Texas A&M Aggies ‘gonna win a lot of games’ with newfound offensive balance but have to be better in one key area on offense
The Texas A&M Aggies ran all over Mississippi State, but one area of the offense remains a concern moving forward
After a lackluster first half against Mississippi State, the Texas A&M Aggies came alive in the second half to bury the Bulldogs 31-9 in a key SEC primetime showdown. With A&M’s longest drive of the first half ending with a turnover on downs and their only score set up by an interception, it felt like the Aggies simply had no answers, especially with Marcel Reed struggling as a passer.
However, the ground game wore down the Bulldogs, and the Aggies were quick to capitalize. Big runs from Rueben Owens II and freshman Jamarion Morrow kickstarted touchdown drives, and Texas A&M ran away in the second half. A&M poured on 299 yards on the ground.
This kind of balance is huge for the Aggies, who have been up and down running the ball all season long. If A&M can keep up this balance over the course of their season, it will be tough to overcome their success, especially when paired with a defense shaping up to be one of the best in college football.
Aggies Unveiling Four-Headed Monster on the Ground
Part of what makes the Aggies so deadly on the ground is the multitude of ways they can attack you with personnel. Quarterback Marcel Reed is a deadly rusher in his own right, but the Aggies pulled off a triple threat attack at running back with Rueben Owens II, Le’Veon Moss, and Jamarion Morrow. A week after Moss rushed for over 100 yards and Owens was held in check, the tables were turned, with Owens cruising for 142 yards and Moss just 36.
With the talent Texas A&M can bring to the table at running back, defenses break into fits trying to figure out how to keep them contained long enough to make a stand. Mississippi State tried, but ultimately were worn down by the physicality the Aggies brought up front. Afterwards, Mike Elko had a simple quote to sum up the importance of the ground game in the SEC.
“We out-rushed them 299 to 77. That’s going to win you a lot of football games in this conference.”
However, the Aggies have to be more consistent through the air moving forward. They are relying far too much on explosive plays, which are made easier with KC Concepcion and Mario Craver, than consistency. Reed started the game rushing throws and missing open receivers, but mostly settled down in the second half to finish 13/23. He started one for seven on throws over 15 yards tonight, overthrowing every target with alarming regularity.
Against Mississippi State, they can get away with it. However, when the competition stiffens up down the stretch, the Aggies are going to have to prove they can get it done through the air, and a middling 61st percentile passing success rate and abysmal 16th percentile passing down success rate simply isn’t going to cut it.
It was a great day on the ground for the Aggies, but Marcel Reed has to prove himself as a passer down the stretch if Texas A&M wants to go far in the College Football Playoff Race.
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