A&M secondary needs to limit mistakes against potent Rebel aerial attack

The road to recovery may be no road at all.

A once-surging Texas A&M football season has soured with back-to-back road losses at Mississippi State and Auburn. Therefore, a return to Kyle Field to face Ole Miss at 11 a.m. on Saturday may be just what the Aggies (5-4, 3-3 in the Southeastern Conference) need to recover.

Recovery, though, more likely will depend on coverage. 

In those two disappointing losses, A&M’s maligned secondary floundered at the worst possible times — third-and-long vs. Mississippi State and fourth quarter vs. Auburn. The Aggies must contend with the passing game of Ole Miss (5-4, 1-4), which is dangerous and doesn’t wait to strike.

“Every play you’re on pins and needles,” A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said. “They throw it deep a bunch and make plays. They’re very dynamic in what they do.”

So dynamic, in fact, that Ole Miss is fourth in the nation in passing offense. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu leads the SEC in passing. A.J. Brown leads the SEC in receiving. Ole Miss also leads the nation with 34 pass plays of at least 30 yards.

“Their receivers can all hit home runs,” Fisher said. “Their back (Scottie Phillips) is a very good back. The quarterback is athletic, has legs and can make throws. They RPO (run/pass option) you. They get you in those RPOs and isolate those receivers and what they’re doing.”

Andrew Kilzer, TexAgs

The A&M secondary will have to be stout against Ole Miss' high-powered offense.

Ta’amu is also a strong runner, though he may be limited this week. He injured a foot last week and was unable to finish in a 48-88 loss to South Carolina. He’s expected to be back in the lineup against the Aggies, but his mobility may be limited.

But as long as he can throw he’s a major threat to A&M, which is 82nd in the nation in passing defense and has allowed 21 pass completions of 30 yards or more.

That may seem ominous, but Ole Miss has some issues, too. Ole Miss allows an average of 210 rushing yards per game and 298.1 passing yards. The Rebels rank 124th in the nation in total defense. They have allowed an average of 36.1 points per game.

A&M running back Trayveon Williams rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 28-24 loss to Auburn. That was one of five games in which he’s exceeded 100 rushing yards. He projects to be even more productive against Ole Miss.

“Whenever you get the opportunity to go out there and compete in the SEC, especially at Kyle, it’s a great opportunity,” Williams said. “This will be a great matchup for us running the ball and through the air as well.

“If we can execute and do our jobs we feel like nobody in the country can stop us. We just have to go out there and focus on ourselves and play the best ball we can. The results will come.”