The South Carolina Gamecocks kick off what could be the most important five-game stretch in Shane Beamer’s tenure this Saturday, traveling to College Station for a primetime matchup against the 10th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies. It will be the Gamecocks’ second trip to Kyle Field in as many years, and the Aggies will pose a significant challenge.
After dropping a week one matchup to Notre Dame, A&M has rattled off seven straight wins and vaulted to first in the SEC. Now with the upset-minded Gamecocks coming to town, the Aggies will look to continue they’re winning ways in hopes of an SEC Championship game bid. Can Carolina bring the Texas A&M hype train to a grinding halt? Let’s find out as we dive into this week’s Gamecock’s game preview.
Aggies on Magical Run
After the firing of Jimbo Fisher last season, Aggie fans were eager to find a coach who was capable of finally getting them over the hump. Then Duke head coach Mike Elko wasn’t high on many people’s lists in this regard, but the hire has quickly turned into a home run. After dropping a week one matchup against a formidable Notre Dame team, A&M has made a run that nobody saw coming.
During their seven-game winning streak, the Aggies haven’t always looked pretty but they’ve found ways to win football games. This culminated last week, as the team went on the road to face eight-ranked LSU in Death Valley. After going down early, A&M came storming back in the second half to outscore the Tigers 31-6 in the second half.
It seems that every week Texas A&M finds different ways to win, and while it doesn’t always look good it is effective. So effective in fact that the Aggies currently hold sole possession of first place in the SEC rankings. This is what the Gamecocks will be up against come Saturday, and it all starts on the offense.
Texas A&M’s Rushing Tandem
Leading the way for the Aggies’ success has been their stout run game. A&M utilizes a devastating tandem in the backfield to grind defenses down in a style reminiscent of the old Southwest Conference.
The first half of this dynamic duo is junior running back Le’Veon Moss. The SEC’s third-leading rusher, Moss is the bell cow of the Aggies ground game. With his potent combination of size and speed Bell represents a true matchup nightmare for defenses. He also poses a threat out of the backfield, with over 120 yards on 12 receptions.
The other half of A&M’s electric backfield paring is fellow junior running back Amari Daniels. Daniels offers a more bruising running style, as his compact frame makes it difficult for defenders to bring him down. Daniels’s playstyle compliments Moss’s perfectly and offers a devastating change of pace threat that keeps defenses on their toes.
While the running back position certainly drives the offense, the Aggies also boast an interesting wrinkle at quarterback that offers all sorts of problems for defenses as well.
Two Quarterbacks Better than One?
The old adage usually goes as follows “If you have two quarterbacks, you have no quarterback.” The Aggies appear to be bucking this trend, however, as a large part of their success has come from utilizing two completely different styles of quarterback in different ways. The first of these is former five-star recruit, Conner Weigman.
As was mentioned earlier, Weigman has struggled a lot this season. A traditional pocket passer, the sophomore was viewed by many as a potential breakout candidate coming into the season. Instead, he’s found himself benched multiple times in favor of freshman Marcel Reed.
While on paper many may view this and assume Weigman shouldn’t play over Reed, the actual situation is a bit more nuanced. While it’s true the gunslinger has struggled, he has also shown the ability to push the ball downfield in a way that Reed isn’t yet capable of. This is what makes the Aggies so difficult to strategize for, and it’s what Shane Beamer touched on Tuesday.
“It is a challenge,” Beamer said. “It’s a challenge because they have different skill sets. Not that one can run and the other can’t. I am not saying that. They can both run the ball and throw. They will do some different things with Reed in there, for sure. You have to have a good plan for both of them.”
This will more than likely be the single biggest challenge Carolina’s defense faces all season. Having to gameplan for two entirely different quarterbacks who can beat you in different ways. Conversely, Carolina’s offense will also have their hands full with a stout Aggies defense.
A&M Legit on Defense
One thing Elko’s teams have long been known for is physical defense. The head ball coach made his bones as a longtime defensive coordinator, and he’s carried that over with him to College Station. With the talent Elko inherited from Fisher, he’s quickly turned A&M into a formidable force.
Of particular note for the South Carolina game, is the Aggies’ success against the run. As of this writing, A&M is allowing just under 105 rushing yards a game. This ranks fourth in the conference and is concerning for the Gamecocks. Carolina’s entire offense is predicated on running the ball. If they can’t do that effectively then their offense grinds to a halt.
The Aggies also possess a stout pass rush, with probable first-round pick Shemar Turner leading the way. Simply put the Aggies have NFL talent littered throughout their defense, and they play an ultra-physical brand of football. The Gamecocks will have to come prepared to match that physicality if they want to win. If they can’t then it will be a long night in the Lone Star State.
Final Thoughts
Like several games this season, Carolina is outmatched on paper. The Aggies are bigger, faster, and just flat-out more talented. They will also be playing in front of 100,000-plus roaring fans at Kyle Field. That being said, the Gamecocks can win this game.
This game is likely to come down to the line of scrimmage, and which team can impose their will on the other. If Carolina can stifle A&M’s run game and establish their own then they will have a good shot at winning. On the other hand, if the Gamecocks’ suspect offensive line is unable to match the Aggies’ physicality then things are likely to get out of hand in a hurry.
Simply put, whichever side is more effective at running the ball limiting the other will win. This is a big moment for the Gamecocks, arguably their biggest of the season so far. If Beamer is able to lead his team to a victory at the notorious Kyle Field then he’ll have added another feather to his cap of high-profile upsets. If he is unable to, then the conversation surrounding this season changes drastically.
