Texas A&M Aggies College Football Preview 2021: Keys To The Season
Texas A&M Aggies Biggest Key: Offense
The offensive line can’t take a step back. The Aggies averaged almost 5.5 yards per carry with 21 scores. It’s not exactly new for A&M to run that well – it averaged over five yards per pop in three of the last five seasons – and this year the ground game will be great again with all of the amazing options in the backfield.
But the O line that loses three starters isn’t going to allow just seven sacks again.
The Aggies were fifth in the country and first in the SEC in sacks allowed, and that took a whole lot of work after giving up 34 the year before and 35 in 2018.
It helped to have the veteran decision-making ability of Kellen Mond, and that’s not there this time around with the line needing to give the new guy a ton of time to work.
Texas A&M Aggies Biggest Key: Defense
Get even more out of the pass rush. The defensive tackles were great at getting behind the line, and the pass rush was more than fine overall. However, leading sacker Bobby Brown is done from the line and LB Buddy Johnson is done – they combined for 9.5 of the 28 sacks.
It’s nitpicking with the D generating a whole lot of pressure on third downs, but the pass rush should mean just about everything. A&M is great at limiting possessions with its style of play, and no one’s going to be able to run on this group.
Team after team will have to throw to win, and just about everyone will have to be great on third downs. That’s not happening if the A&M pass rush can snuff that out.
Texas A&M Aggies Key Player To A Successful Season
QB Haynes King, RFr.
And if he’s not the one taking over the job, it has to be sophomore Zach Calzada who becomes the main man.
Texas A&M has everything in place to go to the College Football Playoff. The skill parts are special, the defense is going to be a killer, and the kicking game should be great. There might need to be a little work done on the O line, but it’ll be fine. The only thing missing is an experienced quarterback.
King has the mobility and he’ll add a little something different than Calzada, but no matter what, the Aggies have to get efficient play from the position to get over the SEC West hump.
Texas A&M Aggies Key Game To The 2021 Season
Alabama, Oct. 9
Johnny Manziel was able to pull off the 29-24 thriller in 2012 … and Alabama won the SEC and national championships. There’s that, and there’s the 20-16 win in the 1968 Cotton Bowl. Those were the only two times in 13 tries the Aggies were able to beat Bama.
Texas A&M will be a double-digit favorite against everyone on the schedule except for possibly Ole Miss and LSU on the road and Alabama. Beat the Tide, and there can be a misfire of a loss to the Rebels or Tigers and still win the West.
2020 Texas A&M Aggies Fun Stats
– Time of Possession: Texas A&M 34:49 – Opponents 25:11
– Penalties: Texas A&M 62 for 579 yards – Opponents 46 for 365 yards
– Sacks: Texas A&M 28 for 180 yards – Opponents 7 for 39 yards