Story Poster
Jimbo Fisher
Isaiah Spiller
DeMarvin Leal
Texas A&M Football

Sloppy play and self-inflicted wounds end A&M's streak over Arkansas

September 25, 2021
19,424

Like a dutiful — or perhaps pitiful — farmer, the Aggies slopped the Hogs on Saturday.

Starving from a nine-year victory fast, the No. 16 Arkansas Razorbacks (4-0, 1-0) feasted on a trough full of Texas A&M slop to post a 20-10 Southeastern Conference college football win at AT&T Stadium.

A disgusting mixture of missed blocks, missed tackles, missed reads, missed opportunities, a rash of penalties and a back-breaking turnover also put an end to A&M’s 11-game winning streak.

“We self-inflicted ourselves in a lot of things. We didn’t play good and didn’t play together in the second half.”
- A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher

If the No. 7-and-falling Aggies (3-1, 0-1) will have difficulty mounting another win streak if they don’t find quick fixes to inept quarterback play, an ineffective offensive line and a tendency to surrender big plays.

“We had 11 penalties in the game,” Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher lamented. “We self-inflicted ourselves in a lot of things. We didn’t play good and didn’t play together in the second half. We could have fed off each other and won that field position battle, shortened field, and got more points in what we did.”

Instead, the Aggies managed a single touchdown and field goal for the second time against a Power 5 opponent. Except, this time, the defense couldn’t bail them out like it did in a 10-7 victory over Colorado.

The defense allowed 307 yards in the first half alone. Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson threw an 85-yard touchdown pass to Treylon Bucks and a 48-yarder to AJ Green, who broke three pitiful tackle attempts and was practically pushed into the end zone.

That staked the Hogs to a 17-0 lead just a minute into the second quarter. The outcome appeared settled then.

The Aggies’ offense was in a deeper sleep than a snoozing A&M fan was frequently shown on the stadium’s enormous scoreboard.

However, the Aggies finally managed a 49-yard field Seth Small field goal just before halftime. Then, midway through the third quarter, star running back Isaiah Spiller broke away for a 67-yard touchdown dash.

USA Today
Isaiah Spiller’s 67-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was the tailback’s final carry of the contest.

“Aki [Ogunbiyi] made a great block, and it just opened up like the Red Sea for me,” Spiller said.

In that story, the Red Sea came back to wash away Pharaoh’s army. A&M’s comeback hopes were soon to be washed away, too.

A penalty thwarted the Aggies’ next series. A disastrous interception a few minutes later killed any chance of a rally.

A miserable afternoon for quarterback Zach Calzada got worse with 12 minutes remaining.

On first down at the A&M 33-yard line, Calzada tried to pass to Devon Achane coming out of the backfield. Instead, his pass deflected off center Bryce Foster’s helmet. Arkansas cornerback Montaric Brown made a diving interception at the A&M 48-yard line.

The Razorbacks parlayed the turnover into a win-clinching 24-yard field goal.

“I think when we did score, it was a little momentum,” Spiller said. “I feel like when we came back out and an interception kind of hurt us. It just goes back to self-inflicted wounds; just can’t have them. Every play matters.”

Blame could be placed on Calzada. He often seemed confused and indecisive. He passed for just 151 yards, ran for two and had the woeful pick.

But blame could also be on the offensive line, which gave up three sacks and committed penalties for false starts, holding and an ineligible man downfield.

Maybe that could be excused because two true freshmen — Foster and Reuben Fatheree — were in the starting lineup. Except most of those penalties were on more experienced players.

Blame could even be put on the defense for putting the Aggies in a 17-0 hole from which they’re not equipped to climb.

“You never win a game in the first quarter, but you can put yourself behind the 8-ball. That’s exactly what we did early in the game.”
- A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher

“You never win a game in the first quarter, but you can put yourself behind the 8-ball,” Fisher said. “That’s exactly what we did early in the game.”

