After Math: Nevada
Sep 21, 2015 | Football
Each Monday, 12th Man Productions' Will Johnson will take you inside the numbers of the last football game with "After Math".
The Ball State game that unveiled a redeveloped Kyle Field brought with it crisp, fall-like weather. It was truly a pleasant evening.
With Nevada in town this weekend, searing summer temperatures returned and carried a stagnant humidity with it.
The Aggies overcame it by turning up the heat on the Wolf Pack backfield, often immobilizing the opposition's drives when it mattered most.
Texas A&M registered a whopping 16 tackles for lost yardage on Saturday. This comes after making 14 in the opener vs. Arizona State.
Myles Garrett led the way with 4. Three-and-a-half of those were sacks. He currently leads the nation in sacks.
How important is it to get into opponent's backfields?
Kevin Sumlin and the Aggies have now won 19 games in a row when notching at least five tackles for loss.
"Obviously if we're in the backfield we're doing something right in getting people off schedule," says Sumlin.
In the Sumlin era, A&M is 24-2 when they get 5 or more TFLs. They're 7-9 when getting 4 or less.
Creating chaos behind the line of scrimmage helps carve a smoother path to victory.
That's not the only 19-game win streak this program currently carries. A&M has won 19 consecutive non-conference matchups, including bowl games. That's currently the best in major college football.
By defeating a Mountain West squad in Nevada, every FBS conference has now gone down at the hands of the Aggies during the run. Heading into this season, A&M needed wins over the Pac 12, MAC and Mountain West to complete the set. Well, that just so happens to be exactly where Arizona State, Ball State and Nevada reside.
Former A&M assistant Brian Polian had his Pack coached well. This is a team that has a real chance when league play starts.
The Aggies knew what they would get.
Offensive Coordinator Jake Spavital on Friday spoke highly of what he'd face across from his group.
"Their strength is up front," said Spavital from his office in the Bright Complex. "They're big and experienced. They're aggressive. We'll have to match their effort and physicality."
"We cannot go through the motions," he firmly stated to finish.
For the most part, the Aggies did well. Tra Carson ran for 137 tough yards. That's the most any Aggie has rushed for in two-plus years.
The offensive line wasn't perfect against the strength of the Nevada defense, but they were sound.
"It was a good day to build our craft, keep running the ball," said guard Joseph Cheek immediately after it was over. "Something we want to get better on every week."
Kevin Sumlin always wants improvement on third downs. It's no secret it's one of the first stats he looks at after a game.
His defense can't get much better at it.
The Aggies, in three games, have allowed opponents' to hit on just 11 of 47 third down attempts. That's 23.4 percent, ranking A&M 16th in the country in the category.
What does it all add up to?
Highs and lows that can plague anybody this early in the season, and in the day. The 11 a.m. kickoff in scorching heat can bring fatigue and mistakes. The Aggies had their share. Even with the 16 tackles for loss, there were busts.
"We've got to be more consistent, and not give up as many big plays," says Sumlin. "I thought our effort was really, really good from a lot of players across the board. Overall, with the effort, I was pleased. The execution, we've got to continue to get better."
He went on to point out how the early kickoffs can be difficult, as it was for Auburn against Jacksonville State, and Stanford when the Cardinal matched up with Northwestern.
But, even in the air-conditioned confines of AT&T Stadium, the temperature only rises. The Aggies step into the fire of SEC play.
Arkansas awaits, scalding mad from the previous two weeks.
There is no comfort zone the rest of the season. Eight of the next nine are in conference.
The Aggies will have to keep cranking up the heat.
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