Jimbo Fisher previews Texas A&M’s Week 9 matchup vs. South Carolina during Wednesday’s SEC Teleconference
Texas A&M (4-3, 2-2 SEC) is fresh off their bye week after two consecutive SEC losses to Alabama and Tennessee, but if there’s any good news to be had, the Aggies will return to Kyle Field to face the struggling South Carolina Gamecocks (2-5, 1-4 SEC) on Saturday afternoon.
On Wednesday, head coach Jimbo Fisher made his weekly appearance on the SEC Teleconference to preview the matchup while shedding light on the Aggies’ recent offensive struggles; Fisher, of course, stated that most of the said issues were based on a consistent lack of yes, “execution.”
“We were up around 40 (points per game). We were playing really well. And we played well in the first halves. We just have not played well in the second half of these last two games. We’ve got to make sure we are executing the whole game. We had opportunities.
“And we’ve got to be more consistent. We’ve got to keep being physical on the offensive line. But we’ve got to also be efficient at the quarterback and skill positions, and play a full game. The last two games have been uncharacteristic.
“And I give credit to the two teams we played. We played really good football teams that do a good job on defense, too. But there were some opportunities there. We’ve just got to execute at a high level in critical moments. If we can get that done, we can get back on track.”
Texas A&M’s lack of second-half offensive adjustments, not simply a lack of effort, is the primary reason for the Aggies’ recent struggles in the running and passing game, combined with two of the worst offensive line performances we’ve witnessed all year. However, the Gamecocks’ defense allows 31.7 PPG, which currently ranks 114th in the country. If Fisher believes that the recent issues were due to facing competent defenses, the Aggies should move the ball at will this weekend… right?
On the other side, the Aggies stifling 10th-ranked defense, tied for first in sacks with 29, will likely once again dominate in the trenches, especially against an equally porous South Carolina O-line, but going back to the Gamecocks’ defense, Fisher knows that despite the poor metrics, defensive coordinator Clayton White has several playmakers.
“Up front, they are very good and physical inside. The guys can rush. The backers are very active. The backers are downhill and physical. Secondary, (Nick Emannwori) is a very active guy. Corners are long. They use their physicality.
“Their leading tackler on their whole defense (Jalon Kilgore) is a freshman, which is a safety. He is a good, young player. And they will bring pressure. They will bring pressure at you and constantly attack you, is what they are trying to do.”
Texas A&M will host South Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 28, as kickoff is set for 11:00 a.m. CT. and will air on ESPN.
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