Alabama vs. Texas A&M: Inside The Stats

Bama Hammer takes a look at the Alabama vs. Texas A&M game on what went wrong, what went right, and what it could mean for the Tide going forward.

I’ll get to some of the other ones very soon but the first stat that sticks out to me which is a one thousand which has to do with Tide quarterback Jake Coker. The number mentioned in the last sentence is for his testicular fortitude rating. Not many quarterbacks will lower that shoulder and take it on but, it looks like Coker seeks it out to give his team just a better chance to move the sticks. You can tell that he has a lot of heart in him for the game and opportunity. Coker didn’t cause any turnovers and was pretty confident, throwing 19-for-25 on 138 yards.

The next number that come to mind are “0-4” and “1-10”. The first numbers represent Coach Kevin Sumlin’s record against top 10 teams in Kyle Field. The second set is the Aggies record since the nineties to that same collective group. If Sumlin and crew want to compete with a chance at Atlanta, that is going to have to change.

What needs to change? The ability to run. Against a defense that I am not sure if they would allow their grandmothers to come through, A&M was held to 32 yards. That isn’t mentioning their rushing defense. Let’s put it this way. Derrick Henry beat his best game total against the Aggies with 236 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries but, the funny thing about that is that Henry had the record after the first quarter.

Oct 17, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) makes a long run against the Texas A&M Aggies in the third quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

Texas A&M still has a great passing attack and it showed at times during the game. They recorded 284 yards through the air with one touchdown to Ricky Seals-Jones. Both signal callers for the Aggies threw for 22-for-45 with four interceptions. That last line: Four interceptions.

The top defense in the nation rattled Kyle Allen just enough to throw three interceptions that were just about as backbreaking as they could be. All three were taken to house each time to give 21 points. Freshman Minkah Fitzpatrick added two run backs from 33 yards out and another from 55 out. Eddie Jackson didn’t want to be left alone so he decided to house it with a 93-yard return.

Next: VIDEO: Nick Saban Texas A&M Post Game Press Conference

The defense definitely needs a shout out because if it weren’t for those guys battling, the outcome could have changed. Linebacker Reggie Ragland once again led with tackles notching nine for the day. Most Alabama fans wanted pressure on the Aggies’ quarterback. Alabama kept the pressure on, collapsing the pocket, and forcing the A&M quarterbacks to make the costly errors. As a whole, the Alabama boys grabbed six sacks on Saturday along with three quarterback hurries and seven passes broken up.

Field goal kicker Adam Griffith was also clutch going 2-for-2 on the day.

And to close out, we get to address what the tinfoil crowd that says.

The Tide gets all of the breaks. The referees are in their bad pocket. For this game, Alabama had seven penalties called on them. The Aggies? One. I don’t want to hear about that ever again.

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