After watching some tape on LSU I think we have a very good chance of exploiting some of their offensive issues. Against Arkansas, for example, They ran a lot of comeback hitch routes to the outside which Nussmeier is very good at throwing. What immediately jumps off the tape is the excellent arm strength. Nussmeier can also deliver the ball from just about any angle including side arm passes from time to time. When Arkansas played soft coverage, LSU went to the hitch route almost every time for a quick 7 to 9 yards. If the corner misses a tackle, it could go for 30 very quickly. When they weren't passing it quickly to the outside, they ran the ball between the tackles from a spread formation. Nussmeier never pulled on the zone read. He is not an effective runner.
Their offensive line was able to overpower teams and gain yards up the middle. A&M is in a very good position to play man coverage and handle this running threat. Mississippi State's offense was very similar to what I saw from LSU. They prefer to run out of a spread or hit quick passes.
I think with our defensive line, we should be able to handle the run and play man coverage with two deep safeties to prevent something over the top. Coaching this week should be a matter of showing them the game tape from the second half and saying we need that the whole game vs LSU.
Look for our ability to stop the run early in the game between the tackles as a sign that the A&M defense will be effective or struggle.
Knowing coach Elko's penchant for third down, I'm expecting us to disguise man coverage as a 3-deep zone and back off coverage prompting LSU to run a hitch route and we may get a pick six off of something like this in the second or third quarter. Nussmeier trusts his arm to get the ball to the hashes and that may be something of which we can take advantage.
Defensively LSU was able to get pressure on the quarterback consistently when they were in obvious passing situations. They have quality pass rushers on the outside. However, I'm not convinced that they will be able to easily handle our offensive line and running backs. I like our chances against them in third and five or less. They can also be somewhat undisciplined in their pass rush, allowing Connor to escape and create off schedule.
LSU is a quality team but absolutely beatable by this A&M team. If you're looking at LSU and their future schedule thinking that they could have a spot in the playoffs you should absolutely be thinking the same thing about A&M.
I don't think our team has to be perfect, but if we have our "B" game or better we should be in it in the fourth quarter. Our "A" game beats them by 14.
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Their offensive line was able to overpower teams and gain yards up the middle. A&M is in a very good position to play man coverage and handle this running threat. Mississippi State's offense was very similar to what I saw from LSU. They prefer to run out of a spread or hit quick passes.
I think with our defensive line, we should be able to handle the run and play man coverage with two deep safeties to prevent something over the top. Coaching this week should be a matter of showing them the game tape from the second half and saying we need that the whole game vs LSU.
Look for our ability to stop the run early in the game between the tackles as a sign that the A&M defense will be effective or struggle.
Knowing coach Elko's penchant for third down, I'm expecting us to disguise man coverage as a 3-deep zone and back off coverage prompting LSU to run a hitch route and we may get a pick six off of something like this in the second or third quarter. Nussmeier trusts his arm to get the ball to the hashes and that may be something of which we can take advantage.
Defensively LSU was able to get pressure on the quarterback consistently when they were in obvious passing situations. They have quality pass rushers on the outside. However, I'm not convinced that they will be able to easily handle our offensive line and running backs. I like our chances against them in third and five or less. They can also be somewhat undisciplined in their pass rush, allowing Connor to escape and create off schedule.
LSU is a quality team but absolutely beatable by this A&M team. If you're looking at LSU and their future schedule thinking that they could have a spot in the playoffs you should absolutely be thinking the same thing about A&M.
I don't think our team has to be perfect, but if we have our "B" game or better we should be in it in the fourth quarter. Our "A" game beats them by 14.
_____________________________________
I'm AggieRinger and I approve this message!