'Everybody is going to eat': Inside A&M's mismatch-making ability

Noah collected animals in pairs. He apparently collects touchdowns in groups of three.

Evan Almighty collected TDs in twos. Moose, though not really let loose, also found his way into the end zone.

Texas A&M touchdown passes won’t always come in six-packs like they did in a 52-10 football season-opening victory over New Mexico. But the bet here is the threat will always be there.

Imagine an opposing defensive coordinator trying to devise a scheme to contain A&M’s receivers.

Start with double-teaming Evan Stewart, who three times in just 11 collegiate games already has thrice produced showings with eight catches and more than 100 yards.

But that probably leaves 6-foot-6 Noah Thomas, who had three touchdown catches last week, in single coverage.

Also likely drawing single coverage is Ainias Smith, A&M’s most experienced receiver. He had just three catches against New Mexico, but he’s caught multiple touchdown passes five times in his career.

Defenses paying too much attention to Stewart and Thomas are inviting Smith and Moose Muhammad to make big plays.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Muhammad hauled in three catches for 12 yards, including a touchdown.

“That’s what you want,” A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said earlier this week. “I’ve had teams where I had first-rounders across the board. If you don’t have talented guys where everybody can get theirs if they’re one-on-one … it doesn’t work that way.

“This (receivers) room here is one of the first ones we’ve had that just across the board (it’s) ‘Ok, my matchup is here, my matchup is there.’

“That’s what we’re allowing it to do. Now, you have matchups. He’s one-on-one. He can get it. He’s one-on-one. He can’t get it. He’s one-on-one. He can get it.”

A&M has four receivers who could legitimately be the No. 1 target for most teams. That’s a problem.

Miami, which A&M faces on Saturday, allowed just 13 completions in its season-opening 38-3 victory over Miami (OH). Eight of those completions were to Gage Larvadain. No other receiver had more than two catches.

The Hurricanes could focus primarily on one receiver in that game. They will face coverage mismatches against the Aggies. Quarterback Conner Weigman has to find those mismatches. Given adequate time by the offensive line, Weigman will find them.

Last week, he frequently found the mismatch on deep routes.

Weigman hit Stewart for 35 yards. He hit Thomas for 34. He hit Smith for 27. He just missed Jahdae Walker for what would’ve been a 38-yard touchdown.

Of course, opponents will adjust.

They will see A&M have success on deep throws and safeties might back up a step or two. Opponents will see Stewart and Thomas catch multiple touchdown passes and scheme to stop them.

Fisher is counting on as much. Go ahead and arm wrestle the octopus.

Weigman’s biggest problem might be keeping so many talented receivers content. Fisher isn’t worried.

“(A&M receivers) know if that guy is going to get his, guess what? It’s going to come back over here because people ain’t going to just sit there and let you keep catching balls and balls and balls,” Fisher said. “The next game they’re going to plan for it.

“I tell the guys to be patient. It’s a whole season. It’s all going to come around. Everybody is going to eat.”

Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino’s philosophy is simple — feed the studs. Get the football to the best players and let them make plays.

But which stud eats the most likely will vary from game to game.

For Miami? The bet here is that Smith will feast.