Five reasons why Texas A&M will beat Miami in Week 2
After beginning their 2023 rebound campaign with a win over New Mexico, No. 23 Texas A&M (1-0) will look toward Miami (1-0) as their first consequential matchup of the season.
It’s not an overstatement to say that whichever team walks away with a win will make serious strides regarding their turnaround efforts. Both schools are coming off 5-7 seasons, and both hired new coordinators to revive a stagnant offense. However, the Aggies should have the edge when it’s all said and done.
Regarding talent on both sides of the ball, Texas A&M holds advantages at the quarterback spot, in the receiving corps, and in their front seven on defense. Coupled with an injection of veteran leadership throughout the roster, it’s about executing their game plan and leaving no margin for error as they face a more than component foe in the Hurricanes.
Here are the reasons why Texas A&M should move to 2-0 with a win over Miami on Saturday.
Quarterback advantage
There will always be naysayers and cynics week-to-week, and those discounting Conner Weigman‘s Week 1 performance attribute it to the level of competition. No matter, a strong showing on Saturday against Miami would arguably put the sophomore on track for a dark horse Heisman campaign.
Truth be told, Weigman’s athleticism to move around the pocket and his ability to throw the deep ball gives the Aggies a huge advantage at the position. Lance Guidry is an impressive defensive coordinator, but there should be no doubt that Weigman can target his plethora of weapons.
No answer for the Aggies' WR group
Speaking of weapons, how will the Hurricanes account for the loaded group of Texas A&M receivers? Noah Thomas has the size advantage over smaller defensive backs, while Evan Stewart‘s elite catching skills and shifty moves after the catch present problems in itself. That’s on top of the Swiss army knife that is Ainias Smith, as well as the slot threat in Moose Muhammad III.
I expect Weigman to dish out a handful of throws across the board to keep Miami’s secondary at bay. They will surely have a gameplan for Thomas after his three-touchdown outing last week, but that should only mean the likes of Smith and Muhammad get more looks their way.
Committing to being aggressive
Jimbo Fisher has echoed this week that starting fast doesn’t guarantee you a win, but it surely gives a team confidence. Both these teams have the means of getting out to an early lead, but when it comes to speed and athleticism, the odds tilt in the Aggies’ favor. So long as Texas A&M continues to leverage its motions to move their skill players around the field, they should have the advantage in putting points on the board quicker than Miami.
Texas A&M's two-deep defensive line
Miami was able to control the tempo and lean on the run in their season-opening win over Miami (OH). Upon closer look at the tape, their offensive line got a massive push up front against a truly undersized Redhawks defensive line. Come Saturday, it should be a completely different story versus the Aggies’ front seven.
In particular, Texas A&M’s two-deep defensive line should provide a massive x-factor that gives the Maroon and White an edge. Walter Nolen looked quicker and more agile last week after shedding weight in the offseason, and he was part of the Aggies’ second unit. The sheer depth of talent in that group is unmatched, and it should help generate pressure on quarterback Tyler Van Dyke and the Hurricanes running back room.
Experience in the secondary
Miami safety Kam Kinchens is joined by five-star recruit James Williams to form a secondary with plenty of star upside. Nonetheless, their unit is much less experienced compared to Texas A&M’s backend group. Josh DeBerry showed his immediate impact in Week 1, the expectation is that transfer Tony Grimes could be in for an elevated role moving forward.
If the Aggies’ front group forces Van Dyke to look deep, I like Texas A&M’s chances of winning the battle against the pass. With a group that already boasts a seasoned player in Demani Richardson, they should have the experience advantage to fend off a Hurricanes wideout group with the likes of Colbie Young and Xavier Restrepo.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=7]