Fisher was culpable in that, too.

Unlike Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, who challenged A&M cornerback Myles Jones on Burks’ 85-yard touchdown pass, Fisher didn’t challenge the Razorbacks deep.

Calzada’s longest completion was 23 yards. The vast majority of his throws were underneath the Arkansas coverage.

The Aggies were taking what Arkansas would give them. They never attempted to take what they wanted.

Fisher argued that wasn’t the case.

“They were playing a really, really deep zone,” Fisher said. “They were bailing. They were trying to give you all underneath throws or all intermediate throws, like square ends, that type of stuff.

“The way they play, they take a lot of your deep balls away. We called about six shots in the game,
and they played them, and that’s why we were checking the ball. They had to check it down.”

There could be disagreements for why the Aggies lost: Sloppy passing, sloppy protection, sloppy tackling, sloppy coverages.

But all could agree the Aggies were sloppy, much to the hungry Hogs’ delight.

Discussion from...

Sloppy play and self-inflicted wounds end A&M's streak over Arkansas

14,909 Views | 19 Replies | Last: 2 yr ago by milner79
Fishwrangler11
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AG
I always appreciate fair and unbiased outlook OB. You do a great job of keeping coverage balanced here!

For a loss like today, everyone deserves blame and criticism, especially the $90M coach. Good word
nu awlins ag
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AG
Sloppy play? What game were you watching? A&M got their ass kicked plain and simple by a lesser team. No spin, just a simple ass kicking. Defense was supposed to be the Wrecking Crew? Please…the Wrecking Crew died the day A&M fired Sherrill.
Dark_Knight
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AG
I'd say it was all pretty sloppy. Didn't exactly get our ass kicked. It was from both sides, our ineffective play on offense, penalties, and Arky offense in the first quarter. Our defense did their job for about 3 quarters. We shouldn't have allowed the 17 pts, but offense can't be so inept as to not score anything.
Because I'm Batman!

SBDavis87
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AG
nu awlins ag said:

Sloppy play? What game were you watching? A&M got their ass kicked plain and simple by a lesser team. No spin, just a simple ass kicking. Defense was supposed to be the Wrecking Crew? Please…the Wrecking Crew died the day A&M fired Sherrill.


Quite correct.
Another aggie joke contract extension and no titles to show for $90M in the rest of our life times.
However, we still have a fan base living on fantasy island.
Houstonag
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AG
This is on both the players and the coaches. Players must be reading the polls and complaining about their ranking. They let themselves down and the fans. Horrible sloppy play. Not tough enough on the DL. The OL is pitiful when blocking aggressive rushers. Just not determined or tough. Pansies. Reckless and sloppy pass coverage. Why did Ark get open and we cannot? Miles Jones blew a deep coverage by not playing the receiver properly. Two long plays for two scores because of poor coverage and no rush to the passer.
dcg4403
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AG
We simply got beat by a better team. Quit saying that Arkansas stinks. They are legit. But does that mean we should have lost to them? HELL NO.

We didnt get our asses kicked. But we absolutely were out coached and out played by a very good Arkansas team. Texas was the team who got their asses handed to them.

Not acceptable either way. And Zach sucks something fierce. And Haynes when he returns is not going to change this offense immediately. Jimbo better figure it the hell out!!!

If not, we are going to see a very serious ass kicking by at least Alabama and Ole Miss. So be prepared mentally for that. Again, Jimbo better figure something out and quick!
Arkyfan
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Arkansas has went the last ten years of finding a coach that loved the hogs as much as the hogs love playing the game. Buffet Brett came for the BBQ, Your own Chad Morris was a joke. So we found a local boy in Sam Pitman.

Now the state of Texas is 0-3 against Arkansas this year.

It's starting out to be a great season. We cooked a little rice, had some beef and now the veggies.

Life is good.
S.A. Aggie
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AG
The title of the article reflects solely on the coaches lack of preparation. " Sloppy play and self-inflicted wounds". No excuse. I expected better.
Arkyfan
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Ok let me help you out.

