Know Thy Enemy: Alex Miller of The Bryan College Station Eagle breaks down Texas A&M-Mizzou matchup

Q: What were the preseason expectations for Texas A&M?

Going into the season, (coach) Mike Elko's big thing was A&M had a chance to double down on last year's success. Now, what does that mean? I think a lot of people thought that meant getting back to the College Football Playoff. Last year, A&M made the CFP for the first time in school history, brought back some key pieces. They felt they did well in the transfer portal, and so getting back there was going to be the mark of a successful season.

Now, there were signs that A&M could very well take a step back. Two new coordinators, (Holmon Wiggins on offense and Lyle Hemphill on defense). There were questions about whether or not (quarterback) Marcel Reed could take a step further in his game. They're having to rebuild both the offensive line and the defensive line. They were losing their top offensive weapon in KC Concepcion (now with the Cleveland Browns). So, a lot of questions going into the season.

It felt like the Aggies had some adequate answers and solutions. Unfortunately for A&M, things haven't necessarily gone the way they planned. But certainly beating Arkansas soundly was a step in the right direction.

Q: What went wrong in the losses against Kentucky and LSU?

It felt like the team was lost. They didn't really have an identity. It seemed the offense was choppy and couldn't get in rhythm. The passing game never really clicked for several reasons against Kentucky. It was a lot on Marcel Reed. He just didn't make good throws. He was very inaccurate against LSU again. LSU was really aggressive on defense, he was really under pressure.

A&M was a little banged up at receiver, and that was a big thing at the start of the Kentucky game, too. On the opening kickoff, A&M loses one of its top offensive weapons in Terry Bussey to a lower-body injury on the kickoff return. He planted funny, made an awkward twist, and now he's out for the season, which was a huge blow for the Aggies. Mario Craver's been banged up the last couple of games. Ashton Bethel-Roman, he didn't play against Kentucky, so A&M really had to tap into its depth against the Wildcats. Reed didn’t have it with his arm that day, so it culminated in a recipe for disaster.

On the defensive side, too many explosive plays. Kentucky did a really great job moving guys around, opening up the tight end in some very unique ways. (I) really liked what (Kentucky coach) Will Stein did in the game plan there.

(For LSU), Sam Leavitt was running around on one leg, and it didn't really matter because A&M didn't get a great pass rush. Leavitt made some really great throws in some key moments that helped LSU take control.

Q: How did the team respond in the win against Arkansas?

A&M needed a positive result. After two really tough weeks, winning by 27 is a shot in the arm. A&M played well in all three phases. They approached the offense with a run-oriented attack, and executed the game plan as well as it could have gone. A&M was able to get Marcel Reed on the move, and they owned the line of scrimmage. The offensive line took some steps forward. They've shaken things up, added a couple of new pieces and moved guys around. It’s like they were a python. They're strangling their opponent out, not necessarily going for the kill shot.

On defense, they really just cleaned things up. They didn't allow many explosive plays. They were pretty good in coverage. They got decent pressure, forcing Arkansas' quarterback into making some errant throws.

On special teams, A&M figured out once again it has a good kicker in David Olano, who made a 57-yard field goal, tore the house down at the end of the first half. I think that was the craziest moment in the stadium (that day).

A&M and Arkansas have a weird series. A lot of these games, Arkansas is not very good, and no matter what, it still goes down to the wire. This was not the case (this year). I think a lot of people expected that to happen with how A&M was playing. Arkansas was coming off a solid performance in a win over Tulsa. A&M controlled the game start-to-finish in all three phases, and it's something to build on. We'll see what A&M has this week.

Q: What is the Aggies’ biggest strength?

I think they're really still trying to figure that out. Something that can become a strength is the run game. I think that A&M pivoted towards that in the offensive game plan last week indicates what they're thinking as well. I'm curious to see how that develops, especially against a Missouri team that had a really great game defending the run this last weekend against Florida and Jaden Baugh.

The last two years, A&M's had its way running the ball against Missouri. Whether it was Le'Veon Moss two years ago in College Station, or it was Reuben Owens II last year in Columbia. A&M's done well running the ball against Missouri, and the fact that A&M's starting to pivot towards that with Missouri on the horizon, I'm really curious to see what A&M has there and if it can actually emerge and become a strength for this team.

Special teams have been pretty good. A&M's got a kicker with a heavy leg. They've got a punter (Tyler White) who is top 10 in the nation in punt yardage right now. You can count on those guys to take care of business.

I feel like we're still trying to see where this A&M team is going.

Q: What has been their biggest weakness?

Defensively, it's the big plays. They have all new captains on this team. There have been breakdowns in communication on the field Their starting linebacker, Daymion Sanford, missed the first couple of games. You can see breakdowns in key moments in certain games, especially the losses to Kentucky and LSU.

On the offensive side, they have to get Marcel Reed going. A year ago, up until the last week of the regular season, was contending to go to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. This year, he's looked at times like a deer in the headlights. They have to figure out how to extrapolate the strengths of his game on the field in key moments, because it's there. It's just a matter of getting it to come out of him again.

They took some steps in the right direction last week against Arkansas. Now you're taking a step up in competition.

Q: How has Texas A&M been so successful against Mizzou under Mike Elko?

Going back to when Elko was the (defensive) coordinator when they played in 2021, A&M won 35-14. In all three games, A&M was able to establish the run and control the line of scrimmage. That’s a winning formula in the SEC.

It's a great coaching matchup, too. Elko is a defensive-minded coach, Drinkwitz is an offensive-minded coach. Last year was interesting with Missouri's quarterback situation, starting Matt Zollers. A&M took advantage of that. They pressured him hard, they didn't let him run. Missouri was held back, and A&M took advantage with a veteran defense and a really good pass rush.

I've also found it interesting that the last three matchups have all been day games. Two of them were morning games. A&M's benefited from not having to play at night on the road against Missouri. You think back to 2013 when Missouri won the SEC East, and they're playing A&M and Johnny Manziel in that last game of the regular season with a chance to clinch that East Division title, that place was rocking. Playing a night game in the SEC makes a big difference. A&M’s benefited from that intangible when playing on the road.

Q: What is your score prediction for Saturday’s game? Why?

It's really early in the week, but my initial inclination is Missouri will probably win the game. I really like what the Tigers are doing on offense. I really like what I've seen from Austin Simmons at quarterback. This is a game Missouri wants to win. A&M's had its number the last two years, and you can guarantee that the guys that have been around remember that. I think A&M will play better than they did against Kentucky and LSU. I think it'll be a closer game, the jury's still out on A&M.

I'll take Missouri, 31-27.