No. 13 Texas A&M travels to Tuscaloosa for tilt with second-ranked Tide
The Aggies have learned too often the cost of mistakes. They must have actually learned from them.
There will never be a better time to start that trend than Saturday at 2 p.m. when No. 13 Texas A&M (1-0) travels to Tuscaloosa to face No. 2 Alabama (1-0) in a Southeastern Conference football clash.
But confidence in avoiding mistakes might be hard to come by after the Aggies last week muddled through an error-infested 17-12 victory over Vanderbilt. The errors included a trio of fumbles.
“After evaluating film (of the Vanderbilt game), there are some good things and some things we have to clean up,” A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said. “We looked to see where those issues are. They are fixable. We have to get better with a great opponent coming up. On offense, we have to clean up turnovers; two or three of those, we were about to score points. We have to clean up poor decisions on special teams.”
Turnovers have been a major problem for A&M against Alabama. The Aggies have lost seven straight to the Crimson Tide since Johnny Manziel led a dazzling 29-24 upset victory in 2012. A&M has committed 15 turnovers in those games, with five going for touchdowns. That doesn’t include a blocked punt for an Alabama score in a 47-28 loss last season.
Turnovers are always a key factor in every football game. Their importance is magnified against Alabama. Alabama has lost just 11 games in the eight seasons since A&M joined the SEC. The Crimson Tide lost the turnover battle in eight of those losses.
Unfortunately, A&M’s opening game pratfalls were not limited to turnovers.
There were poorly thrown passes. There were drops. A key penalty thwarted a scoring opportunity. Kick returners made ill-advised decisions on returns out of the end zone, one resulting in a safety.
A&M cannot afford to help Alabama. The Tide doesn’t need it. Alabama has scored at least 35 points in 18 of its last 19 games.
DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle are the most explosive pair of receivers in the country. Najee Harris is a powerful running back. Quarterback Mac Jones is much better than he’s given credit for. He demonstrated that by throwing for 249 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-19 season-opening victory over Missouri. They all operate with an offensive line that is among the best in the nation.
“They have dynamic receivers — first-round (draft pick) guys,” Fisher said. “You’re always worried about that, no matter how many good defenders you have. They’re complete receivers. That will be a huge challenge. We have to pressure the quarterback.
“We respect them, but we have to go play.”
Defensive ends DeMarvin Leal and Micheal Clemons — and perhaps some well-time blitzes — may be able to provide pressure to keep Jones off balance.
Linebacker Buddy Johnson must lead a charge to slow down Harris, too.
A&M’s defense likely must have a strong performance because the Aggies don’t figure to win a “shootout” with the Tide.
A&M is relying heavily on sophomores at running back, tight end and receiver. Thus, the Aggies need a strong showing from senior quarterback Kellen Mond, who has rushed for 90 yards or more in the last two games against Alabama.
Mond has to play much better than he did against Vanderbilt in which he completed 17 of 28 passes for 189 yards. A better performance will start with eliminating turnovers. He lost two of the fumbles against Vanderbilt.
“Kellen’s mistakes are correctable,” Fisher said. “Ball security. Routes he missed. These are things he's done. We also have to play better around him. You have to be perfect as a quarterback. That’s the way you have to think.”
That’s a fact the Aggies have learned the hard way.
