Crimson Keys: Alabama vs. Texas A&M

Bama Hammer looks ahead with Crimson Keys to this weekend’s matchup: Alabama vs. Texas A&M.

On Saturday, the tenth ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1) travels to the Lone Star State to do battle with SEC West rival ninth-ranked Texas A&M Aggies (5-0). Last season, Alabama demolished the Aggies 59-0 in Tuscaloosa off an insane performance by Blake Sims. The Aggies are a different team this year with a much-improved defense and are coming off of wins over SEC rivals Arkansas and Mississippi State. Alabama is also coming off of back-to-back SEC wins over Georgia and Arkansas. A loss here would dramatically hurt Alabama’s chances at winning the SEC West while a win would really help the Tide’s odds.

Defense Must Continue Dominance

Alabama has been absolutely dominant since the loss to Ole Miss and on the season allows less than 80-yards rushing. Texas A&M boasts one of the most balanced offenses in the country with quarterback Kyle Allen throwing for 1,274 yards and 13 touchdowns while only throwing two picks all year. He’s also been able to make plays with his feet to really keep defenses honest. He doesn’t have the athleticism or running ability of Johnny Manziel, but he can still make defenses pay with his feet. Running back Tre Carson has run for 430 yards and four touchdowns as well. The A&M offense provides a much different test than that of the past few games in Georgia and Arkansas.

Oct 10, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman D.J. Pettway (57) , defensive back Marlon Humphrey (26) celebrate with linebacker Tim Williams (56) after a play during the game against Arkansas Razorbacks at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated Arkansas 27-14. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

While Georgia and Arkansas are power running, more traditional offenses, the A&M offense is a spread team that wants to spread out a defense and throw the ball all over the place while also using the read option and other runs out of spread formations to keep defenses honest. This will be Alabama’s biggest test of the season and the Aggies will look to catch the Tide off guard with a ton of hurry up in the game. The biggest key for Alabama’s defense will be limiting A&M on first and third down to try and force them into third and long situations where Kirby Smart can really dial up different coverages and pressures to confuse Texas A&M’s offense. Another key will be forcing turnovers, but it will be a huge chore as A&M has turned the ball over very rarely this year.

Establish The Run

Alabama struggled mightily at times last week to run the football, but this is a point of A&M’s defense in which Alabama can really take advantage of. The Aggies have allowed rushing yards of 240 (to Ball State), 153 (to Nevada), 232 (to Arkansas), and 196 (to Mississippi State) this season. Cam Robinson has been a bit banged up the last couple of weeks and has not played his best football, but this week could be a chance for the All-American to really bounce back and establish some dominance across the offensive line. Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake both need to get the ball and the combination of Henry’s power and Drake’s speed could really hurt the Aggie defense. Wearing the A&M defense out with the run will give more opportunities to Coker and the passing game.

Coker Must Make Plays, Take Care of the Ball

We saw both the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde sides of Jake Coker last week as he threw two horrible interceptions in the second quarter and made several bad decisions while throwing two touchdowns, including a beautiful 81-yard pass, in the second half and leading the Alabama offense beautifully. To beat the Aggies, he will need to take care of the football and manage the Alabama offense while also making plays down the field.

Oct 10, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jake Coker (14) is grabbed from behind by Arkansas Razorbacks linebacker Brooks Ellis (51) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated Arkansas 27-14. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama’s running game will have its chances at making plays which should open up opportunities for Coker which he will need to take advantage of. Last season A&M had all sorts of trouble with Blake Sims giving them a taste of their own medicine in the read option running game. Coker has made plays with his feet several times this year and last week Alabama even broke out a couple of read options and bootlegs for him so we might see a few of those this week as well.

