The Aggies will look to slow down a Razorback ground game that ranks 16th nationally in rushing yards per game.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Over the last couple weeks, Texas A&M appeared to turn a corner with its run defense. In their first two games, the Aggies surrendered an average of 189 rushing yards to Notre Dame and McNeese State. But A&M held each of its last two opponents, Florida (52) and Bowling Green (89), to under 100 rushing yards.
“We got the run issues, I think, sorted out,” Aggie head coach Mike Elko said during his weekly press conference Monday.
Whether No. 24 A&M (3-1, 1-0 SEC) has entirely fixed its run defense, though, could be revealed when facing Arkansas (3-1, 1-0) and its elite rushing offense this Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (2:30 p.m. on ESPN).
The Razorbacks average 240 rushing yards per game, which ranks 16th nationally and is more than any opponent the Aggies will face in their regular season. Explosive runs have played a large part in that success. Their 38 rushes for 10-plus yards is the second most in the country.
Boise State transfer Taylen Green (59 carries for 325 yards and four touchdowns) has been dynamic with his legs, coming in at fourth among quarterbacks in rushing yards. So has running back Ja’Quinden Jackson (69 carries for 472 yards and eight touchdowns), who ranks fourth in rushing yards and 22nd in yards per carry.
“When a player (like Green) has the ability to make explosive plays, it certainly enhances your focus level, play to play,” Elko said. “Because regardless of down and distance, area of the field situation, he has the ability to make an explosive play either with his arm or with his feet. That type of explosiveness creates a higher level of focus within your defense, because you can’t make mistakes.
“You make one mistake, and it is seven points. Obviously, that is usually a focus for you as a defense. But I think when you have a player like this who is as explosive as he is, it probably just enhances the risk.”
A&M certainly learned that lesson last Saturday.
In the third quarter of their 26-20 win over the Falcons, the Aggies were fooled on a reverse play that led to a 40-yard rushing touchdown from wide receiver Rahkeem Smith. Bowling Green also exploited a busted coverage, paving the way for star tight end Harold Fannin Jr. to catch a 65-yard touchdown.
Notre Dame produced several explosive plays against A&M as well, including rushing touchdowns of 21 and 47 yards.
“I do not know if there was one (explosive touchdown) in the Florida game,” Elko said. “There were four explosive touchdowns in the first game and the last game in the second half. That is usually the result of a breakdown, not necessarily schematic adjustments.”
Compared to the other teams A&M will face this season, Arkansas might know how to attack its defense the best. The first-year offensive coordinator for the Razorbacks, Bobby Petrino, served the same role for the Aggies under deposed head coach Jimbo Fisher last season.
Petrino has helped Arkansas rank highly in several areas beyond rushing offense, including second in third down percentage (61%), eighth in yards per game (524), 20th in points per game (40.5) and 26th in passing yards per game (284).
“He is a great coach, and I have a lot of respect for him,” A&M tight end Theo Melin Öhrström said. “But he has different players there now, and we have our players. It is just like any other game. We just have to go in there with the mindset that we are going to play our brand of football and make the most out of it.”
While the Aggies were effective against the run in their last two games, the Razorbacks figure to present a much bigger challenge. Bowling Green and Florida rank 60th and 82nd in rushing yards per game, respectively.
What A&M saw from Notre Dame might be more comparable in terms of what to expect against Arkansas. The Irish are 18th in rushing yards per game (238.3) and, like the Razorbacks, have a dual-threat quarterback, in Riley Leonard.
“We are a little bit fortunate, because we had some preparation with this with Notre Dame,” said Elko on defending a mobile quarterback like Green. “I think we faced a dual-threat quarterback against Notre Dame that was a very similar type mindset in terms of how you had to go about this. That helps, but still, they present different challenges. We have to make sure we account for him.”
Razorbacks to challenge vaunted Aggie rushing attack
The last time A&M clashed with Arkansas, running back Le’Veon Moss enjoyed the first 100-yard rushing performance of his career. In that 34-22 win for the Aggies, Moss rushed for 107 yards on 17 carries while catching three passes for 27 yards.
“That was my favorite game from last year,” Moss said. “I really got to showcase some of my ability.”
Moss has played a major role in why A&M ranks eighth in rushing yards per game (256), turning 63 carries into 354 yards and three touchdowns. For Moss and the Aggies, though, running all over the Razorbacks again could be more of a challenge. Arkansas has held up well against the run this season, coming in at 14th in rushing yards allowed per game (82.8).
If A&M starts Marcel Reed at quarterback for a third straight game, the redshirt freshman could be a differentiating factor in the ground game. Despite making only two starts, the dual-threat Reed (32 carries for 217 yards and a touchdown) ranks second in rushing for the Aggies.
Elko said injured starting quarterback Conner Weigman (sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder) will be a game-time decision. He also assessed how Reed has performed so far.
“He has a big arm,” said Elko on Reed. “He has tremendous athleticism. I still think there are some progressions, reads, checks that he is still working through. Those things have made tremendous strides from spring ball through fall camp, through playing against McNeese, Florida.
“Last week, the multiplicity of defense and learning how to maneuver through all of that. He is a young quarterback who gets better every time he takes snaps under center.”
Final A&M vs. Arkansas game in AT&T Stadium
For the 13th and final time since 2009, A&M and Arkansas will square off in AT&T Stadium this Saturday. All of their future games are expected to be played on either college campus, beginning next season in Fayetteville, Ark.
“I told our guys this morning in a joking manner, ‘If you are a Cowboys fan, it is the last chance you get to go up there and play a game in Cowboys Stadium. If you are not a Cowboys fan, it is the last chance you go up to get to beat Jerry Jones’ team in Cowboys Stadium,'” Elko said. “It works both ways, whether you like the Cowboys or not.”
Of their 12 meetings as SEC foes, the Aggies and the Razorbacks have clashed in AT&T Stadium nine times. While A&M owns an 11-1 record in those meetings, most of the games have been far from decisive. Six of the last 10 matchups were decided by one possession. Three of those games went to overtime.
Elko offered his theory why.
“The environment plays a role,” Elko said. “Kids play their best football on that stage. Everybody gets excited for playing in that stadium. Obviously, this game means a lot to both teams. We always seem to get their best. We always try to give them our best. When two teams do that, I think you wind up with a lot of really close entertaining football games.
“Obviously, not as a coach. I did not remember any of them to be very entertaining when I was here. They were all way too close for my liking. But from the fan’s perspective, they are entertaining games, and I certainly expect this to be another one.”
Where’s Moose?
Despite dressing out for the Bowling Green game, A&M wide receiver Moose Muhammad III did not play. He received 53 snaps in the first three games combined, including 47 in the previous two.
Elko played coy when asked about the topic, keeping his explanation brief.
“(The explanation is) no different than the last time we talked about Moose,” Elko said. “He has got to be consistent. That is what we are looking for, consistency.”
Weekly awards announced
At the beginning of his press conference Monday, Elko gave out his weekly team awards for the Bowling Green game.
Left tackle Trey Zuhn III and defensive end Nic Scourton claimed offensive lineman of the game and defensive lineman of the game for the Aggies, respectively. Wide receiver Jahdae Walker (offense), defensive tackle Shemar Turner (defense) and kicker Randy Bond (special teams) were named players of the game.
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