Texas A&M’s dominant win strengthens Marcel Reed’s Heisman Trophy candidacy in a way you wouldn’t expect
The drop off from Marcel Reed to the field is not a good sign for Texas A&M, but proof of Reed’s Heisman worthiness
It was a tune-up game for the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday, taking on a completely hapless Samford team and spanking the Bulldogs 48-0. The defense splattered Samford, holding them to just 77 yards, and the starters only played for the first quarter and were pulled quickly. The starting offense moved the ball with ease, scoring three touchdowns on four drives courtesy of Marcel Reed delivering through the air.
However, things quickly fell apart after that in the passing game when the backups entered. The Aggies had to play three different quarterbacks to try and find a spark against an awful Samford defense, and none of the backups clicked. For any concerns that Marcel Reed might have been a scheme merchant, the Samford game might have silenced those doubts. His 58-yard touchdown to Ashton Bethel-Roman went for more yards than backup Miles O’Neill had in the entire game.
Marcel Reed’s day reinforces Heisman candidacy
Obviously, no matter how many yards they put up on Samford, it wasn’t going to be a day that won Marcel Reed the Heisman. That will come when they take on Texas next Friday and one of Alabama or Georgia in the SEC Championship game.
However, I do think it’s important to note that there is a stark dropoff in play from him to the next guy on the roster under center, and that’s important to note when it comes to the importance of Reed to one of the best offenses and teams in the country.
I’ve written before about how I believe Reed is the engine of the entire A&M team. The team goes as he goes, which plays a part in the tale of two halves last week against South Carolina. Point at the running backs or the wide receivers all you want, but it’s Reed that makes the offense, and team, function.
Reed finished the day 10-of-15 for 120 yards and three touchdowns. The other three quarterbacks combined for 108 yards, zero touchdowns, and an interception on a whopping 1o-of-21 passing. Reed finished with a crisp 2.67 EPA and .18 EPA/Play on the day. The rest of the room combined for a -5.04 EPA and a -.52 EPA/Play. That EPA/Play would be dead last in the country by a wiiiiiiide margin.
Again, this isn’t a game featuring a lot of takeaways nor should it confirm any narratives surrounding this team. However, I think it’s reasonable to point to the play of the rest of the room compared to what Reed is doing week in and week out as evidence that the “scheme merchant” or arguments surrounding his environment are simply false.
Marcel Reed is just that good, folks.