The Aggies continued their winning ways by controlling their contest against Mississippi State to a 31-9 victory. Next up for Texas A&M is a contest against a Florida Gators squad riding high after a victory over Texas. What do the Aggies need in the trenches to keep the momentum rolling?
Let’s dive in!
Offensive Line
Texas A&M’s offensive line controlled the trenches against Mississippi State, establishing the run game to the tune of over 300 yards. Additionally, Marcel Reed was sacked just once. Still, it was far
from a perfect performance as penalties once again played a role. That will need to be fixed against a Florida defense that represents a massive challenge.
Against Texas, the Gators sacked Arch Manning six times. I believe that performance is more indicative of problems with the Texas offensive line than it is representative of how good Florida is at rushing the passer. However, this is still an incredibly talented unit, shown by Florida ranking 26th in the nation in rushing defense.
The Texas A&M offense has looked much more like the run-heavy team we expected so far in SEC play. I don’t know that they’ll be able to establish the run quite as well against Florida. Going back to my first point, a clean game is vital here. The offensive line needs to avoid penalties and have enough success on early downs to keep third downs manageable. Avoiding getting behind the chains is of the utmost importance here; otherwise, this game could turn into a contest similar to Auburn.
Defensive Line
Up until last week, this Florida offense had been near non-existent. The Gators put up just 33 points across 3 FBS games. Against Texas, the offense seemed to come alive. What changed?
Dallas Wilson made his debut for the Gators at wide receiver, giving DJ Lagway a clear number one target.
How can the Aggies avoid a fate similar to Texas regarding Dallas Wilson?
Win on the early downs and force DJ Lagway into long third downs, where you can bring exotics and create pressure on the young quarterback. While Florida’s offensive line looked much better last time out, I firmly believe the Aggies are up to the task. If Texas A&M keeps the gap integrity and discipline we’ve seen over the last two games, Florida won’t be able to get the rushing attack going like they did against Texas.
From there, I believe the Aggies turn up the heat on Lagway. Wilson will likely still have some big plays, but if the defensive line forces Lagway into quick throws, the damage will be limited.
Texas A&M needs to jump out to an early lead in this one. If they give the Gators hope, this gets dangerous. If the Aggies start fast, I expect Florida to crater. Early and often will be the motto of the day.
