This is a loss that Aggies will soon want to forget. If the score doesn't tell the story in this game, the following certainly will. The Aggies have a week off before returning home to face the University of Louisiana-Monroe.
By ROBERT CESSNA robert.cessna@theeagle.com
Is there anything to take away from a 59-0 loss?
OFFENSE: F
What went right: Other than getting senior wide receiver Malcome Kennedy back, nothing. Not even the snap back to the quarterback was a given, which backup quarterback Kyle Allen discovered on his first play.
What went wrong: Texas A&M's longest run in the first half went for 4 yards. Alabama had 16 runs longer than that. A&M's longest pass in the first half gained 12 yards. Alabama had seven that gained more.
Bottom line: A&M is built to move the ball through the air. It gained 9 yards on five pass plays in the first quarter, and it didn't get much better the rest of the way.
DEFENSE: F
What went right: On the game's first possession, A&M held Alabama to a field goal -- but in retrospect, maybe Alabama held itself.
What went wrong: Alabama won the line of scrimmage, allowing T.J. Yeldon to slash and power his way to 114 yards. The Crimson Tide used that as a foundation for big plays in the passing game. It didn't help that A&M gave the Alabama receivers too much cushion and the Aggies missed a slew of tackles, three alone on Yeldon's 25-yard run in the second quarter.
Bottom line: Alabama could run whatever play it wanted and gain yards.
SPECIAL TEAMS: D
What went right: Nick Harvey had an 18-yard punt return, not a small feat even in a blowout as Alabama had allowed only two punt returns for 8 yards. Trey Williams' 75-yard kickoff return almost led to a late score.
What went wrong: All-America punter Drew Kaser wasn't immune to problems. He had a shank for 25 yards and hit a 56-yarder that didn't mesh with the coverage team as Alabama's Christion Jones returned it for 47 yards to set up yet another Tide TD.
Bottom line: A&M failed to get the ball beyond the 25 on its first four kickoff returns.
COACHING: F
What went right: The players didn't stop playing, but that didn't stop them from continuing to take haymaker after haymaker. A&M had only two penalties, but maybe a late hit would have been a good sign, the way things were going.
What went wrong: If A&M called a blitz, Alabama had called a screen. It seemed as if Alabama knew exactly what the Aggies were going to call on either side of the football.
Bottom line: A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin said earlier in the week the coaches would have to coach better and the players play better. It didn't happen.
OVERALL: F
What went right: A&M has an extra week to pick up the pieces after this debacle.
What went wrong: All you need to know is the first time the Aggies got in the red zone, 6-foot-2, 254-pound Alabama linebacker Will Ragland jumped up at the line of scrimmage and made an interception. A&M was never at the right place at the right time.
Bottom line: Mississippi State and Ole Miss were blowouts; this was a complete beatdown.
http://www.aggiesports.com/football...cle_b5bc9b72-7871-59bc-a2dd-8c51b0198685.html
By ROBERT CESSNA robert.cessna@theeagle.com
Is there anything to take away from a 59-0 loss?
OFFENSE: F
What went right: Other than getting senior wide receiver Malcome Kennedy back, nothing. Not even the snap back to the quarterback was a given, which backup quarterback Kyle Allen discovered on his first play.
What went wrong: Texas A&M's longest run in the first half went for 4 yards. Alabama had 16 runs longer than that. A&M's longest pass in the first half gained 12 yards. Alabama had seven that gained more.
Bottom line: A&M is built to move the ball through the air. It gained 9 yards on five pass plays in the first quarter, and it didn't get much better the rest of the way.
DEFENSE: F
What went right: On the game's first possession, A&M held Alabama to a field goal -- but in retrospect, maybe Alabama held itself.
What went wrong: Alabama won the line of scrimmage, allowing T.J. Yeldon to slash and power his way to 114 yards. The Crimson Tide used that as a foundation for big plays in the passing game. It didn't help that A&M gave the Alabama receivers too much cushion and the Aggies missed a slew of tackles, three alone on Yeldon's 25-yard run in the second quarter.
Bottom line: Alabama could run whatever play it wanted and gain yards.
SPECIAL TEAMS: D
What went right: Nick Harvey had an 18-yard punt return, not a small feat even in a blowout as Alabama had allowed only two punt returns for 8 yards. Trey Williams' 75-yard kickoff return almost led to a late score.
What went wrong: All-America punter Drew Kaser wasn't immune to problems. He had a shank for 25 yards and hit a 56-yarder that didn't mesh with the coverage team as Alabama's Christion Jones returned it for 47 yards to set up yet another Tide TD.
Bottom line: A&M failed to get the ball beyond the 25 on its first four kickoff returns.
COACHING: F
What went right: The players didn't stop playing, but that didn't stop them from continuing to take haymaker after haymaker. A&M had only two penalties, but maybe a late hit would have been a good sign, the way things were going.
What went wrong: If A&M called a blitz, Alabama had called a screen. It seemed as if Alabama knew exactly what the Aggies were going to call on either side of the football.
Bottom line: A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin said earlier in the week the coaches would have to coach better and the players play better. It didn't happen.
OVERALL: F
What went right: A&M has an extra week to pick up the pieces after this debacle.
What went wrong: All you need to know is the first time the Aggies got in the red zone, 6-foot-2, 254-pound Alabama linebacker Will Ragland jumped up at the line of scrimmage and made an interception. A&M was never at the right place at the right time.
Bottom line: Mississippi State and Ole Miss were blowouts; this was a complete beatdown.
http://www.aggiesports.com/football...cle_b5bc9b72-7871-59bc-a2dd-8c51b0198685.html
