Game preview: Texas A&M's offense vs. Arkansas' defense
AggieYell.com’s preview of the matchup between No. 4 Texas A&M (6-0, 3-0 SEC) and Arkansas (2-4, 0-2 SEC) begins with a look at the Aggie offense against the Razorbacks defense.
Where, when, weather and TV
Where: Frank W. Reynolds Stadium, Fayetteville, Ark.
When: 2:30 p.m. central time, Saturday, Oct. 18
Weather: Thunderstorms, some severe, are expected before gametime and during the game. Temperatures in the low 70s, dropping through the 60s during the game.
TV: ESPN (Mark Jones, play-by-play; Roddy Jones, analyst; Quint Kessenich, sideline)
Texas A&M offensive depth chart
QB: #10, Marcel Reed (6-1, 185, R-So.)
#16, Miles O’Neill (6-5, 220, R-Fr.)
#13, Brady Hart (6-4, 195, Fr.) OR #9, Jacob Zeno (6-2, 215, Gr.)
RB: #8, Le’Veon Moss (5-11, 210, Sr.)
#4, Rueben Owens II (5-11, 215, R-So.)
#5, Amari Daniels (5-8, 197, R-Sr.) OR #23, Jamarion Morrow (5-9, 205, Fr.) OR #22, EJ Smith (5-11, 211, Gr.)
WR: #7, KC Concepcion (5-11, 190, Jr.)
#18, TK Norman (6-0, 182, Fr.)
WR: #1, Mario Craver (5-9, 165, So.) OR #2, Terry Bussey (5-10, 195, So.)
#0, Izaiah Williams (5-11, 185, R-Fr.)
WR: #3, Ashton Bethel-Roman (6-0, 185, R-Fr.) OR #2, Terry Bussey (5-10, 195, So.)
#11, Kelshaun Johnson (5-11, 168, Fr.)
TE: #17, Theo Melin Öhrström (6-6, 257, R-Jr.) OR #87, Nate Boerkircher (6-4, 250, Gr.) OR #84, Amari Niblack (6-3, 235, Sr.)
#88, Micah Riley (6-5, 257, R-Jr.)
#21, Kiotti Armstrong (6-5, 275, Fr.)
LT: #60, Trey Zuhn III (6-6, 319, Gr.) OR #76, Reuben Fatheree (6-7, 333, Gr.)
#79, Lamont Rogers (6-6, 337, Fr.)
LG: #71, Chase Bisontis (6-5, 315, Jr.)
#73, Ashton Funk (6-6, 322, R-Fr.) OR #77, Tyler Thomas (6-4, 329, Fr.)
C: #54, Mark Nabou (6-3, 322, R-So.) OR #60, Trey Zuhn III (6-6, 319, Gr.)
#61, Koli Faaiu (6-3, 333, Sr.)
RG: #55, Ar’maj Reed-Adams (6-5, 325, Gr.)
#52, Blake Ivy (6-3, 336, R-Fr.)
RT: #78, Dametrious Crownover (6-7, 336, Gr.)
#70, Robert Bourdon (6-6, 318, R-Fr.)
Arkansas defensive depth chart
DE: #97, Quincy Rhodes Jr. (6-6, 275, Jr.)
#9, Charlie Collins (6-5, 255, So.)
#44, Frank Mulipola (6-4, 274, RS-Sr.)
DT: #5, Cam Ball (6-5, 323, RS-Sr.)
#54, Keyshawn Blackstock (6-5, 320, RS-Sr.)
#91, Kevin Oatis (6-3, 289, Fr.)
DT: #95, Ian Geffard (6-5, 387, RS-So.)
#88, Danny Saili (6-3, 319, Sr.)
DE: #0, Justus Boone (6-4, 278, RS-Sr.) OR #1, Phillip Lee (6-4, 240, RS-Sr.)
#6, Kavion Henderson (6-2, 257, RS-Fr.)
LB: #14, Stephen Dix Jr. (6-1, 246, RS-Sr.)
#7, Bradley Shaw (6-1, 237, So.)
#42, Wyatt Simmons (6-1, 225, RS-Fr.) OR #24, Andrew Harris Jr. (6-3, 220, Jr.)
LB: #10, Xavian Sorey Jr. (6-3, 225, RS-Sr.)
#26, Trent Whalen (6-3, 238, RS-Sr.)
#25, Tavion Wallace (6-1, 239, Fr.)
CB: #23, Julian Neal (6-2, 208, RS-Sr.)
#2, Selman Bridges (6-2, 185, So.) OR #21, Keshawn Davila Jr. (6-1, 165, Jr.)
S: #16, Miguel Mitchell (6-1, 222, RS-Jr.) OR #22, Caleb Wooden (6-1, 195, Sr.)
S: #3, Larry Worth III (6-4, 226, Sr.)
#8, Quentavius Scandrett (6-3, 210, Sr.)
CB: #13, Kani Walker (6-2, 204, RS-Sr.)
#15, Jaheim Singletary (6-2, 201, RS-Jr.)
