A game that should be over is now one that is tied at halftime. That is incredibly frustrating.
First, let's talk about the play that turned the game around totally -- the interception in the end zone. That is absolutely unacceptable from Noah Thomas. That's an easy catch, right on his hands and he not only muffed it, but gave it right to USC. That totally flipped momentum after A&M had dominated the first quarter.
Marcel Reed has been good, and he's been bad. But he is getting NO help from his offensive line. They really want to throw deep, and he's had time to do it three times -- and two were picked. The one to Jabre Barber should have been thrown earlier, but the USC defender made a great play on it.
I have liked the playcalling for the most part. It's been more aggressive. They just haven't done a very good job executing (please, feel free to vomit). I've seen several drops and Reed is still getting sucked in to looking at one or two guys and missing others who are wide open.
The O-line, like I said, has sucked. USC does not get pressure on quarterbacks and they've had Reed running for his life most of the night. There's no excuse for it. This is a veteran group and even though Reed-Adams isn't out there, Fatheree is. I know the sack was on Tre Watson, but there's entirely too much pressure.
The running game has been ok. EJ Smith had a good run and Rueben Owens has been solid so far. But they haven't really broken anything big, and Reed hasn't run much at all. Jahdae Walker had an awesome catch on the deep ball.
I don't know why USC would even consider throwing the ball, because they're gouging A&M in the running game. They know A&M is undersized on the edges and have been able to take advantage of that -- but they're also having a lot of success running right up the gut. The linebackers, save for Taurean York, have been caught up in the wash and haven't been able to do anything.
Cashius Howell had a big sack and had another pressure, but we haven't seen much from anyone else. DJ Hicks had a big play on a pass deflection at the line, and BJ Mayes had a pick that saved the Aggies from being down going into the half. USC's only score came when they caught A&M in a blitz and threw over it, but there was also a pick and a hold on that play that weren't called.
ACC officials suck too. This group is terrible.
The Aggies needed to get into the locker room tied, because they needed a break to get momentum back. They had it all and then lost it on the interception. They can move the ball on USC if they can get some confidence back. They get the ball to start the second half, so hopefully they can get something moving right off the bat. If they don't change momentum, they're in trouble.
First, let's talk about the play that turned the game around totally -- the interception in the end zone. That is absolutely unacceptable from Noah Thomas. That's an easy catch, right on his hands and he not only muffed it, but gave it right to USC. That totally flipped momentum after A&M had dominated the first quarter.
Marcel Reed has been good, and he's been bad. But he is getting NO help from his offensive line. They really want to throw deep, and he's had time to do it three times -- and two were picked. The one to Jabre Barber should have been thrown earlier, but the USC defender made a great play on it.
I have liked the playcalling for the most part. It's been more aggressive. They just haven't done a very good job executing (please, feel free to vomit). I've seen several drops and Reed is still getting sucked in to looking at one or two guys and missing others who are wide open.
The O-line, like I said, has sucked. USC does not get pressure on quarterbacks and they've had Reed running for his life most of the night. There's no excuse for it. This is a veteran group and even though Reed-Adams isn't out there, Fatheree is. I know the sack was on Tre Watson, but there's entirely too much pressure.
The running game has been ok. EJ Smith had a good run and Rueben Owens has been solid so far. But they haven't really broken anything big, and Reed hasn't run much at all. Jahdae Walker had an awesome catch on the deep ball.
I don't know why USC would even consider throwing the ball, because they're gouging A&M in the running game. They know A&M is undersized on the edges and have been able to take advantage of that -- but they're also having a lot of success running right up the gut. The linebackers, save for Taurean York, have been caught up in the wash and haven't been able to do anything.
Cashius Howell had a big sack and had another pressure, but we haven't seen much from anyone else. DJ Hicks had a big play on a pass deflection at the line, and BJ Mayes had a pick that saved the Aggies from being down going into the half. USC's only score came when they caught A&M in a blitz and threw over it, but there was also a pick and a hold on that play that weren't called.
ACC officials suck too. This group is terrible.
The Aggies needed to get into the locker room tied, because they needed a break to get momentum back. They had it all and then lost it on the interception. They can move the ball on USC if they can get some confidence back. They get the ball to start the second half, so hopefully they can get something moving right off the bat. If they don't change momentum, they're in trouble.