Your offense didn't play badly. They were shut down by a superior defense as evidenced by the lack of points on the board.

Your defense didn't stink. They couldn't stop our offense. As evidenced by the points put up that your offense or defense couldn't match.

Simply put 3 Texas teams faced an improved Arkansas team twice in Fayetteville and once in Texas.

All three suffered the same fate. A big fat L.

Mix that with the interception y'all threw in the second.

Simply put you got beat by a better team.
Dark_Knight
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AG
Lol no. You're delusional. Outside the 1stQ, our Defense shut you down.

Our offense played badly. Maybe you didn't watch. We have a green QB and OL.

Yall are practically the same team from last year, veterans helps out a bit but definitely not superior.
Because I'm Batman!

Arkyfan
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I'm delusional???

Even with our starting QB out Hornsby still made great plays.

The record still reflects Texas 0 Arkansas 3 and two of those Texass Teams were ranked one in the Top Ten. So were y'all overanked?
AgOutsideAustin
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AG
Lol how was your 9 year hibernation? Congratulations on winning ……
Arkyfan
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As I said we had to weed through Texass and Big10 trash to get to a good coach. You know for a fact several of our losses in recent years were flop's where y'all lucked out plain and simple.
JunctionNephew
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20 sixth year seniors? 11 who played?

Go get your shine box.

Y'all get Georgia next week.

Gator Bait/ Gig'em
“I can’t die....God doesn’t want me yet and the devil has a restraining order against me.”
Arkyfan
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Your right we got Georgia next week and it'll be a challenge. But if we fire on all cylinders like we did in this game well be fine. I mean even when KJ went out we still thoroughly won the game.


https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/arkansas-football/arkansas-football-did-win-over-tamu-put-kj-jefferson-in-heisman-conversation/?fbclid=IwAR36IKUd9fW7fQ4vEc7siFEmV_jenPFK0CDTn0_237A9vc5jSRCFnYhO4ok


T-Shizzle
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Arkyfan said:

Your right we got Georgia next week and it'll be a challenge. But if we fire on all cylinders like we did in this game well be fine. I mean even when KJ went out we still thoroughly won the game.




https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/arkansas-football/arkansas-football-did-win-over-tamu-put-kj-jefferson-in-heisman-conversation/?fbclid=IwAR36IKUd9fW7fQ4vEc7siFEmV_jenPFK0CDTn0_237A9vc5jSRCFnYhO4ok






"Thoroughly won the game"? Think that's bit much. You only scored 3 points. A&M's offense couldn't score. Completely abandoned the run. The only thing that looked to be working.
2004FIGHTINTXAG
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Arkyfan said:

Your right we got Georgia next week and it'll be a challenge. But if we fire on all cylinders like we did in this game well be fine. I mean even when KJ went out we still thoroughly won the game.


https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/arkansas-football/arkansas-football-did-win-over-tamu-put-kj-jefferson-in-heisman-conversation/?fbclid=IwAR36IKUd9fW7fQ4vEc7siFEmV_jenPFK0CDTn0_237A9vc5jSRCFnYhO4ok




The game was in question until mid way through the fourth, after the FG. Arkansas did not thoroughly win the game.
Dark_Knight
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AG
Nah...yall were shut down for 3 quarters.

Yes we were overrated.
Lol...for losing the last 9 yall sure do think yall are hot *****
Because I'm Batman!

milner79
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Arkyfan said:

Arkansas has went the last ten years of finding a coach that loved the hogs as much as the hogs love playing the game. Buffet Brett came for the BBQ, Your own Chad Morris was a joke. So we found a local boy in Sam Pitman.

Now the state of Texas is 0-3 against Arkansas this year.

It's starting out to be a great season. We cooked a little rice, had some beef and now the veggies.

Life is good.
Second most popular Sam in the state. And rising.
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