When you turn the ball over 3 times, can't run the ball worth a damn and blow out the #15 team in the nation, you're good. Unless Arizona State turns into 2014 South Carolina, the Aggies just blasted a good football team and made a statement in the process.
First, let's talk about Kyle Allen. This guy went from losing his job to putting the stake in ASU. He was 9-19 coming into the 4th quarter for 88 yards, and looked like a totally different man upon his return after Kyler's injury. He knew he couldn't sit around and wait, because he wouldn't have the pass blocking. So he started getting the ball out quickly, his throws were on the money and when he saw a hole, he took off and ran. His 12-yard scramble really put the team into overdrive. He looked like what A&M was expecting in the 4th quarter. Kyler did some awesome things, but it was Allen that led A&M on the big scoring drives and got the touchdown run. When he started targeting Josh Reynolds, that's when he started to roll.
The playcalling, which was abysmal in the first half, got better somewhat in the second half. Coming out in 4 wides and the pistol on 4th and 1 is inexcusable, but the calls were better for Allen when he returned. Still, there's a whole lot that needs to be done. The offensive line "only" gave up 3 sacks, but Allen was pressured constantly in the first three quarters and Kyler was running for his life almost the whole time. The run blocking flat out stunk the whole game. For a team that placed an emphasis on being physical, they looked soft. The guards were bad the whole game. I don't know how Jeremiah Stuckey was out there after getting just abused on one of the three sacks, just on a base pass rush.
Now, let's talk about A&M's newest offensive superstar, Christian Kirk. Six catches for 106 yards, and a 79 yard punt return. He could well be the offensive player of the week. He was absolutely incredible when he gets into the open field, and he's only going to get more dangerous. That, in turn, will make Reynolds, RSJ and Noil more dangerous.
Now, the defense, the real superstars. How long has it been since you've thought that? The Aggies gave up 291 yards of total offense, and that's 95 yards less than they gave up on average last year. They had 14 tackles for loss and nine sacks. Myles Garrett had a great night and scared the hell out of ASU, and that allowed Daeshon Hall to go off. Hall had 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and nearly decapitated Mike Bercovici in the third quarter that helped keep the momentum on A&M's side. Qualen Cunningham also had a great night, getting some rest for Dae Dae and Garrett. Combined, Garrett and Hall had 15 tackles, 6 sacks, 6.5 TFL and 3 forced fumbles.
The interior of the line was a disaster last year, and it was great tonight even without a starter, Julien Obioha, out. Alonzo Williams did a really nice job anchoring the group, and Hardreck Walker had a great night too. Williams and Walker both had big plays in critical situations, stopping ASU drives with key stops on 3rd and short, including one inside the 5. Daylon Mack did a fantastic job in his first career game, with 6 tackles and a TFL. He even had one where he ran down one of ASU's backs from behind 8 yards downfield. He's a legitimate superstar. And that bunch will only get better when Henderson and Obioha return.
The linebackers, even though they are even more depleted now than before, did a very nice job tonight. Shaan Washington had 4 tackles, and most were in the 2 to 5 yard range, not 8 to 10 yards down the field. They did a good job stringing out screens and sweeps, letting other guys get to them. When you play a junior walkon for the majority of the game and 1) he does a solid job and makes all the right calls and 2) Nobody really notices a dropoff, that's a great job by the coaching staff.
The secondary was very, very impressive. Brandon Williams split time with Nick Harvey, but in the fourth quarter, he played a pass like a pro, giving the wideout no room on the sideline to stay in bounds if he caught it. That was special. Harvey did a really nice job several times when he had D.J. Foster in space.
Since this is train of thought, let's skip a second to tackling in space. A&M did a phenomenal job of that tonight. They were putrid at it last year. Harvey handled Foster well, Devante Harris handled him well and really, the most explosive player in the Pac-12 didn't break a tackle until the middle of the 3rd quarter. Their other wideouts were essentially useless. I don't know if that's because A&M's coverage was so good or they're so bad, but that was not impressive at all.
Justin Evans, on the other hand, was awesome. It's been a long time since A&M had a guy who can come up and hit from the safety position and do it because he was fast. He was vicious tonight, not just on defense but special teams. Gump Hayes started dropping passes because he was scared to death of Evans. That's not an overstatement. He took four hits from Evans early and that was it. He was looking around before he caught the ball. Armani Watts quietly led the team with 10 tackles. And Donovan Wilson was fantastic as the nickel. He was physical in pass coverage and was great rushing the passer, with 2 sacks and a batted ball.
All in all, the Aggie defense held ASU to 2.2 yards a rush, forced two turnovers, racked up 9 sacks and 14 TFL. Those are staggering totals against just about anyone, and this was the #15 team in the nation. The next couple of weeks, they should get healthier and, potentially, better.
The offense is a work in progress. Kevin Sumlin credited the blitzing style of ASU for giving A&M trouble, but you have to adjust as an offensive coach to that and they really didn't until Allen came back in. They have to do a lot better. But, if the defense plays like that all year, this team remains a playoff contender anyway.
