TAMU Defensive Strengths and Opportunities

[LuCane]

@LuCane you're totally right. I was more referencing passing plays. IIRC they had some great 3rd down calls to the TES

if you find them, would love to see them.

I think we have some opportunities with Arroyo and Mallory in the PA game.

 

[skyman]

if you find them, would love to see them.

I think we have some opportunities with Arroyo and Mallory in the PA game.

Lu, you get a chance to watch the texas-bama game? Sark was putting on a master class with his young gunslinger before he got injured.. cotdam that was gonna be a masterpiece.. Did alot of double TE stuff in that game also..

 

[LuCane]

Lu, you get a chance to watch the texas-bama game? Sark was putting on a master class with his young gunslinger before he got injured.. cotdam that was gonna be a masterpiece.. Did alot of double TE stuff in that game also..

Watched a handful of plays on youtubeTV while at Hard Rock. I’ll check it out.

Bit more RPOs. Trust TVD’s arm to the field side. And, lots of misdirection PA to Mallory and Arroyo. That TAMU back 7 has some speed. Use it against them.

Someone, I think El, wrote it above: someone has to win a **** matchup. At least give our dudes a chance to win one.

 

[Gocanes1990]

He used the TE quite a bit. I like the play at 5
4:50 mark the best. Also some nice end around as of miss direction. He threw a flea flicker here too. (hopefully that link works). Michigans QB sucks, checkdowns we’re also there all game. I think TVD could help himself out a lot by using his check downs early.

 

[skyman]

Watched a handful of plays on youtubeTV while at Hard Rock. I’ll check it out.

Bit more RPOs. Trust TVD’s arm to the field side. And, lots of misdirection PA to Mallory and Arroyo. That TAMU back 7 has some speed. Use it against them.

Someone, I think El, wrote it above: someone has to win a **** matchup. At least give our dudes a chance to win one.

Now that you mention it, that is something I dont understand also, TVD was sooo good with rpo last year, why would we take it out, I see it sprinkle in here or there but it was such a staple would be nice to see.. I know everyone screams secret playbook but dam how much stuff can they cram in that thing..

 

[IndayArtHauz]

He used the TE quite a bit. I like the play at 5
4:50 mark the best. Also some nice end around as of miss direction. He threw a flea flicker here too. (hopefully that link works). Michigans QB sucks, checkdowns we’re also there all game. I think TVD could help himself out a lot by using his check downs early.

Respectfully, TAMU is much better than this OSU D. It was one of the worst in their recent history.

 

[TriStarCane]

All the attention goes to their DLine, but their Secondary IMO is equally as strong as a unit.

Antonio Johnson, Jardin Gilbert, Tyreek Chappell & Demani Richardson are physical group who do very well in coverage & are active in coming down in the box for run support. Our WR’s will have their hands full getting open against this group, this is a major litmus test for them to see if they’re up to par.

All the focus seems to be on us trying to run our way to victory, but whether people believe it or not, our WR’s/TE’s are gonna have to win some one on one matchups if we wanna score & keep us from looking at stacked 7-8 man box fronts.

Since we’ve been holding back the playbook, then this is game to open up the chapters towards to the backend of the book & put some intricate play-calling on display; I suspect we’ll have to scheme some of our guys open & it’ll be something to watch how we decide to move the ball down the field & what approach is taken on 3rd downs.

This is the game to unleash Arroyo, Mallory, Skinner etc.. our TE’s will be needed to do more than just block.

I also think it would behoove the Offense to have a significant amount of 11 & 02 personnel where Restrepo, Brashard, Arroyo & Keyshawn are all on the field at the same time.

And for the love of God, give TVD some rhythm 5/6 route throws to the Boundary to get him comfortable early.

El, you spoke a lot in the off-season about our personnel transition away from the more finesse inside zone and air raid offense of Lash to what Mario envisions this team being. Based on what I’ve seen Gattis do in the first two games + his time at Michigan, I think this will be the first game of a few games where we see that we don’t have the roster to compete with that philosophy yet. I fear a 2020 Clemson type situation is staring at us in the face. I don’t think we will be able to get more than 60-70 yards rushing and I don’t think we are going to be able to keep TVD clean for the longer, complex routes in this offense so far

 

[arinand1]

Y’all are so hung up on these 2 dudes man, it’s wild.

Flagg, may be slow, but he’s getting way too much flak, way overblown. He’s one of the smartest players on the defense and knows where everyone needs to be. May sound like coach speak to some, but that’s valuable.

Now, Ivey.. I really can’t disagree on him. Only problem is we don’t exactly have a bunch of studs behind him. I DO wish that Steele would have split those reps up a bit more among Porter and the younger guys. The limited time we’ve seen hasn’t been great, but ****, we know 100% who Ivey has been and still is. May as well give others a shot at live action, only way they’re going to gain that experience. Just my opinion on all that.

 

[gatorsSUCK!]

That was one of the questions I was going to ask.

How many points do we need to win?

And if it's above 30, it's going to take a lot more than a long string of run-three-up-the-middles.

Lord, I hope we don't come out flat for the first half! Need to smack them in the mouth - and keep smacking.