Next: Alabama Football Podcast Breaks Down Alabama vs Arkansas

Alabama’s Team Leaders

PASSING

Jake Coker: 103-172, 1,238 yards, 11 TD, 6 INT; 28 carries, 90 yards, 2 TD
Cooper Bateman: 30-40, 244 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT; 4 carries, 10 yards

RUSHING

Derrick Henry: 120 carries, 665 yards, 10 TD; 7 catches, 51 yards
Kenyan Drake: 50 carries, 244 yards, 1 TD; 13 catches, 178 yards, 1 TD
Damien Harris: 31 carries, 105 yards; 2 catches, 4 yards
Derrick Gore: 5 carries, 11 yards
Ronnie Clark: 3 carries, 9 yards
Bo Scarbrough: 2 carries, 5 yards

RECEIVING

Calvin Ridley: 31 catches, 385 yards, 3 TD
ArDarius Stewart: 25 catches, 239 yards, 2 TD
Richard Mullaney: 19 catches, 185 yards, 3 TD
OJ Howard: 16 catches, 200 yards
Robert Foster: 10 catches, 116 yards, 2 TD
Cam Sims: 3 catches, 21 yards
Ty Flournoy-Smith: 2 catches, 48 yards
Chris Black: 2 catches, 23 yards
Michael Nysewander: 1 catch, 19 yards, 1 TD
Daylon Charlot: 1 catch, 8 yards
Hale Hentges: 1 catch, 5 yards

DEFENSE

Reggie Ragland: 50 TKL, 2.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, 3 PBU, 3 QBH, 2 FF
Jarran Reed: 32 TKL, 2.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, 2 PBU, 3 QBH, 1 FR
Geno Matias-Smith: 26 TKL, 0.5 TFL, 1 INT, 16 yards, 1 PBU, 1 FR
Reuben Foster: 25 TKL, 2.0 TFL, 3 PBU
Eddie Jackson: 22 TKL, 1.0 TFL, 3 INT, 111 yards, 1 TD, 3 PBU, 1 FF, 1 FR
Minkah Fitzpatrick: 22 TKL, 3.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 6 PBU, 1 blocked punt, 1 TD
Marlon Humphrey: 21 TKL, 2.5 TFL, 1 INT, 3 PBU, 1 FF
A’Shawn Robinson: 19 TKL, 1.0 TFL, 1 PBU, 6 QBH
Shaun-Dion Hamilton: 17 TKL, 1 QBH
Denzel Devall: 14 TKL, 3.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 2 PBU, 4 QBH
Dalvin Tomlinson: 12 TKL, 6 PBU, 2 QBH
Cyrus Jones: 11 TKL, 1 INT, 3 PBU
Ryan Anderson: 11 TKL, 1.0 TFL, 3 QBH, 1 FR
Dillon Lee: 11 TKL, 1 PBU, 1 QBH
DJ Pettway: 10 TKL, 3.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 1 QBH
Jonathan Allen: 10 TKL, 3.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 3 PBU, 2 QBH
Tony Brown: 8 TKL
Da’Shawn Hand: 7 TKL, 2.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 QBH
Ronnie Harrison: 6 TKL, 2 INT, 41 yards, 1 PBU, 1 QBH
Daron Payne: 6 TKL, 1 PBU, 1 QBH
Keith Holcombe: 5 TKL, 1 PBU
Bradley Sylve: 5 TKL
Tim Williams: 5 TKL, 3.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 QBH
Michael Nysewander: 4 TKL
Maurice Smith: 4 TKL
Darren Lake: 3 TKL, 1 PBU
Josh Frazier: 3 TKL
Rashaan Evans: 3 TKL, 2.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks
OJ Howard: 2 TKL
Damien Harris: 2 TKL
Hootie Jones: 2 TKL
Shawn Burgess-Becker: 2 TKL
Ryan Kelly: 1 TKL
Derrick Henry: 1 TKL
Dominick Jackson: 1 TKL
Cole Mazza: 1 TKL
Robert Foster: 1 TKL
OJ Smith: 1 TKL
Calvin Ridley: 1 TKL

SPECIAL TEAMS

Adam Griffith: 6/12 FGs, 26-26 XPs, Long: 40 yards
JK Scott: 28 punts, 40.9 YPP, Long: 58 yards
Kenyan Drake: 8 KOR, 170 yards
Damien Harris: 4 KOR, 83 yards
Cyrus Jones: 20 PR, 161 yards
Ronnie Harrison: 1 PR, 8 yards
Richard Mullaney: 1 PR, 22 yards
ArDarius Stewart: 2 KOR, 30 yards
Chris Black: 1 KOR, 7 yards
Richard Mullaney: 1 KOR, 16 yards
Michael Nysewander: 1 KOR, 16 yards

The Tide battles A&M Saturday at 2:30 PM (central) on CBS. Follow along here on Bama Hammer during and after the game for full coverage of the game.

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