KEYS TO THE GAME: Texas A&M at t.u.

While Texas A&M has already punched their ticket to the College Football Playoff, there is plenty to play for as the Aggies head to Austin for the first time since 2010. A perfect regular season. An SEC title game berth. A first round bye. Pride.

Everyone knows how much this game means, so I won’t waste any more of your time and we will get right into the keys for the Aggies to take down the Longhorns.

Survive the script

This is an evergreen key when playing against a Steve Sarkisian offense. The Texas head coach is among the best in the country at putting together an opening script for an offense, and that script can go as deep as 20+ plays. However, once that script is exhausted, the Texas offense can get bogged down.

Anyone that follows Texas A&M knows that this year’s team is a second half team. In their last three SEC games, the Aggies have outscored their opponents 87-24 in the second half. In earlier games against Mississippi State and Florida, the Aggie offense used the run game to control the clock, protect their lead, and squeeze the life out of the Bulldogs and Gators.

Still, what the Aggies don’t need is to get down something like 14-3 in the first quarter and let the home crowd stay in the game. The chess match between Elko and Sark will be critical early.

Keep them off schedule

This is probably the biggest matchup in A&M’s favor. The Aggie defense ranks #1 in the country in average distance on 3rd down (9.11 yards) and #1 in 3rd down conversions (24.03%). The Texas offense is 118th in the country in average distance on 3rd down (7.66 yards), but a respectable 55th in 3rd down conversions (40.79%).

Coach Elko has been a wizard this season when it comes to dialing up pressure on 3rd and long. If A&M can keep Texas in unfavorable down and distances, they should be able to put pressure on Arch Manning.

Contain Collin Simmons

While the Texas defense lost some star power off of last year’s squad, defensive end Collin Simmons still shines. The future first-round pick leads the Longhorn defense in pressures by a significant margin (46 to Trey Moore’s 26) and has 10 sacks on the year (second in the SEC to Cashius Howell).

Texas A&M left tackle Trey Zuhn boasts the highest pass blocking grade in the country (per PFF) at 96.7. In 339 pass blocking snaps, Zuhn has allowed just 7 pressures. Zuhn isn’t the only standout, as the A&M offensive line might be the favorite to win the Joe Moore Award this year.

If the offensive line can keep Collin Simmons at bay, it will give Marcel Reed at the Aggie receivers a chance to take advantage of a Texas pass defense that has shown cracks in the latter half of the season.

The Texas run defense is stout, ranking 10th in EPA/rush and 30th in rushing success rate. The pass defense is a different story, ranking 56th in EPA/pass and 84th in passing success rate. The A&M offense ranks 6th in EPA/pass and 14th in passing success rate. A&M can have some success on the ground against Texas, but where they can really make hay is through the air. Reed, Concepcion, Craver, and ABR need to shine.

No special teams mistakes

The one true advantage I would say Texas has over A&M is in the special teams department. Both teams have great punt returners (Concepcion has been stellar for the Ags, while you could make the case that Ryan Niblett single-handedly won 2.5 games for the Horns).

However, it is the punt protection and field goal kicking that concerns me most. In two of their road games this year, A&M has had a punt blocked (one for a touchdown @ Notre Dame, one for a safety @ LSU). Both occurred in the first half. Even though A&M has been good enough to overcome those mistakes on the road so far, it just can’t happen this Friday. Hopefully Elko and his coaching staff have remedied those problems.

Where there may not be a remedy is at kicker. After Randy Bond missed two field goals against South Carolina (one of which was only 24 yards), Jared Zirkel handled field goals this past weekend against Samford. While he made kicks from 25 and 39 yards, he did miss one from 36. That was his first attempt, so maybe the jitters got to him.

Better yet, how about we just score touchdowns every drive so we don’t have to punt or attempt field goals?? Happy Thanksgiving and Beat The Hell Outta t.u.