A&M's defense aims to test Carson Beck and Miami's passing attack

All college kids face big tests in December.

However, few tests are tougher than the one Texas A&M’s defensive players faces on Saturday against Miami’s passing game in the College Football Playoff.

The Aggies must find the right answers to limit Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck and contain Miami, which is ranked 19th in the nation in passing offense.

If they don’t, the Aggies’ season could come to a screeching halt at Kyle Field.

A&M coach Mike Elko has spent the last three weeks trying to devise ways to ensure the upcoming test won’t be a final exam.

“I think you want to impact him,” Elko said of Beck. “I think impacting quarterbacks is always critical. You start with kind of what they do well. You’ve got to try to create ways to impact and affect that.

“Some of that is trying to get him to hold the ball a little bit longer to give your rush a chance. Some of it is trying to take away some of the initial reads and looks. How you disguise things. Those types of things.”

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In his last four games, Carson Beck has thrown for 1,125 yards and 11 touchdowns with just one interceptions in Miami wins over Syracuse, NC State, Virginia Tech and Pitt.

Beck, the celebrated transfer from Georgia, has passed for 3,310 yards and 25 touchdowns. He’s the most productive quarterback A&M has faced all year.

Beck has exceeded 250 passing yards in seven games. He has been over 300 twice. He has thrown multiple touchdown passes in eight games. That includes at least three scoring throws in each of the last three games.

“(He’s a) really talented kid,” Elko said. “Obviously, has a lot of experience playing in these type of games. Played in these type of venues. And so he certainly will come in and, I’m sure, will be very comfortable. Elite arm talent and the ability to make throws all over the field. I really think he sees the game rally well.

“He’s played a lot of college football, and there’s certainly a seasoned quarterback. That’ll be a big challenge for us.”

That’s only part of the challenge, though.

Miami’s offensive line has allowed just 11 sacks all year. So, affecting Beck isn’t easy.

Also, Miami has one of the nation’s most explosive receivers in All-American Malachi Toney, who caught 84 passes for 970 yards.

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Malachi Toney set a Miami freshman record with 970 receiving yards. He was named the ACC’s Overall and Offensive Rookie of the Year.

“He’s a great young receiver,” A&M cornerback Will Lee III said. “He has special talents. We’ve got guys on our defense that we feel like can match up with him pretty well. So, hopefully, we’ll go out there and execute at a high level, and we’ll be just fine.”

Indeed, if A&M’s defense executes at a high level, they’ll likely ace the test.

A&M’s pass defense is the best Miami will have faced.

The Aggies are No. 21 in the nation in pass defense. The next highest-ranked pass defense Miami has faced is No. 27 Louisville. Beck threw four interceptions in a 24-21 loss to Louisville.

He also threw two interceptions in a 26-20 loss to SMU, which is ranked 135th in the nation in pass defense.

Actually, most of Miami’s opponents are ranked among the nation’s weakest pass defenses.

Six Hurricanes opponents, including SMU, are ranked 105th or worse. That includes Stanford (136), NC State (134), Syracuse (123), South Florida (109) and Pitt (105). That doesn’t include Bethune-Cookman, a 6-6 FCS team.

Also, Virginia Tech is 77th, and Florida is 78th.

A&M represents a significant challenge for the Hurricanes.

The Aggies have limited seven opponents to fewer than 200 passing yards. No A&M opponent managed 300 passing yards.

That doesn’t mean Beck won’t have a productive performance. It doesn’t mean Toney won’t make big plays.

But it does indicate Miami is facing a tough test, too.