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In preparation for Saturday’s road tuneup between Texas A&M and Southern Methodist, Saturday Down South is taking a look at the key matchup that may decide the showdown between the Aggies and Mustangs.
Myles Garrett/Daeshon Hall vs. SMU OL
Yes, I know this is a repeat of last week’s breakdown. But there just aren’t many interesting matchups in this game.
Garrett, meanwhile, is leading the nation in sacks as a true freshman.
We already know the Aggies can score, and SMU’s offense is the worst in the country through Week 3. So why not focus on the most exciting development for Texas A&M this season?
An SMU quarterback may actually get injured in this game. The Mustangs have allowed 13 sacks in two games. Luckily, SMU may play three: Neal Burcham, Kolney Cassel and Matt Davis.
SMU returned both starters at offensive tackle in Chauncey Briggs and Kris Weeks. But Garrett gave Cedric Ogbuehi problems before the season, coach Kevin Sumlin revealed this week.
“He’s had his moments with every guy on that offensive line. That’s when you start getting respect from your teammates, and people start whispering,” Sumlin said, according to NFL.com. “Our challenge is to make sure we are getting him in a position to help him be successful, because he’s going to start seeing some different blocking schemes, you saw it (Saturday) night, you’re going to start seeing some (double-team) help. We’ve got to be able to move him around.”
Garrett’s 5.5 sacks tied the freshman school record held by Sam Adams, the No. 8 overall pick in 1994, and Damontre Moore, who plays for the New York Giants. The SEC record, held by South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney, is eight.
Already there’s an undercurrent of speculation against Garrett, with some postulating his numbers will slow or halt altogether against teams like Alabama and LSU. Sumlin inadvertently drew parallels between Clowney’s 2013 season and Garrett.
“I think he got a little frustrated (Saturday) with the protection, seeing some things he hadn’t seen,” Sumlin said, according to the Dallas Morning News. “Toward the end of the game he kind of figured that out and that’s part of being a young guy, a young pass rusher. That’s going to continue the rest of the year, nobody’s just going to single him up.”
Sophomore Daeshon Hall, the starter at defensive end, missed part of last week’s game against Rice due to injury, but gives the Aggies a second quality pass-rusher. It’s a scary combination of athleticism when both are on the field at the same time. Texas A&M made 21 sacks last season, and the team has made 9 through three games, on pace for 36.
“(Garrett) has got more sacks right now in game three than we had all last year as a defense,” Sumlin said. “I don’t know what else I can say, but he’s doing a good job.”
SMU’s quarterbacks better get rid of the ball fast Saturday, and the Mustangs veteran tackles face what may be their biggest challenge of the season.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
