Missouri’s defensive plan against Marcel Reed may end up telling the whole story of Texas A&M’s offense.
That’s because the issues around Reed didn’t just start with the Texas game at the end of last year, even if that’s the moment most Aggie fans point to. Yes, A&M’s offense had been humming before that night, averaging more than 30 points per game with one 16-point outing against Auburn mixed in, and then got dragged down to only 17 in regulation in Austin. But the decline had already begun to show itself before that.
The South Carolina game was one of the clearest warning signs. Reed was rough in the first half, even by the standards of this season, before turning it around after halftime and doing enough to earn AP Player of the Week honors. Still, the deeper problems really started to surface in the first half against Missouri last year.
Reed entered that game riding high after carving up LSU heading into the bye, but Missouri presented a different kind of challenge. The Tigers’ approach was simple and effective: take away the explosive pass game, let the defensive front handle the run, and crowd the throwing lanes with softer zone looks. That formula has shown up again and again since then.
Texas and Miami used the same basic idea, and teams have leaned on it against Reed this year as well. The bet is straightforward - force him to stay patient, make the easy throw, and string together short gains. So far, that’s been a winning gamble, because Reed has not consistently answered that test.
The run game changes the math. Missouri was able to get away with that approach last year more easily than Texas and Miami did because those teams were better at shutting down A&M’s rushing attack without needing extra help. When the Aggies shifted to the ground in the second half against Missouri, the offense finally found some life, passing only seven times after the break and putting up 24 points in the final 30 minutes.
That same formula paid off again against Arkansas last week. A&M ran the ball 49 times and threw it only 19 times, and the offense looked far more comfortable.
Now Missouri has to decide what it wants to live with. The Tigers can stick with the same plan that has caused Reed problems before, selling out more to limit the big pass and accepting the risk of getting hit on the ground. Or they can focus on stopping the run and trust that Reed still won’t be able to punish them consistently through the air, especially against man coverage downfield.
That’s where the matchup between defensive coordinator Corey Batoon and Holmon Wiggins becomes so interesting. If Batoon loads up to stop the run, he could open the door for the kind of downfield shots A&M has been chasing all year. And if those throws finally connect, it could be exactly what Reed needs to rebuild his confidence.
Of course, it could go the other way, too, with Reed or the receivers missing on those chances entirely. But Missouri’s decision here may do more than shape one game. It could help reveal how the rest of A&M’s schedule will attack this offense from here on out.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Has A Chance To Reset Everything At Missouri
Texas A&M left the Arkansas game with another familiar result in hand and a little more breathing room in the SEC race, but the attention quickly shifted to what comes next. A road trip to Missouri now offers the Aggies a different kind of test, one that can say a lot about how far Mike Elkos team has come and whether the win over the Razorbacks can become more than just another line in the season log.
Missouri, with Austin Simmons leading the offense, brings the kind of challenge that can expose soft spots if Texas A&M does not control the line of scrimmage. For the Aggies, the path is pretty clear: get the running game moving, create takeaways on defense, and show they can travel well in a league where every road game can reshape the conversation around a program still trying to establish its identity. [Read more 🡒]
Missouri Presents The Kind Of Test Texas A&M Cant Fake
Texas A&M comes off a win over Arkansas and now has a very different challenge waiting in week six, one that should say plenty about where the Aggies really stand. Missouri brings a rushing attack that is built to keep drives alive and avoid mistakes, with Jamal Roberts doing most of the heavy lifting as one of the nations most productive backs in carries and rushing yards.
For the Aggies, this is the sort of matchup that cannot be dressed up or avoided. The defense will have to do more than slow the Tigers down in spots - it needs to limit scoring chances and keep Missouris ground game from dictating the pace, because if the Tigers can stay on schedule, they can make life uncomfortable in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Gets A Timely Boost For Its Playoff Push
Texas A&Ms playoff push got a needed lift in the form of a healthier roster after its 34-7 win over Arkansas. The Aggies are still working their way back from early SEC losses, but the return of key pieces has helped steady the picture as the schedule tightens. Ashton Bethel-Roman and Jamarion Morrow are back in the mix after injury absences, and Mario Craver was also active again after dealing with an ankle issue.
With Missouri and Alabama looming next, the timing could hardly be better for the Aggies to get their depth back in order. Those are the kinds of games that can reshape a season in a hurry, and Texas A&M will hope improved health translates into the kind of consistency it needs to keep its playoff hopes alive. [Read more 🡒]