I think we need 37 to win. I see us continuing to have trouble matching up with speed. Wouldn’t be surprised to see jimbo run the back side screen to their 10.3 speed back like he did w Dalvin to us. D needs some TO’s and some 3rd down stops, but I think this comes down to the O and solid ST.

 

[Gocanes1990]

Respectfully, TAMU is much better than this OSU D. It was one of the worst in their recent history.

Couldn’t agree more, just thinking about ways we may scheme for the TEs

 

[canecrazy23]

I think Passes to the RB's are going to be a big part of the game plan.

 

[kryptonite]

Ego

Lost me there. Sitting Ivey might call the last staff's evals into question, but not the current. I don't see how sitting him has anything to do with ego.

 

[TallyCane]

Don’t know how to add the tweet but Mike Glennon did a breakdown of our OL vs blitz last week and how it needs to improve. A&M blitzed 65% on 3rd down vs App state.

 

[LuCane]

Don’t know how to add the tweet but Mike Glennon did a breakdown of our OL vs blitz last week and how it needs to improve. A&M blitzed 65% on 3rd down vs App state.

Clear and solid points from him.

 

[305to954]

All the attention goes to their DLine, but their Secondary IMO is equally as strong as a unit.

Antonio Johnson, Jardin Gilbert, Tyreek Chappell & Demani Richardson are physical group who do very well in coverage & are active in coming down in the box for run support. Our WR’s will have their hands full getting open against this group, this is a major litmus test for them to see if they’re up to par.

All the focus seems to be on us trying to run our way to victory, but whether people believe it or not, our WR’s/TE’s are gonna have to win some one on one matchups if we wanna score & keep us from looking at stacked 7-8 man box fronts.

Since we’ve been holding back the playbook, then this is game to open up the chapters towards to the backend of the book & put some intricate play-calling on display; I suspect we’ll have to scheme some of our guys open & it’ll be something to watch how we decide to move the ball down the field & what approach is taken on 3rd downs.

This is the game to unleash Arroyo, Mallory, Skinner etc.. our TE’s will be needed to do more than just block.

I also think it would behoove the Offense to have a significant amount of 11 & 02 personnel where Restrepo, Brashard, Arroyo & Keyshawn are all on the field at the same time.

And for the love of God, give TVD some rhythm 5/6 route throws to the Boundary to get him comfortable early.

I think their striker/star is a matchup we can exploit at times..but if you look back at the games A&M has lost these last couple of years the other teams made plays or forced PI by pushing the ball downfield. Gotta establish that threat early

 

[Memnon]

Lost me there. Sitting Ivey might call the last staff's evals into question, but not the current. I don't see how sitting him has anything to do with ego.

The original comment I responded to had nothing to do with sitting; he said starting, as in why have 3 different DB coaches decided to start him? & my answer was ego.

 

[Swampcity]

He used the TE quite a bit. I like the play at 5
4:50 mark the best. Also some nice end around as of miss direction. He threw a flea flicker here too. (hopefully that link works). Michigans QB sucks, checkdowns we’re also there all game. I think TVD could help himself out a lot by using his check downs early.

Good share!

 

[skyman]

He used the TE quite a bit. I like the play at 5
4:50 mark the best. Also some nice end around as of miss direction. He threw a flea flicker here too. (hopefully that link works). Michigans QB sucks, checkdowns we’re also there all game. I think TVD could help himself out a lot by using his check downs early.

They shut down throwing in this game because the run was working and qb threw early pick in like double coverage.. plus the elements were not up to snuff..

I like the msu game also because it was on the road and pretty sure its known Gattis LOVES flea flicker lol..

 

[kryptonite]

The original comment I responded to had nothing to do with sitting; he said starting, as in why have 3 different DB coaches decided to start him? & my answer was ego.

That's what I meant. Let's say you start Ivey, then lose the HC job. I get hired. I've got complete freedom to not play Ivey...I didn't recruit him, I didn't place my faith in him last year, I never told another guy on the team I was riding with Ivey over them. How does not starting him have anything to do with my ego? Not starting him is an indictment of past staffs, not me.

 

[Return of the U]

1. Put the DBS/LBs in conflict with our slots, TEs, and backs in the passing game. Those are our most reliable and talented players and despite Richardson and Johnsons talent, they can't be everywhere and we will get favorable matchups against LBs/smaller DBs.

2. Take advantage of the 3 man fronts in the run game. I know everyone is peeing their pants looking at their DL body types and talent, but they have shown some weird formations that Gattis and offensive staff should have a plan to exploit A lot of times it is 3 on 5, or 4 on 6, up front with 2 guys at LB depth only. That should lead to some beautiful 3-6 yard gains to keep the O on schedule and open up the playbook for deeper shots.

3. Don't be afraid of taking the deep shot. Send outside WRs deep. Specifically though I want to see 3+ shots to an outside receiver, mostly to Keyshawn IMO. They have some **** good corners, but you HAVE to test them and give TVD and a receiver a chance to make a play on the outside. If you hit a shot or two, it will open up the underneath and run game. Football 101 really.

Great post OP.