GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Texas A&M ranks No. 12 in the FBS in rush defense (68 ypg) and No. 17 in rushing offense (287). Alabama, meanwhile, ranks No. 30 (94.5) and No. 31 (250) in both categories respectively. To beat Alabama, a team has to be able to dictate the tempo of the game. The best way to do that is on the ground on both sides of the ball.
Last year, the Texas A&M offensive line was a revolving door that prevented RB Trayveon Williams from finding a groove, particularly against SEC competition.
“I think we weren’t opening holes up,” offensive lineman Keaton Sutherland said. “We weren’t giving Trayveon the lanes he needed to break free.”
The Aggies will need Williams to find plenty of real estate to control the affair against Alabama on Saturday. That puts the burden on the offensive line to create those lanes.
DRAFT SLANT
–DT Kingsley Keke, rated the No. 6 defensive tackle in the 2019 class by NFLDraftScout, has one sack so far in 2018 to go along with 2.5 tackles for loss. If Keke can command a few double-teams along the line or create enough havoc when he’s left one-on-one, he could create chaos for the Alabama offense.
ROSTER REPORT:
–K Daniel LaCamera is expected to miss some time after suffering a crack on his non-kicking foot. Seth Small is LaCamera’s replacement. So far, Small is 2-for-2 on field goals and 6-for-6 on extra points
–P Braden Mann doesn’t meet the 3.5 punts per game requirement for the NCAA official stats, but his 51.7 yards per punt average would rank second in the nation if he did qualify.
–LB Otaro Alaka, a senior, is by far Texas A&M’s most experienced player with 36 starts to his name. Saturday against Alabama will be his 37th, and Alaka is the only player on the Aggies’ roster with at least 30 starts.
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