Pieces in place for another hard-fought Texas A&M-Arkansas battle
The final Texas A&M-Arkansas clash in the 10-game series in Arlington figures to be much like the previous nine.
That means another tense struggle that’s settled by a touchdown or less.
Six of the games at AT&T Stadium were decided by a touchdown or less. Three were settled in overtime. One came down to a missed field goal in the last two minutes.
First-year A&M head coach Mike Elko — who has participated in four previous games as the Aggies defensive coordinator — seems to expect similar results when in the 2:30 p.m. CT matchup.
“Obviously, this game means a lot to both teams,” Elko said. “We always seem to get their best. We always try to give them our best. When two teams do that, I think you end up with a lot of really close, entertaining football games.”
All the elements appear in place for a hard-fought game.
Both teams are 3-1. Both feel like they could’ve — maybe should’ve won the game they lost. A&M fell to Notre Dame. Arkansas lost in overtime to Oklahoma State.
Both have beaten an SEC opponent. A&M defeated Florida 33-20. Arkansas defeated Auburn 24-14.
Both have productive running games. A&M averages 256 yards to rank second in the SEC in rushing offense. Arkansas is fourth with a 240-yard average.
And both have quarterbacks — A&M’s Marcel Reed and Arkansas’ Taylen Green — who are inconsistent passers but major running threats.
In two games since starting in place of injured Conner Weigman, Reed has passed for 351 yards and four touchdowns while completing 58.6 percent of his passes.
In the last two games, Green has passed for 312 yards and one touchdown while completing passes at a 43 percent clip.
The quarterbacks’ running ability, though, may be most concerning. Both are significant threats to scramble from the pocket for big games.
Opponents are learning that about Reed.
“Obviously, the tape shows that (Reed’s) extremely athletic with his feet,” Elko said. ”I think people are going to start treating him like a dual-threat quarterback. That’s obviously already happened.
“As that happens, that will create different looks. I think you can somewhat predict and project what people will do when they see a dual-threat quarterback like that.”
Elko can project how defenses will react to Reed based on the way the Aggies figure to react to Green, who has rushed for 325 yards and four touchdowns.
“When a player has the ability to make explosive plays, it certainly enhances your focus level play to play,” he said. “Regardless of down-and-distance, area of the field or situation, he has the ability to make an explosive play either with his arm or with his feet.
“That type of explosiveness creates a higher level of focus within our defense because you can’t make mistakes. You make one mistake, and it’s seven points.”
Mistakes must be avoided. Because in this series seven points — or less — is the difference between winning and losing.