Photo by: Texas A&M Athletics
After Math: Vanderbilt
Nov 23, 2015 | Football
Each Monday, 12th Man Productions' Will Johnson goes inside the numbers of the football game with "After Math".
A lot of Aggie players stepped off the bus in short sleeves.
Several went out to the field early to stretch with a similar look. Except for Zaycoven Henderson, who didn't wear a shirt at all.
It was a good sign. It showed this team would have no concern about the 30-degree wind chills they would play in at Vanderbilt Stadium.
It showed once kickoff arrived.
Texas A&M pitched the only shutout in an SEC league game this year, controlling the Commodores in a 25-0 victory.
"It means a lot to our players," says defensive coordinator John Chavis. "They played their rear ends off. It was good to see them excited about it after the game."
It was the first time the Aggies shutout an opponent since 2004.
Offensively, A&M topped what most of their SEC brethren has done versus the Dores. Vanderbilt came in allowing 17.6 points per game against league foes. The Aggies put up 25.
A&M gained 486 total yards, more than any SEC team has gained versus Vandy. The total is 133 more than conference teams were averaging against the Commodores.
95 of those yards came on one play following a very interesting sequence.
The Aggies had 3rd down and 9 from their own 5, leading 6-0, with 2:25 remaining until halftime.
"The first 3rd and 9 call we put Christian Kirk in the backfield and motioned him to quads," recounts offensive coordinator Jake Spavital. "It forced them to call timeout."
This allowed the Aggies to discuss the play on their own sideline.
"They're very aggressive on 3rd down playing the sticks," Spavital continues. "Third and 9, they were going to be aggressive at nine yards. We let Josh (Reynolds) run through, and told Kyle (Allen) to hold the eyes."
The bomb dealt the blow that would ultimately sink the Commodores. There would be no comeback. Not the way the Aggie defense was playing.
Any insurance points were provided by Taylor Bertolet. He tied an SEC record with 6 field goals in a game.
"There was some wind, it was cold, and the ball was rock hard," says head coach Kevin Sumlin. "He's had a great year, and continues to do well."
The Aggies have probably used Bertolet more than Sumlin would like, but they did go against the best Red Zone defense in the SEC on Saturday.
All told though, A&M has attempted 29 field goals this season, the most ever by a Sumlin-coached team. This squad has already topped the previous high (25 by Sumlin's 2009 Houston team) with two games still to play.
Kevin Sumlin stated a week ago the Aggies haven't played their best game yet.
"It was a good performance as a team," Sumlin states. "But I think we can still play better."
You get the sense he feels his team is getting closer to their peak with each Saturday.
What does it all add up to?
In their brand new 'Aggie Ice' uniforms, surrounded by the frosty Tennessee night, Texas A&M left the Commodores out in the cold.
Defensively, the Aggies were relentless.
Offensively, they were efficient.
On Special Teams, precisioned.
After leaving chilly Nashville, the Aggies just might be warming up at the right time.
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Wednesday, October 01
