A&M offense looking for a big day against SMU

[me@smu]

They don't paint a very good picture for us...thank good sports writers don't determine the outcome.

From A&M's rivals site:

A week ago SMU's defense shut down No. 22 TCU. The Horned Frogs could only muster one field goal on offense just a week after beating Oklahoma 17-10 in Norman.

A&M junior running back Courtney Lewis could be in for a big day against SMU.
But TCU quarterback Tye Gunn isn't exactly Texas A&M quarterback Reggie McNeal, and the Aggies offense is better than anything the Mustangs have seen, or will see, this season.

Of A&M didn't have the offensive production they had hoped for in their season opening loss, but they still managed to take Clemson down to the wire with a fourth quarter comeback in Death Valley.

So, how exactly does A&M's offense match up with the Mustang defense - check out below. But be warned, it isn't pretty and parental discretion is advised.

A&M rushing offense v. SMU rushing defense

SMU has given up 167 yards on the ground per game, 215 to Baylor, this season, and A&M junior running back Courtney Lewis is the best they'll face all season long. Expect Lewis to chew up lots of yards and for redshirt freshman Samson Taylor and true freshman Jorvorskie Lane to finish it off.

Junior Defensive lineman Justin Rogers leads the Mustang front seven, and he is fifth on the team in tackles with 10, behind three defensive backs and a linebacker.

Expect Lewis and McNeal to have big games on the ground.

Edge: A&M

A&M passing offense v. SMU passing defense

A&M receivers had a shaky game against Clemson with a lot of dropped passes and just one receiving touchdown, in the fourth quarter no less, but expect the Aggie receivers to have a big game to get back on track.

Senior Deqawn Mobley was the best receiver by far during the off-season, so expect to see him bounce back in a big way.

McNeal didn't have his best performance either against Clemson in the passing game.

SMU's defensive backfield is solid with a lot of experience starting three seniors and a junior. Senior safety Jamey Harper is the best of the bunch and will be dangerous in the defensive backfield. With him is senior safety Alvin Nnabuife, who is equally good.

Edge: EVEN until A&M plays to their potential

In the Trenches

The A&M offensive line had a better game against Clemson than expected despite starting a line with three sophomores and only one senior.

Baylor, on the other hand, pushed around SMU, on the line of scrimmage, and although they looked better against TCU, they are not on A&M's level.

It's going to get ugly in the trenches in A&M's favor, giving head coach Dennis Franchione and offensive coordinator Les Koenning opportunity to play the second team for much of the second half.

Edge: A&M

[The PonyGrad]

A mindless analysis based on wishful thinking.

Not that A&M is the decided favorite, but really.

[HorsePower]

If sportswriters were able to foresee the future, we would have lost to TCU, 35-10, and Calvin Watkins would be making millions in Vegas, not working for Belo.

Besides, if a writer doesn't grasp basic grammatical agreement (i.e. "Edge: EVEN until A&M plays to ITS potential, not THEIR potential), can you really put stock in his analysis? I don't.

[Bocephus]

Was this A&Ms rival site or SMUs?

We should be better than you at every position and we should beat you by a sizable margin. However, football is not a game of shoulds.

Fran's teams tend to start of the season slow. my bet is the score is close until the 3rd quarter when we open up a comfortable lead and put the backups in. We win 38-17 or something like that. Don't expect to see Samson Taylor play much if at all.

[RGV Pony]

Two things stick out about the commentary quoted in this thread. First, it's somewhat difficult to follow because of the grammar/diction. Second, I question whether Courtney Lewis is in fact 'the best' SMU will see all year...my vote would be the UCLA-ex we'll see vs. UTEP.

[LakeHighlandsPony]

Well we faced a better offense last year-Darth Leach and the Sand Aggies! We kept them in check pretty good.

[Col. Nathan R. Jessep]

A$M will be tough, no doubt.

But I'm betting Coach has watched the Cotton Bowl w/ Tenn... Throw vertical & pass often against their weakest link: their Secondary.
Can't hide all 4 of 'em!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[abezontar]

I'm a little nervous, while we did hold Tech's offense in check when we played them at home, the story at their stadium has been quite different. We are on the road, now would be as good as time as any to show the improvement we have seen at home on the road.

[AgFan]

The biggest thing that killed A&M in the Cotton Bowl were turnovers!
A&M turned the ball over something like only 8 times during the regular season and then had 5 turnovers in the Cotton Bowl. A&M turned the ball over 3 times in their first 4 possessions. Tennessee's 2nd touchdown was on like a 25 yard drive after a TO. Tennessee's 3rd TD was an 8 yard drive after a TO. Because of the mistakes A&M got down huge and it just kept rolling.

[Mustangs35SMU]

true freshman Jorvorskie Lane

BOOOOO!!!!!

[Col. Nathan R. Jessep]

The biggest thing that killed A&M in the Cotton Bowl were turnovers!
.

-
Dear Crewcut:

Turnovers?????? Of course , you're right (choke, gag, cough)
It was 38-0 before you scored

Tenn v A$M--
1st downs 32-17
UT nearly 500 yds total offense
Time of Poss: 40+ min- 19 min

Give us that same game on Sat, please.

[huntnfish]

I agree, throw vertical like the Tenn. game, but we can't throw vertical.

[The PonyGrad]

Exactly. We will need to establish a part of our offense that has yet to exist. A risky business.

Or is it more a matter of catching the vertical pass than throwing it?

[JCC30]

Col. Nathan R. Jessep

How did SMU do in its bowl game last year?

[The PonyGrad]

Undefeated! Allowed zero points!