AUBURN, Ala. — Jimbo Fisher’s image as a great offensive football mind began its ascension nearly 30 years ago in the same stadium where it appeared to crash.
The Texas A&M troubled offense plummeted to new levels of futility at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday night in a 13-10 Southeastern Conference loss to Auburn, which had allowed at least 39 points to each of its last four opponents.
It was yet another embarrassing loss in a humiliating football season for the Aggies (3-7, 1-6), who suffered a sixth consecutive defeat for the first time since 1972.
After such a lackluster offensive showing, Fisher, the fifth-year A&M coach who began his major college coaching career at Auburn, faced hard questions in a postgame press conference.
Yet, those questions may not be as hard as those Fisher may have to ask himself.
“The offense we run is still the same. It’s similar to all schemes across the board. We’ve just got to call it better, coach it better and do it better. If we bring somebody in or whatever happens, it doesn’t matter. Verticals are still verticals. Smashes are smashes. We’ve got to get it coached better ...We’ll evaluate everything.”
- A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher
Why did this season become a disaster?
Can I find it in myself to surrender play-calling responsibilities?
Do I bring in a new coordinator to help overhaul the offensive system?
“Listen, the offense we run is still the same. It’s similar to all schemes across the board,” Fisher said. “We’ve just got to call it better, coach it better and do it better.
"If we bring somebody in or whatever happens, it doesn’t matter. Verticals are still verticals. Smashes are smashes. We’ve got to get it coached better. Do a better job of it. We’ll evaluate everything.”
Quite frankly, there’s not much to evaluate. The Aggies posted their lowest-scoring output of the season. They managed negative two yards of offense in the third quarter and had only 85 total yards in the second half.
Most of those came on an 80-yard touchdown drive in the final three minutes when the Tigers played soft defense.
There will be the temptation to portray Fisher as a victim of circumstances. The offensive line previously has been ravaged by injuries. Suspensions have taken a toll.
Further complicating matters, star running back Devon Achane watched from the sidelines in warm-ups, his left foot in a walking boot.
Also, Moose Muhammad — A&M’s second-leading receiver — came out for the opening kickoff but curiously never came back onto the field.
Further, tight end Max Wright sustained an undisclosed injury after an 18-yard catch in the first quarter. He was taken to a local hospital.
Achane was replaced in the starting lineup by true freshman Le’Veon Moss. True freshman Noah Thomas replaced Muhammad.
In fact, the Aggies starting offensive featured five true freshmen, including quarterback Conner Weigman.
Jamie Maury, TexAgs
Totaling just 215 total yards, the Aggies averaged a meager 3.6 yards per play.
Fisher might have felt like he was fighting with a hand tied behind his back. But, to his credit, he would not use that as an excuse.
“Those other guys are good players,” Fisher said. “We’ve got to coach them better and do better. That’s my fault. I have to do a better job getting that done for them. There are injuries that occur and different situations that occur, but you have other good players, too.”
There is no doubt A&M has talented players. But there was still too much confusion. Too many penalties. Too many time outs taken way too early. And too much pressure on Weigman, who was battered like a piñata.
He was sacked three times for 26 yards in losses. The last sack caused him to lose a fumble. He was pressured six other times. It seemed like much more.
“We were just making mistakes and missing assignments,” junior guard Layden Robinson. “There’s no other excuse for it. We’re not going to make any. We just have to get better at it all across the board.”
The sputtering offense took attention away from the defense, which again gave up rushing yards at an alarming rate.
Auburn running backs Tank Bigsby and Ja’Varrius Johnson and quarterback Robby Ashford toyed with the Aggies. They rushed for 143 rushing yards in the first 18 minutes and led Auburn to 270 rushing yards.
It’s the third consecutive game the Aggies have allowed 270 rushing yards or more.
Auburn sliced through A&M’s defense for 173 rushing yards in the second half. Their overpowering running game set up a 16-yard Ashford touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
Jamie Maury, TexAgs
With the loss, A&M has now dropped nine of their last 11 games against FBS opponents.
Yet, somehow the Aggies trailed just 7-0 at halftime. With Auburn’s help, A&M stayed close. The Tigers missed a 54-yard field goal attempt on their first series of the second half. Then, on the second series, Ashford overthrew a wide-open receiver on a wheel route that would have easily gone for a 76-yard touchdown.
Next, Ashford and Bigsby fumbled a handoff exchange, and A&M’s McKinnley Jackson recovered at the Aggies’ 27-yard line.
When Auburn added a field goal for a 10-0 lead with 39 seconds left in the third quarter, it appeared the issue was settled.
However, the defense started providing opportunities in the fourth quarter. Jackson tipped an Ashford pass, and Edgerrin Cooper intercepted at the Auburn 39-yard line.
That set up a 48-yard Randy Bond field goal that brought A&M back within a touchdown.
But Auburn added another field goal to re-establish a 10-point lead with just three minutes to play.
After the ensuing kickoff, Weigman, finally given a measure of protection, led the Aggies 80 yards in seven plays for a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Preston.
The Aggies’ faint hopes for a miraculous rally ended as Auburn recovered an onside kick.
The 13-10 defeat was A&M’s fifth loss by a touchdown or less.
But losing to Auburn, which snapped a five-game losing streak, was the most disappointing and frustrating.
No question.