How crazy is that?
First, let's talk about Kyle Allen. This guy went from losing his job to putting the stake in ASU. He was 9-19 coming into the 4th quarter for 88 yards, and looked like a totally different man upon his return after Kyler's injury. He knew he couldn't sit around and wait, because he wouldn't have the pass blocking. So he started getting the ball out quickly, his throws were on the money and when he saw a hole, he took off and ran. His 12-yard scramble really put the team into overdrive. He looked like what A&M was expecting in the 4th quarter. Kyler did some awesome things, but it was Allen that led A&M on the big scoring drives and got the touchdown run. When he started targeting Josh Reynolds, that's when he started to roll.
The playcalling, which was abysmal in the first half, got better somewhat in the second half. Coming out in 4 wides and the pistol on 4th and 1 is inexcusable, but the calls were better for Allen when he returned. Still, there's a whole lot that needs to be done. The offensive line "only" gave up 3 sacks, but Allen was pressured constantly in the first three quarters and Kyler was running for his life almost the whole time. The run blocking flat out stunk the whole game. For a team that placed an emphasis on being physical, they looked soft. The guards were bad the whole game. I don't know how Jeremiah Stuckey was out there after getting just abused on one of the three sacks, just on a base pass rush.
Now, let's talk about A&M's newest offensive superstar, Christian Kirk. Six catches for 106 yards, and a 79 yard punt return. He could well be the offensive player of the week. He was absolutely incredible when he gets into the open field, and he's only going to get more dangerous. That, in turn, will make Reynolds, RSJ and Noil more dangerous.
Now, the defense, the real superstars. How long has it been since you've thought that? The Aggies gave up 291 yards of total offense, and that's 95 yards less than they gave up on average last year. They had 14 tackles for loss and nine sacks. Myles Garrett had a great night and scared the hell out of ASU, and that allowed Daeshon Hall to go off. Hall had 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and nearly decapitated Mike Bercovici in the third quarter that helped keep the momentum on A&M's side. Qualen Cunningham also had a great night, getting some rest for Dae Dae and Garrett. Combined, Garrett and Hall had 15 tackles, 6 sacks, 6.5 TFL and 3 forced fumbles.
The interior of the line was a disaster last year, and it was great tonight even without a starter, Julien Obioha, out. Alonzo Williams did a really nice job anchoring the group, and Hardreck Walker had a great night too. Williams and Walker both had big plays in critical situations, stopping ASU drives with key stops on 3rd and short, including one inside the 5. Daylon Mack did a fantastic job in his first career game, with 6 tackles and a TFL. He even had one where he ran down one of ASU's backs from behind 8 yards downfield. He's a legitimate superstar. And that bunch will only get better when Henderson and Obioha return.
The linebackers, even though they are even more depleted now than before, did a very nice job tonight. Shaan Washington had 4 tackles, and most were in the 2 to 5 yard range, not 8 to 10 yards down the field. They did a good job stringing out screens and sweeps, letting other guys get to them. When you play a junior walkon for the majority of the game and 1) he does a solid job and makes all the right calls and 2) Nobody really notices a dropoff, that's a great job by the coaching staff.
The secondary was very, very impressive. Brandon Williams split time with Nick Harvey, but in the fourth quarter, he played a pass like a pro, giving the wideout no room on the sideline to stay in bounds if he caught it. That was special. Harvey did a really nice job several times when he had D.J. Foster in space.
Since this is train of thought, let's skip a second to tackling in space. A&M did a phenomenal job of that tonight. They were putrid at it last year. Harvey handled Foster well, Devante Harris handled him well and really, the most explosive player in the Pac-12 didn't break a tackle until the middle of the 3rd quarter. Their other wideouts were essentially useless. I don't know if that's because A&M's coverage was so good or they're so bad, but that was not impressive at all.
Justin Evans, on the other hand, was awesome. It's been a long time since A&M had a guy who can come up and hit from the safety position and do it because he was fast. He was vicious tonight, not just on defense but special teams. Gump Hayes started dropping passes because he was scared to death of Evans. That's not an overstatement. He took four hits from Evans early and that was it. He was looking around before he caught the ball. Armani Watts quietly led the team with 10 tackles. And Donovan Wilson was fantastic as the nickel. He was physical in pass coverage and was great rushing the passer, with 2 sacks and a batted ball.
All in all, the Aggie defense held ASU to 2.2 yards a rush, forced two turnovers, racked up 9 sacks and 14 TFL. Those are staggering totals against just about anyone, and this was the #15 team in the nation. The next couple of weeks, they should get healthier and, potentially, better.
The offense is a work in progress. Kevin Sumlin credited the blitzing style of ASU for giving A&M trouble, but you have to adjust as an offensive coach to that and they really didn't until Allen came back in. They have to do a lot better. But, if the defense plays like that all year, this team remains a playoff contender anyway.
How crazy is that?
