Four Downs: Texas A&M
Featuring Sports Editor Dylan Rubino (@drubino11) and football writer Cody Thomason (@thecodythomason)
1. This game has a sense of a let down game for the Rebels, coming off such a big high point with the win over Alabama. Do you sense that and do you feel as if the Rebels will still be distracted because of the big win?
Dylan- It will be a hard task to forget about the program-building win over Alabama, but it something that must be done in order to continue the journey. The win over Alabama, with College GameDay in Oxford and the storming of the field, will never be forgotten and will be cherished forever. The win must be put behind them and the focus must be put on Texas A&M. My sense from practice this week is that the players have forgotten it and moved on to the Aggies. Playing at Kyle Field with over 100,000 fans is something you must prepare intensely for. We’ll see if that is true come Saturday.
Cody- With all the emotion that was poured into the upset of Alabama, a game that most people picked Ole Miss to lose, I think there could be a let down on Saturday. The win meant tons to the team and the student body, and the athletes had to give everything they had to pull off the win. Having another game that would take that type of effort will certainly make it a challenge for the Rebels to duplicate their performance.
2. What problems does the Aggie offense oppose to the Ole Miss defense?
Dylan- In some ways, the Ole Miss offense is very similar to the Texas A&M offense. The passing game is the main way both offenses approach the game. A&M likes to spread you out and get rid of the ball quickly to their big, quick receivers and keep the tempo in their favor. Tempo and momentum are a big part of Kevin Sumlin’s offensive game plan. The Ole Miss defense is used to playing this type of offense in practice every day. Aggie quarterback Kenny Hill is more a prototypical pocket passer and different than former quarterback Johnny Manziel, who liked to use his legs to make plays. Because of Manziel’s ability to run, Ole Miss would use a spy on him to make sure he doesn’t run anywhere, which would give them one less defender against the pass. Hill should be easier to defend.
Cody- The biggest problem for Ole Miss with the Texas A&M offense is surprisingly not quarterback Kenny Hill. It’s the offensive line protecting him. They have a veteran group with multiple players expected to play at the next level. If they keep the Rebels’ defensive line from effectively rushing the passer, Hill could have a strong day. The key to containing Hill is to keep him under pressure, and that all starts with getting past the Aggie offensive line.
3. Texas A&M’s 12th Man is known as the best home field advantage in college football. Do you see this causing problem for the Ole Miss offense?
Dylan- I could definitely see the home crowd at Kyle Field causing some problems early for Ole Miss. This is the first true road test for Ole Miss so far this season and it comes at the wrong time. The Rebels haven’t seen any crowd like they will at Kyle Field Saturday. The fans will be rowdy and excited, especially after the loss to Mississippi State, to take down the other teaming the Magnolia State. A win against a top five team at home could propel Texas A&M back in discussion for the SEC crown. I have complete confidence in the Rebels to come up with a strategy to communicate better in a hostile environment.
Cody- I think any time a team goes into a stadium as loud as Kyle Field for the first time it’s going to cause some problems. Some of the Rebel starters have experience with loud stadiums such as Death Valley and Bryant-Denny stadium, but some of the newer offensive lineman have not, meaning there could be some false start penalties on the Rebels because of this. The fans, as well as the team, should be chomping at the bit to take on a top 3 team after their upset loss to Mississippi State last week.
4. The Aggies struggle against the run. Can Ole Miss make a statement Saturday and establish a strong presence in the run game?
Dylan- The way the offensive line played against Alabama, the running game can make big strides against a weak Texas A&M run defense. Against a strong defensive front for Alabama, the Rebels only ran for 72 yards, with Jaylen Walton leading the way with 11 carries for 39 yards. The big runs of the game came from Bo Wallace, who made big runs to move the chains on third downs. Mississippi State ran for 280 yards against Texas A&M last Saturday, giving up five touchdowns on the ground. The Rebels can make a big statement Saturday by keeping a balanced offensive attack and establishing a strong run game.
Cody- While the Aggie offense is known for putting up points in bunches, the defense is known for giving them up. Although they have some talent, their run defense is still far from where it needs to be to adequately face a SEC rushing attack. The Rebels should be able to run the ball much easier than against Alabama, and a speedy back like Jaylen Walton could have a great day against the Aggies. Look for the Rebels to come out running early, and have a good day on the ground.
