MMR Game 4: Arkansas vs Texas A&M (at JerryWorld)
WE WIN! WE WIN!! So now let’s break this down…
DEFENSE
The defense played spectacular, especially the front four. Daylon Mack is going to be a beast if he keeps playing like this, and with the already strong defensive ends on the front, they will only get better over time. The cornerbacks look hungry; with the way they blitz and the way they go after the ball and get turnovers. Does A&M have an issue with overcommitting at times…yes, but that is the risk with the style of defense we play and for me it’s okay. There is a little concern with our ability to tackle in the secondary, I saw some runs and catches go longer than they should have when it came to open field tackling, but I know I wasn’t the only person who saw that. Overall, defense is still performing solid, much better than years past.
OFFENSE
Our offense is interesting at this point. We have amazing receivers and quarterbacks, and that is both starting and backup players. However, we are still a little thin at running back. Our running game is getting there, but the offensive line seems to be the core of the issue and not the depth. However, we have to keep an eye out for the RBs. It’s the line that worries me the most. Look at the number of plays in the Nevada game where the running back was already avoiding tacklers behind or at the line of scrimmage. Quarterback sacks and turnovers were from blind side breakdowns. Many times blitzes against A&M were effective in third down. This could become a great concern when we play Ole Miss and LSU. A&M appears to be trying to overcome some of these weaknesses with gadget plays and mis-directions. That will only work so often, especially since so many of them are on film now.
Overall as the season progresses we are getting better. we are definitely a top 25 team. I am not a fan of all the “trickeration” that is taking place to get yards offensively. We left points on the field and the offense was a little sloppy, and that kept Nevada in the game. We have run the table early with the games we needed to win; the question is how will we fare against the SEC West?
Hereeeee piggy piggy piggy!!
Nothing like running into our favorite SWC foe, the piggies from Ar-Kansas. Wal Mart U. and so many other names we cannot post on the inter-webs, so we will take a look at the game analysis.
This team is in a free fall. This was supposed to be the year of the Razorback making a splash in the SEC west. After so many close losses last year, and ending with a win over texas, so much was expected in 2015. And then there was Toledo, and Texas Tech….and now us. This could be the makes of a 3-game losing streak. Actually it will be. Arkansas looks lost and unable to stop anyone right now. Flashes of brilliance overshadowed by lackluster play and giving up yards consistently. Everyone looks good playing the Razorbacks, what are they going to do to stop this offense?
My gut says they will do nothing. I have a funny feeling we have only seen a glimpse of the playbook that Sumlin plans to run against the SEC. All those plays you saw in the last two games we simply ways to try out a few things and give his players some practice for the 2n and 3rd strings. You have to go back to Arizona State to see what we could throw against Arkansas. However, that ASU defense was top notch, Arkansas’s is not. We should score early and often. Expect the Aggies to take as many shots as often as possible at the Razorback defense, especially since they have these kinds of defensive stats:
Opp Yards/Play 5.8 yds
Opp Completion % 70.45%
Opp 3rd Dowb Conv % 51.22%
Opp Red Zone Scoring % 80.00%
The Aggies won’t have to worry about 3rd down conversion since they’ll make a first down on average after two plays. This could be ugly, and I think it will be.
Arkansas 19
Texas A&M 51