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Texas A&M Football

Learned, Loved, Loathed: Alabama 52, Texas A&M 24

October 4, 2020
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Another Texas A&M blowout loss in Alabama was enlightening in its gloom.

The Aggies 52-24 defeat was at most disappointing. But at least it was educational. Here’s a look at what we learned, loved and loathed in Tuscaloosa:

What we learned

A&M still isn’t close to being championship caliber: That fact was made painfully clear by halftime. A&M continues to allow big plays. The Aggies continue to make big mistakes. They continue to squander opportunities. Few, if anyone, would have expected A&M to beat Alabama, especially in Tuscaloosa. But a true championship contender should’ve been more competitive.

The pass defense is vulnerable:  Alabama quarterback Mac Jones averaged a whopping 16.1-yards per completion. By comparison, A&M’s Kellen Mond averaged 7.2 yards. Jones threw for 435 yards. That included touchdowns that covered 78, 87, 63 and 2 yards. The secondary struggled but didn’t get much help from the pass rush. A&M managed just one sack. Jones typically was unhurried in the pocket.

Ainias Smith should be playing receiver: Although he did have a big drop just before the half, Smith caught six passes for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns. Smith has done a good job as a running back carrying the football and catching out of the backfield. But it seems A&M would be better served with Smith and running back Isaiah Spiller on the field all the time.

The Tuscaloosa News-USA TODAY Sports
Smith tight-roped down the sideline for A&M’s first score.

What I loved

Ainias Smith’s balance: Smith’s first touchdown was a 47-yard thing of beauty. He caught the football about the Alabama 44 and sped down the sideline. Alabama safety Daniel Wright tried to push him out of bounds at the 23-yard line, but Smith somehow was able to tight-rope the sideline for the score.

The run defense: The Aggies defensive front held up against perhaps the country’s best offensive line and running back Najee Harris. Alabama managed just 109 rushing yards and most of those came in the fourth quarter when the outcome was decided. A&M didn’t allow a run longer than six yards until the final quarter.

Haynes King: Yes, A&M’s freshman quarterback was facing an Alabama defense that was playing soft in the fourth quarter. Still, King ran effectively when he replaced Mond. He led A&M with 43 rushing yards. His debut ended with an interception in the end zone that was a 50-50 ball.

What I loathed

Passes to the pylon: Twice against Vanderbilt, A&M tried to score via lob passes to Ainias Smith at the left pylon. Both failed. The Aggies reached the Alabama 20-yard line on its first series. The drive stalled there. A&M failed to convert similar passes to Chase Lane and Jalen Preston on second and third downs. Which leads to …

Missed opportunities: Not only did A&M miss a chance for a touchdown, but its opening drive ended with Seth Small missing a 37-yard field goal. A&M also missed a scoring opportunity when Ainias Smith dropped a pass fourth-and-2 late in the first half. Early in the third quarter, Jalen Wydermyer could not hold on to a third-down pass inside the Alabama 5-yard line. A&M had to settle for a field goal.

The inability to stretch the defense: As mentioned earlier, Mond averaged 7.2 yards per completion. His longest completion was 47 yards to Ainias Smith, but the throw itself was only three yards. Smith did the rest after the catch. Mond’s longest throw was 18 yards.

Discussion from...

Learned, Loved, Loathed: Alabama 52, Texas A&M 24

4,705 Views | 8 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by MookieBlaylock
oldfart79
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those that can do, those that cant do ob but whats starting to get to me is that theres something not right with the desire to win no mater what. just like watching a practice or walk thru if you watched saban during the game just see how he not only keeps hes players into the game but also his coaches . dont see jimbo doing any of that really
oldfart79
zooguy96
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What we learned - Jimbo isn't the coach to get us to the promised land unless he has elite talent and a transcendent QB. His inability to make the simplest adjustments (play Ainias more last year, get his athletes in space - I.e. jet sweeps, motion, etc) is pathetic. Sorry - Malzahn does a great job at this. Spiller didn't get the rock enough. Continuing to run Mond out there is stupid IMHO. He's regressed - might as well give King time (like Auburn did last year with Nix, even though they had no choice). But, too damn stubborn.

What we loved - Ainias. He's the truth.

What we loathed - jimbo's stubbornness. Seriously dude, learn something. Adapt. Adjust. You clearly aren't doing that.
AgOutsideAustin
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AG
" the inability " to stretch the defense ? Really ?

How bout never ever trying to stretch the defense.
O line played well enough to give Mond time to at least attempt 2-3 deep balls.

That's two games where Jimbo refuses to drop back and chunk it deep. Every other team does it but us. Ridiculous.
DukeMu
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We're simply not very good.

Start King. Prepare for next year.
JoltinJoe
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AG
JIMBO IS NOT THE GUY!!! This is something I'd love to be wrong about, but I doubt it. It sucks, because we are on the hook for a lot of money and a lot of years.

This epiphany hit me just before halftime against Vandy, when they took a knee. It was emphatically reinforced just before halftime yesterday. Down 35-14, Bama due to get the ball first in the second half. What do you have to lose?? They take a knee again!!! SEC West championships will not happen with this coach, much less anything on a national scale.
DGAG92
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AG
Kids today, not all, play for the wrong reasons. There's very few that play for the love of the game, everybody wants to be a super star and an ESPN highlight. Too many "Me Me Me" and not enough team players. College Football has been ruined forever by social media and the instant gratification mentality of today's youth.

There's no discipline by head coaches, because they're so afraid of being called a racist.
fastbennie
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Learned - What we all knew, Kellen Mond is average at best. To win in the SEC it is imperative to have a championship caliber QB. Yes, you need to be strong in all phases of the game, but it begins and ends at QB. Until we have one we will be a middle of the pack program.

Loved - Aineas. Big time player who rises to the occasion.

Loathed -
1. Sideline management. We look so confused at times. 12 men on the field, delay of games, etc. We are burning TOs ALL THE TIME. Totally unacceptable. Totally on the coaching staff
2. We are so slow in snapping the ball, even in 2 minute phase.
3. Jersey number 0....really?
MookieBlaylock
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AG
Keep reading about the drop but no mention of that awful pick six that essentially ended the game
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