A&M's game week focus has been on the requirements for success
Click here to view Mike Elko’s Wednesday press conference.
The conversation among the Texas A&M football team this week has largely been reminders of what is required for success.
That’s the message coach Mike Elko said on Wednesday in a press conference on Zoom to discuss the No. 7 seed Aggies’ upcoming College Football Playoff game against No. 10 seed Miami.
A&M (11-1) faces the Hurricanes (10-2) on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT at Kyle Field in the first round of the playoffs.
Elko was asked if it was necessary to talk to his players about not putting too much emphasis on what’s at stake.
Elko takes a different approach.
“I don’t know if you have conversations about ‘don’t make it bigger than it is,’” he said. “I think our kids understand the volume and magnitude of it.
“I think we talk a lot about what it takes to be successful, and what it takes to be successful in football doesn’t change regardless of stage, regardless of opponent.
“It’s what we prepare for. It’s what we work for. It’s what we train for. It’s our ability to go out there and put our brand on display for three-and-a-half hours Saturday that will ultimately make the difference.”
Success for A&M typically means an effective running game, getting big plays in the passing game from quarterback Marcel Reed and All-American receivers KC Concepcion and Mario Craver, pressuring the opposing quarterback and stopping opponents on third down.
The Aggies spent the last three weeks working to sharpen those aspects while also trying to improve in areas in which they’ve struggled — like allowing big running plays.
Elko said he liked what he’s seen in practice.
“I think we had a really good week last week,” he said. “Last week, for us, was very similar to what we would have done in fall camp from a preparation standpoint and did a lot of good-on-good work where we were going offense against defense and not really focused on scout work in Miami.
“That’s where we built the physicality and the tempo and pace of play back to where we wanted it. Then we’ve been able to get into this week and have a really, really good practice as if we were coming off of a bye. That’s kind of how we treated this week.”