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Halftime observations

Mark Passwaters

Well-Known Member
Staff
Dec 4, 2003
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Well, this is turning out to be your typical A&M-Arkansas game. The Hogs are throwing the kitchen sink at A&M and the Aggies are just letting them hang around.

Offensively, they haven't been good. Marcel Reed is 5-13 for 103 yards and a touchdown. He hasn't been picked off, but he's not running a whole lot either. The playcalling, bluntly, has been horrible. There is absolutely no inventiveness, and the consistent run up the gut on 2nd down has gotten so stale everyone knows it's coming.
Reed is homed in on Noah Thomas. He's targeted him seven times already. On the long overthrow to Cyrus Allen, he had Tre Watson wide open in the middle of the field and didn't look at him. He has made a couple of nice throws where he worked the possession, but there's been way too much of targeting one guy and letting it rip.
The offensive line has been a disappointment so far. The Aggies are averaging 2.6 yards a carry -- which may have something to do with their refusal to do anything except run it straight up the gut. If you're going to do that, do it on first down, not second, and do it with LeVeon Moss, not EJ Smith or Amari Daniels.
I'm gobsmacked by the lack of invention in the offense. Their last four drives, A&M had 14 total yards, and they wasted great field position each time.

Defensively, the Aggies have turned it on after a really bad start. Taylen Green is 10-20 for 172 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He is getting pressured nearly every time he throws and after the blown coverage on the touchdown by Teesla he's been in a position where he has to run or throw it away.
Shemar Stewart is making himself some money today. He's been all over the place and forced a brutal fumble to set up A&M's second touchdown. Nic Scourton has 2 tackles, both for loss, including a sack. A&M's defensive ends have eaten Arkansas' tackles alive.
The linebacker play has not been good. They've been running themselves out of plays and bit on misdirection early. The Aggies have stuffed Ja'Quinden Jackson (5 carries, 12 yards), but it was the jet sweeps that got them. So far, Green has 7 carries for -10 yards.
The corners have played really well save for one or two plays. Will Lee has been very good, and should have had an interception. Dezz Ricks DOES have an interception, his first of his career. Cashius Howell almost had a pick six. They're frustrating Green and forcing mistakes. On their last five possessions, Arkansas has 59 yards of offense. Most of that was on the last drive of the half, that ended with a turnover.

Tyler White has been remarkable so far punting the ball. He's the MVP at this point. But the punt coverage...yeesh. Wake up, guys. They're at the 46, and that's perfect range for a fake. Terrible.

If the Aggies can just show some semblance of something new offensively, and Reed runs a little, they should be ok. Arkansas isn't doing much unless A&M screws up. And they're all over Green. But this is Jerryworld, and weird stuff happens every time. Buckle up.
 
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