One theme has become consistent when playing TA&M...

[maroonmania]

to beat them you HAVE to force turnovers. I'm thinking we need to force at least 4 turnovers to win, if we don't they will be very difficult to beat because they are more stopped on offense by mistakes than they are by punting on downs. We likely also need to score in the 30s to win as well. We will need to score TDs and not be settling for FGs.

 

[CadaverDawg]

Gotta play our best "bend but don't break" against them, and avoid giving up the big scoring plays.

ETA: Holding them to field goals is a win on Saturday

 

[missouridawg]

Really?

I'm not predicting us to win or anything, but Mullen has schemed quite well against running QBs in his time at State.

Exhibit A:
Tim Tebow only had 224 yards combined against us in 2009. (Florida had 376 total yards that game and averaged 457 yards per game that year)

Exhibit B:
Cam Newton only had 206 yards combined against us in 2010. (Auburn had 348 total yards that game and averaged 499 yards per game that year)

The reason we lost those two games is because our offense, while comparatively better than most previous State teams, was still not very good. We were held to under 300 yards of offense in both of those games.

I think we're in for a dog fight for sure... but if we play our A game, we don't need any turnovers to win it.

 

[411dawg]

I am too lazy to look up the numbers, but we contained shoelace in the Gator Bowl.

 

[jumpdawg]

My concern is not on designed runs, but containing him when we have good coverage. Similar to the third and long on the first drive sat night.

 

[maroonmania]

I'm not predicting us to win or anything, but Mullen has schemed quite well against running QBs in his time at State.

Exhibit A:
Tim Tebow only had 224 yards combined against us in 2009. (Florida had 376 total yards that game and averaged 457 yards per game that year)

Exhibit B:
Cam Newton only had 206 yards combined against us in 2010. (Auburn had 348 total yards that game and averaged 499 yards per game that year)

The reason we lost those two games is because our offense, while comparatively better than most previous State teams, was still not very good. We were held to under 300 yards of offense in both of those games.

I think we're in for a dog fight for sure... but if we play our A game, we don't need any turnovers to win it.

Maybe we will be able to do some things defensively to slow Manziel down that others haven't BUT the Aggies have been held below 48 points 3 times those being FL (17 points), OM (30 points) and LSU (19 points). Now in the OM game they had SIX turnovers and in the LSU game they had FIVE turnovers. There actually were no turnovers in the FL-A&M game but that one was Manziel's first college game ever so not sure they had things rolling yet at that time and FL has some great athletes on defense.

 

[Sutterkane]

Not disagreeing with you at all here, but in 09 and 10 we had 2 NFL level linebackers. Not sure if our corps this year stacks up to that level.

 

[Coach 57]

You forgot the most dangerous of them in the open field. Denard Robinson! I've said it before say it again. To beat this team we have to play cover 3 and spy him with Matthew Wells. We took a similar approach in the Gator Bowl Vs. "shoelace" with KJ. Dust off that strategy and impliment it this week.

 

[maroonmania]

You forgot the most dangerous of them in the open field. Denard Robinson! I've said it before say it again. To beat this team we have to play cover 3 and spy him with Matthew Wells. We took a similar approach in the Gator Bowl Vs. "shoelace" with KJ. Dust off that strategy and impliment it this week.

Two things though, first I'm not sure how to compare our 2010 defense with this one and second Denard Robinson couldn't pass the ball worth a flip, if I'm not mistaken Manziel averages around 300 yards/game or so through the air.

 

[SignalToNoise]

Biggest question: To implement Gator Bowl strategy, will we need Manny Diaz's magical air guitar?

 

[drt7891]

Manziel is nowhere near as confident from the pocket as he is on the run. He is dangerous when he breaks free because of the help he gets from his receivers. He also is more likely to turn the ball over from the pocket (my observations only... I'd love to study this and look at some numbers). LSU showed us exactly how to beat them... Keep him in the pocket, play zone, and contain the run (not that they have much of a running game). Do this and play our game on offense (running and eating up clock) and we will win. The same strategy we used for Tennessee.

 

[FISHDAWG]

no ... we need only to sacrifice SPANKY to the indians

 

[Palos verdes]

Correct. Chris White and KJ Wright were the best linebackers we've probably ever had. The guys we have on the field now just don't have the speed those guys had. Chris White was the fastest 250 pound LB I've ever seen and he had a knack for tackling. K J was also a tackling machine and a pass break-up specialist. We missed both of those guys last year and we miss them now. Hopefully, R. Brown and B. Brown can give us a boost next year. But I like how McKinney projects in the future and Lawrence plays his *** off! Those guys are critical for us.

Manziel worries me because we don't have the lateral speed to cut him off, or force him out of bounds in time. Lsu's defense had the speed that kept him in check, we don't. Substitutions will be made, but I feel like our offense will have to score 35-45 points to be on top. Maybe not if turnovers..but ball control is imperative! We really ..really ..really need to win this game!! If we don't the rest of the season could be disastrous!

 

[cofreb]

They lead the

SEC in rushing, and both Malena and Manziel are in the top 10 individually. Also, Manziel has a higher passer rating than T Russell in SEC games.

 

[drt7891]

I meant more to say they rely heavily on their

Passing attack and manziels feet more than their run game. Much like Tennessee, they wand to stretch the field vertically. I wasn't trying to say to totally disregard their run game, but just like Tennessee, they will not lean on it to win games. Contain it, but don't play to shut it down because more than likely, they aren't going to lean on it nearly as much.

 

[Maroonthirteen]

Correct. Chris White and KJ Wright were the best linebackers we've probably ever had. The guys we have on the field now just don't have the speed those guys had. .

Manziel worries me because we don't have the lateral speed to cut him off

Yep, lateral speed was exposed when Patterson of UT was hemmed up all the way to one sideline and then out ran everyone back across the field and still had enough separation to pick up 20 yards before someone with an angle could get to him.

I am very worried about this game and it all has to do with his speed. I am afraid our only chance to slow Manziel is to keep possession of the ball as long as possible. We are going to need some long, clock eating drives........and finish the drives with TDs obviously. I am seeing a 42-35 ball game.