They've got a new look. They're relaxed. They're having fun again.
And they're playing like crap.
To be up only 17-7 on Abilene Christian is pathetic. There's no other way to put it. A&M clearly didn't get themselves up for this game and it's showing.
First off, ACU's defensive staff is outscheming Steve Addazio and Bobby Petrino. Jaylen Henderson has been sacked 4 times, including one that became a pick six, and they're just bringing more guys than A&M can pick up. If A&M went 4 wides, they blitzed. It's the same thing, off the edge, and they're doing it repeatedly. And A&M didn't adjust to it until late in the half, and they gave up another sack anyway.
When Henderson has had time, he's been fine. 12-18, 134 yards and a touchdown. It's been having time that's been the issue. He's still a little indecisive and that has hurt, but when you have to run around to avoid pressure, it makes it a lot tougher. His first pass was his best, a 40-yarder to Jahdae Walker. The 13-yard touchdown to Noah Thomas was also really nice.
The running game is a joke. Rueben Owens has 50 yards on 7 carries, but more than half of that came on one run. ACU has schemed Henderson far better than Mississippi State did and Amari Daniels has done next to nothing. The offensive line, which has a huge size advantage, is getting no push. It's an absolute embarrassment and if E-Rob wants to do something positive, he'd get permission to fire Addazio today.
We're seeing what Bobby Petrino does without Jimbo's influence. The scheme is much the same, but the tempo is much faster. It's had mixed results, but I like the changeup.
On defense, we're seeing what Jimbo's influence was. DJ Durkin has reverted to his 2022 tendencies, with3-man fronts and no blitzing. The nation's top team in tackles for loss and sacks per game has 2 TFL against a crap FCS team and no sacks -- virtually no pressure. I understand that ACU isn't going to do much, period, but still, doing the things you need to do against SEC opponents would not be a bad thing to practice.
Deuce Harmon has had a really good game so far. Blaine Taylor is a huge size mismatch, but Harmon has held him down. Edgerrin Cooper is playing well. Outside of that, you're giving up 5.4 yards a carry to a trash FCS team. You've made them punt 6 times and they haven't scored offensively, but A&M should absolutely overwhelm these guys.
Nik Constatinou has his grove back, but kickoffs and coverage are still an issue. It's going to bite them against LSU if they don't get a clue.
There's not much to be happy about here. If E-Rob was hoping to use this as his audition tape, he'd better really hope the second half is a lot better because this team would be run by nearly any SEC team if they played like this.
And they're playing like crap.
To be up only 17-7 on Abilene Christian is pathetic. There's no other way to put it. A&M clearly didn't get themselves up for this game and it's showing.
First off, ACU's defensive staff is outscheming Steve Addazio and Bobby Petrino. Jaylen Henderson has been sacked 4 times, including one that became a pick six, and they're just bringing more guys than A&M can pick up. If A&M went 4 wides, they blitzed. It's the same thing, off the edge, and they're doing it repeatedly. And A&M didn't adjust to it until late in the half, and they gave up another sack anyway.
When Henderson has had time, he's been fine. 12-18, 134 yards and a touchdown. It's been having time that's been the issue. He's still a little indecisive and that has hurt, but when you have to run around to avoid pressure, it makes it a lot tougher. His first pass was his best, a 40-yarder to Jahdae Walker. The 13-yard touchdown to Noah Thomas was also really nice.
The running game is a joke. Rueben Owens has 50 yards on 7 carries, but more than half of that came on one run. ACU has schemed Henderson far better than Mississippi State did and Amari Daniels has done next to nothing. The offensive line, which has a huge size advantage, is getting no push. It's an absolute embarrassment and if E-Rob wants to do something positive, he'd get permission to fire Addazio today.
We're seeing what Bobby Petrino does without Jimbo's influence. The scheme is much the same, but the tempo is much faster. It's had mixed results, but I like the changeup.
On defense, we're seeing what Jimbo's influence was. DJ Durkin has reverted to his 2022 tendencies, with3-man fronts and no blitzing. The nation's top team in tackles for loss and sacks per game has 2 TFL against a crap FCS team and no sacks -- virtually no pressure. I understand that ACU isn't going to do much, period, but still, doing the things you need to do against SEC opponents would not be a bad thing to practice.
Deuce Harmon has had a really good game so far. Blaine Taylor is a huge size mismatch, but Harmon has held him down. Edgerrin Cooper is playing well. Outside of that, you're giving up 5.4 yards a carry to a trash FCS team. You've made them punt 6 times and they haven't scored offensively, but A&M should absolutely overwhelm these guys.
Nik Constatinou has his grove back, but kickoffs and coverage are still an issue. It's going to bite them against LSU if they don't get a clue.
There's not much to be happy about here. If E-Rob was hoping to use this as his audition tape, he'd better really hope the second half is a lot better because this team would be run by nearly any SEC team if they played like this.
