&M beat Alabama in 2012, they took plenty of shots downfield and took the top off the defense multiple times. Clearly, Kellen Mond isn't Johnny Manziel and we don't have Ryan Swope, Mike Evans, and Malcolm Kennedy on the outside, but A&M has recruited well. There is talent all over the field. It's time to show that and have some guys step up. It's in there, we just need to give them the opportunity.
Finally, A&M has to take care of the ball. The fumbling issues against Vanderbilt need to be long gone. Hopefully, the perpetrators from last week ran a bunch of miles, taking a page out of Coach Herman Boone’s book. Alabama feasts on opponents' mistakes and will bury A&M if they don’t take care of the football. Oh, and one last thing: do not punt the ball to Jaylen Waddle.
This game will be a hell of a challenge and A&M will need to play damn near perfect to pull out a win. Can it be done? Yes. Will it be done? Not that confident. The spread right now is Alabama -17.5, I would feel good taking A&M there but don’t see them winning outright. I pray I’m wrong, and we awaken the Manziel and Swope ghosts of 2012 to lift us to victory in Tuscaloosa.
Tide 27
A&M 21
#BTHOAlabama
