Second nature: Can Texas A&M learn to thrive in season's second half?
An impressive victory over then-No. 13 Kentucky catapulted Texas A&M back into the Top 25 of the national college football polls.
But the No. 22 Aggies (4-2, 2-1 in the Southeastern Conference) enter the treacherous second half of their schedule as they travel to face South Carolina (3-2, 1-2) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Over the last five years, second-rate performances in the second half of the season resulted in second-tier finishes in the SEC West. A&M was 7-17 against SEC competition in that span. The Aggies were 4-8 on the road in those games.
There’s a feeling that with a first-rate coach — Jimbo Fisher — the Aggies won’t have a second-class showing in the second half of 2018.
“There is a different mindset,” junior running back Trayveon Williams said. “It’s a different group of guys. Our bodies and completely conditioned in a different way.
“Coach Fisher isn’t going to be satisfied with anything just because we went out there and beat a top-ranked opponent. Coach Fisher isn’t satisfied. We’re going back to work to improve and be the best we can be over the long haul.”
Quarterback Kellen Mond shared that sentiment.
“I just think there’s a different culture here,” he said. “We’re taking things one week at a time and making sure we’re staying focused. I don’t think that will happen.”
The Aggies certainly have reason for optimism as they head to Columbia with a modest two-game winning streak. They’re 4-0 against the Gamecocks and are 2.5-point favorites.
More importantly, A&M arrives with a surging running game and a suffocating run defense. Williams leads the SEC with 720 rushing yards, and A&M is 28th in the nation in rushing offense.
The Aggies are even more impressive against the run. A&M is allowing an average of just 88.5 rushing yards to rank fourth in the nation. No opponent has managed more than 115 rushing yards.
That appears problematic for South Carolina, which has been deficient in both categories. The Gamecocks are modest in rushing offense (75th nationally) and miserable defensively (100th).
However, Fisher warns that South Carolina cannot be taken lightly, especially at home. Deebo Samuel is a lightning bolt who headlines a scary group of receivers. Junior receiver Bryan Edwards is slowed by a weak ankle and quarterback Jake Bentley is hampered with a sore knee. Still, Fisher says the Gamecocks are dangerous.
“They can score points. Deebo (Samuel) …that guy can make plays all over the field,” Fisher said. “They can run it physically. Thirteen (Shi Smith) can fly. They’ve got a big 6-4, 220-pound wideout (Edwards). So, they’ve got skill guys outside."
“We’ve got to start fast and finish strong. This will be a battle. That’s a very, very tough, hostile environment.”
Mond said the Aggies have gotten the message.
“We always feel confident when we drive, but we’ve got to be more consistent in scoring points in the red zone,” he said.
The Aggies rank just 98th in the nation in Red Zone conversions. Against Kentucky, they converted two of three Red Zone penetrations, but one was in overtime. On one occasion they settled for a field goal attempt which freshman Seth Small did not convert.
That’s an area in which the Aggies need to improve. Of course, Fisher said his plan is to show improvement in that aspect — and every other aspect — each week.
“The object is to be a better team in December than you were in August and September,” Fisher said. “That’s our whole goal in everything we do. The way we practice. The way we play. The whole dynamic in the way this organization is set up is to do that. That’s when you want to peak.”
If the Aggies accomplish that, perhaps winning in the second half of the season will become second nature.
