MMR Week 9: South Carolina at Texas A&M (BOO!)
Where do I even begin?? That game was awful. Well, the offense was awful, and the defense did everything it could to keep the Aggies in the game. But when this “high powered” offense can only score 3 #$%& points, well, you’re probably not going to do well in the game. Where do I see the issues?
The offense is inconsistent. From game to game we seem to not have a grasp of an identity. We look like a run-and-gun team. Then we look like a 2QB team. Then we look like a pro-passing pocket team. Now we look like a team with two losses and no clue where we’re going. We know this, we cannot run like we have the last couple of years, and we have a starting QB that is not supposed to run in the offense designed around him. We can tell that Kyle Allen is not 100% from his injury in the Alabama game. These inconsistencies and flaws in our offense are why we are not ready to win the SEC. Alabama was left for dead when they lost to Ole Miss, and voila, they are on top of the SEC West and have a strong chance to get into the playoffs. Why? Because they know who they are and what they need to be. Yeah, A&M played them close, but close is only good enough for horseshoes and hand grenades.
This is a repeat of last year. It seems like we are becoming the over-rated, early-hyped SEC team that cannot survive the conference schedule. It seems like we have some amazing, athletic wide receivers that aren’t being maximized in the play calling. It seems like we have discipline problems with a QB. The only saving grace is that we have a much improved defense and great special teams.
A&M cannot win when they are stuck outside the redzone. When the Aggies can get into the red zone, they have a better chance to win the game. Check this out, in their two losses, the Aggies got into the red zone TWO TIMES!! You are never going to win averaging one red zone attempt per game.
Turnovers have become a problem. This one can be from a lot of problems…better teams, injuries, breakdown in protection, but the last two games have exposed A&M into a team very happy at sharing the wealth with everyone. SEVEN turnovers in our last two games! What’s actually amazing is that the defense has recovered SEVEN turnovers as well. While a push, it clearly puts pressure on the defense to do so much more to keep the game close.
Alright Macho Man, so you can point out the obvious, how do we fix the problem this week?
South Carolina at Texas A&M
Well, how else could this game get botched before we even play. Well let me tell you, how about planning a new uniform with reflective helmets that show the logo only at night…and then get a noon kickoff?
Well, here is the solution to our problem, a team we should be able to handle, at home. I still think despite the problems off the field, we should be playing Kyler Murray this weekend. We had no problem with JFF and his issues, so we should be fair and let Kyler start. First, we need to have Kyle Allen 100% healthy and ready. Second, we do not have a balanced offense with Allen in the game, we just don’t. So give the offense a chance and put in a QB that can run and pass. Let’s just see what can happen this week, we already what happens when you start Allen.
Replace the left offensive tackle. I don’t care who comes in, anyone is better than what we have now.
Let Brandon Williams play both ways the whole game. I know there was a lot of work to convert him into a DB this year, and he’s been playing well at the position, but he also has talent at the RB position, and we need him in both spots. Give me the rock and let him run!
Now, South Carolina is having a down year but they still have SEC-level talent. So remember the name Pharoh Cooper. This wide receiver scored the winning touchdown in their last game by hauling in a 78-yard touchdown pass. The Gamecocks are also dinged up. They will probably start Perry Orth at QB because their other two QBs are still not 100%. This Gamecock team is not the best at defense, but to be honest neither was Ole Miss and you saw what they did to the Aggies.
Sounds crazy but another thing to keep an eye on is the weather. Not gameday weather but Friday weather. Why Friday? Because that’s when the Gamecocks are supposed to be flying into Houston before the game. Here’s the problem, all of Central and Southeast Texas is expecting a near 100% chance of thunder boom booms. Maybe the plane might be a little delayed, maybe they might get a little tried and sleeeeeeepy. Yeah, this is what it’s come down to, asking mother nature for a little help.
Gamecocks 19
Aggies 41