NICKEL: #4, Jordan Young (6, 198, RS-Sr.)
#19, Shakur Small (6, 209, RS-Sr.)
Injury update
Texas A&M: RB Le’Veon Moss (ankle) is out.
Arkansas: DB Quentavius Scandrett and DLs Danny Saili and David Oke are all out.
Texas A&M offensive statistical leaders
Passing: Reed, 102-170 (60%), 1,490 yards, 12 TD, 4 INT
O’Neill, 4-7, 101 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Moss, 70 carries, 380 yards (5.6 YPC), 6 TD
Owens, 56 carries, 327 yards (5.8 YPC), 1 TD
Reed, 45 carries, 186 yards (4.1 YPC), 3 TD
Receiving: Craver, 32 receptions, 634 yards (19.8 YPC), 4 TD
Concepcion, 28 receptions, 447 yards (16 YPC), 5 TD
Bussey, 9 catches, 110 yards (12.2 YPC), 1 TD
Arkansas defensive statistical leaders
Tackles: Dix, 44
Sorey, 42
Neal, 34
Tackles for loss: Rhodes, 7.5
Lee, 5
Geffard and Shaw, 2.5
Sacks: Rhodes, 5
Lee, 2.5
Interceptions: Neal, 2
Sorey and Mitchell, 1
Forced fumbles: Smalls, 2
Sorey and Shaw, 1
Fumble recoveries: Smalls and Devin Bale, 1
Head to head: Texas A&M’s offense vs. Arkansas’ defense
| Category | Texas A&M | National/SEC rank | Category | Arkansas | National/SEC rank |
| Scoring offense | 34.7 PPG | 37th/7th | Scoring defense | 30.7 | 117th/16th |
| Total offense | 458.5 YPG | 25th/6th | Total defense | 435 YPG | 120th/16th |
| Rushing offense | 193.3 YPG | 36th/6th | Rushing defense | 184 YPG | 113th/16th |
| Passing offense | 265.2 YPG | 35th/6th | Passing defense | 251 YPG | 114/16th |
| First downs | 134 | 54th/8th | First downs allowed | 140 | 113th/16th |
| Third down conversion % | 38.8% | 82nd/13th | Third down defense | 44.6% | 116th/16th |
| Red zone % | 95.2% | 16th/5th | Red zone defense | 92% | 118th/14th |
| Sacks allowed per game | 1.17 | 25th/3rd | Sacks per game | 1.83 | 83rd/10th |
| Tackles for loss allowed per game | 2.83 | 2nd/1st | Tackles for loss per game | 5.7 | 62nd/7th |
| Turnovers | 5 | 21st/3rd | Turnovers forced | 6 | 87th/9th |
| Turnover +/- | +1 | 57th/9th | Turnover +/- | -5 | 119th/15th |
| Time of possession | 32:15 | 34th/4th | Time of possession | 29:57 | 67th/11th |
What A&M wants to do
Really, it depends on the weather. If they do try to get this game in on schedule (it all depends on lightning), then it’s going to be a running game. A&M may try to make it a running game anyway, as they’ve dominated time of possession the last two games and doing that again Saturday would keep Arkansas’ explosive offense off the field.
The Razorbacks have been gashed on the ground by every FBS opponent they’ve played. Arkansas State ran for 153 yards, Ole Miss for 118 (they threw for 357), Memphis for 290, Notre Dame for 210 (they also threw for 431 yards) and, last week Tennessee ran for 264. A&M’s running game has been better than all of them. Arkansas has size up front, but they don’t move well. The Aggies have size on the offensive line, but they do move well.
If and when the weather clears up, A&M likely can do what it wants to. But they’ve been grinding down opponents the last couple of weeks until they break. I could see the Aggies doing that again, and using playaction to get the ball to Craver and Concepcion for chunk plays.
A&M’s going to move the ball tomorrow, rain or shine. They need to avoid two things: overconfidence and turnovers. If they don’t help Arkansas out, then the Razorbacks will likely be in trouble.
How Arkansas may try to respond
By throwing everything out and starting from scratch. The Razorbacks are at the absolute bottom of the SEC in every important statistical category, and it’s not close. So they clearly need to do something differently, and maybe they simplify things.
What they need to do against the Aggies is pretty simple: slow down the running game and get pressure on Reed — and hopefully get a turnover or two. Last weekend at Tennessee, they gave up those 264 rushing yards, didn’t get a sack and only had 2 tackles for loss. Arkansas has given up more yards than the 485 they gave up to Tennessee, but the defensive line has not had a game where they made less of an impact.
Against their Power 4 opponents, they’ve managed 2 sacks in three games. They can’t afford another shutout Saturday. Rhodes and company have to be able to not only slow down the run, but get after Reed and force him into some ill-advised throws.
Arkansas picked up all six of their turnovers against Alabama A&M, Arkansas State and Memphis. They didn’t turn Ole Miss, Notre Dame or Tennessee over at all. That has to change in a big way if they’re going to have a chance against A&M.
