Study guide for the Tide: The long list of tasks required for an A&M upset

A C-minus on an open book test doesn’t inspire much confidence for a major exam.

That’s kind of the situation Texas A&M is in. The Aggies’ lackluster 17-12 football season-opening victory over Vanderbilt doesn’t bode well for facing Alabama on Saturday.

Alabama is a perennial powerhouse. Vanderbilt is a perennial power outage.

Of course, the poet once said: “It’s always darkest before the dawn.”

On Monday, the Aggies were looking East in anticipation of a spectacular sunrise.

“We will be prepared for (Alabama),” senior defensive tackle Jayden Peevy said.

Added sophomore running back Isaiah Spiller: “I feel like we had a lot of mistakes (against Vanderbilt) that we need to clean up, and we’ll be fine.”

Coach Jimbo Fisher echoed that opinion.

“There are some things we have to clean up and get a lot better at,” he said. “We have to learn to execute on both sides of the ball and on special teams. Have to see where those issues are. They’re very fixable. The guys can plenty do the job.”

Facing Alabama isn’t just any big job. It’s the biggest. It’s college football’s version of painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling, digging the Panama Canal or constructing Hoover Dam.

All those were accomplished, but not without great attention to detail and some luck.

A few details A&M must address in Tuscaloosa include:

Eliminate turnovers: That’s cliché, of course, but the old adage has proven true against Alabama. The Aggies did not commit a turnover in their only SEC win over Alabama (2012). Alabama had three miscues in that game. Since, then Alabama has forced 15 A&M turnovers, five of which were returned for touchdowns. That does not include a touchdown on a blocked punt last season.

Encourage Kellen Mond to run: Alabama doesn’t lose many SEC games. However, when they do, an opposing quarterback quite often has a strong game running the football. A&M’s Johnny Manziel in 2012. Auburn’s Nick Marshall did in 2013. Even Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham in 2017 and LSU’s Joe Burrow were productive on the ground in victories over Alabama.

Mond is a gifted runner, but he sometimes seems reluctant to use that gift. However, he’s been effective as a runner in the last two games against the Crimson Tide. He rushed for 98 yards in 2018 and 90 yards last season.

A&M’s hopes to pull off an upset would greatly enhance if Mond runs effectively and avoid turnovers (he’s committed four in three games vs. Alabama).

Lia Musgrave, TexAgs

A&M couldn’t stop Waddle’s return prowess last year at Kyle Field.

Avoid Jaylen Waddle: The Aggies will be forced to punt on occasion. Do whatever possible to keep Waddle from returning the punts. Last season, Waddle returned punts 15, 43, 28 and 33 yards, each gave the Tide short fields with which to work. All resulted in Alabama touchdowns.

Of course, Fisher is well aware of the threat Waddle poses and is planning accordingly.

“We’ve had big discussions on that in our special teams meetings about what we’re doing, how we’re doing it and procedures which we’re using,” Fisher said.

Play sound run defense: Alabama typically has a physical offensive line that loves to hammer away at defenses. Whether it’s T.J. Yeldon, Derrick Henry, Damien Harris or Najee Harris, an Alabama running back has exceeded 100 rushing yards in six of the Tide’s seven victories over Texas A&M.

Alabama rushed for just 111 yards in its opening victory over Missouri. Also, A&M has a solid run defense. So, this goal may be the most likely to be accomplished.

Generate a pass rush: That won’t be easy. Alabama’s offensive line allowed just a dozen sacks in 2019 and figures to be just as good this year.

Still, whether by four-man run or all-out blitzes, A&M must get to Alabama quarterback Mac Jones.  Alabama receivers DeVonta Smith and Waddle are among the fastest in the nation. If Jones has time to wait for them to break open, the Aggies will be vulnerable to allowing big plays.

That’s a daunting list of tasks. But that’s what it will take for the Aggies to ace a major exam.