Cleaning up mistakes crucial to A&M's chances against No. 4 Florida

Texas A&M appears to have miles to go to becoming a football championship contender.

Yet, after reviewing their 52-24 loss to Alabama, the Aggies are convinced they’re just inches away. The general feeling in a Monday afternoon press conference via Zoom is the Aggies just need to correct a few details to turn near-misses into big plays.

“We’re right there with the opportunities,” Texas A&M coach Fisher said. “That’s what we’re pointing out. That’s what’s disappointing: These little details. Not miss a field goal. Finish a drive down there.

“They’re right there to make. We’re moving. We’ve got to finish in the red zone. We’ve got to have attention to detail in those critical situations.”

The Aggies covered 55 yards on their opening drive that ended with a missed field goal. They reached the Alabama 12 on another drive in which they settled for a field goal.

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Even Ainias Smith, who scored twice on Saturday, agrees that the Aggies must clean up their little mistakes.

Twice, A&M turned the ball over on downs — at the Alabama 35-yard line and at the 23.

“We’re right there,” said sophomore running back Ainias Smith, who scored two touchdowns but also dropped a pass on a critical fourth-and-two situation. “You see it. We have every opportunity to go down and score. We’ve just got to capitalize.”

Those problems need to be solved. Quickly.

A&M next faces No. 4 Florida, which has scored 89 points in two games.

In comparison, A&M has managed less than half that total (41).

Fisher is convinced A&M has the potential to be among the highest-scoring teams in the SEC. He said the game tape reveals that the Aggies could’ve — or should’ve — scored 38 points in both their games thus far. At least.

“It’s just a technique of how to do it and do it in critical times … know not to turn your head or drop a ball or things like that,” Fisher said. “We’ve gotta (execute) consistently over and over because you'll do it three or four, five plays and you have one little slip-up. As our mental toughness and maturity grows, their execution will grow, and that's what you gotta do.”

Senior tackle Carson Green said the solution to finishing jobs is a matter of tenacity. Blocks need to be held a split second longer. Cuts need to be a little sharper. Decisions must be made a little quicker.

“You might need one guy to hold the block one more second,” Green said. “As an O-line, we need to figure it out. We will figure it out. The main thing is just everyone needs to do their job and make plays.”

That applies to defense, too.

“We’re going to get everything right,” sophomore defensive end DeMarvin Leal said. “Get those negatives out. We’re going to come hard. Strong. As one.

“Our mentality as a team is to be a threat. To get those dubs (wins). Now, it’s time to pay attention to every detail and start getting all the crumbs, everything that we’re given, take advantage of it.”

Notes: Sophomore defensive back Erick Young suffered an unspecified arm injury in the loss to Alabama. Fisher said his playing status will be “week-to-week.” Meanwhile, offensive lineman Grayson Reed sustained a “lower-body” injury on a field goal attempt and will miss the remainder of the season. … A&M used all three of its first half time outs well before halftime against Alabama. Fisher said the problem was inexperienced receivers missing signals for plays and alignments.