The Texas A&M Aggies will face the Florida Gators this Saturday at Kyle Field. Both of these teams had a high upside coming into the season, but the season hasn’t been much promising for either squad. On Saturday, Florida and Texas A&M need a victory to keep on track toward bowl eligibility. This week has been another challenging one for the Aggies due to the flu, but those excuses are irrelevant come Saturday. Here’s a quick preview of Texas A&M’s matchup against Florida on Saturday morning.
How do the Aggies Stop the Run?
Texas A&M’s defense has had a lot of trouble stopping the run, especially against SEC opponents. Both Edgerrin Cooper and Antonio Johnson are out for this game, who are the best tacklers for the Aggies.
Anthony Richardson is among the top three quarterbacks in the SEC, and his game is much similar to Jalen Milroe. It will be up to A&M’s defensive front to contain Richardson in the pocket, which could be even tougher with the run-pass option.
Florida has some aggressive rushers in Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne. DJ Durkin knew the strengths of offenses such as Alabama and Ole Miss, but the defense still looked out of sorts against the run. It’s critical for the Aggies’ defense to keep eight men in the box and trust its secondary.
Is Connor Weigman for Real?
Weigman had one of the most impressive true freshman performances in his last matchup against Ole Miss. Granted, the Rebels do not have the best defense, but Florida’s defense is not that much different without its best defender in Brenton Cox Jr.
It will be interesting to see how Weigman responds to adversity. The Aggies could be faced with another deficit this weekend, and the offense just has to put points on the board to win this game.
Jimbo Fisher is definitely capable of making his offense more prolific and that starts with balance. Obviously, that starts with the offensive line, who showed up and showed out last weekend. If Weigman has time in the pocket and Devon Achane finds space in the open field, the Aggies could break out some big plays.
The passing game can use some more involvement from both Max Wright and Donovan Green, who spread the field for Texas A&M. Using different formations and motion like in the game against Alabama would allow the Aggies to be more effective on offense. Lastly, it wouldn’t hurt to try using tempo on offense, which could help Weigman get more comfortable and in rhythm.
Concluding Thoughts
The Texas A&M Aggies have lost their last four games, so a win is much needed against the Florida Gators. The Aggies clearly have their future in place with the young talent on this team, including a future NFL quarterback in Weigman. Still, a lot is at stake this season, and a bowl game is important for more practice and keeping guys together and motivated heading into next season. It’s time for Texas A&M to get a win in Kyle Field and get this program back on track.
