Aggies must be best versions of themselves with two games left
Acclaimed author Roy T. Bennett once wrote: “To shine your brightest light is to be who you truly are.”
Just be yourself. That’s great advice if you’re interviewing for a job, trying to get a date or running for public office.
It’s also advice that should be heeded by No. 15 Texas A&M (8-2, 5-1) when it travels to face Auburn (4-6, 1-5) on Saturday night.
The snag, though, is do we truly know who these Aggies are?
We think the Aggies have a strong pass rush. But they’re tied for 15th in the SEC with just 21 sacks.
No A&M starting defensive lineman has posted a full sack in the last three games.
We think A&M has a stingy rush defense. The Aggies have held seven opponents to 125 rushing yards or less. But in its two losses, Notre Dame gashed A&M for 198 rushing yards and South Carolina had 286.
A&M’s running game is second-best in the SEC. But in four games vs. Notre Dame, Arkansas, Mississippi State and South Carolina, the running game has produced fewer than 150 yards.
Also, now they’re without leading rusher Le’Veon Moss.
Do the Aggies utilize tight ends like they did against New Mexico State when Theo Melin Öhrström and Tre Watson combined to catch nine passes for 178 yards?
That was more yardage than they had in the previous nine games combined.
Is A&M the laser-focused team that went on the road to control Florida? Or is it the team that eked out a victory at Mississippi State and was dominated in a loss at South Carolina?
There is an undeniable schizophrenia to the Aggies. Two games remain in the regular season. A possible championship is at stake.
From here, the Aggies must be the best versions of themselves.
They must be laser-focused on Auburn. Jordan-Hare Stadium can be treacherous.
The Aggies must excel in run defense. Auburn has rushed for 177 yards or more in its four victories. The Tigers have rushed for fewer than 150 yards in all their losses.
A&M must mount a pass rush. Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne is susceptible to interceptions, especially when pressured. Auburn’s offensive line has allowed at least three sacks in its last five games vs. SEC competition. A&M must capitalize on what should be an advantage at the line of scrimmage.
The Aggies have to run effectively. A&M ran for just 146 yards in the loss to Notre Dame and 144 vs. South Carolina. The loss of Moss hurts, but Amari Daniels has been highly productive in his place.
Receiver Cyrus Allen is now out for the season.
No other wideout has emerged as a consistent threat. Therefore, A&M quarterback Marcel Reed should continue to look for his tight ends more frequently.
If all that is accomplished, the Aggies can defeat Auburn and remain in the SEC championship race.
They’ve just got to be themselves. The good version, anyway.