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Here are a few quick reactions from Texas A&M’s 58-6 win at SMU.
What It Means: Texas A&M looked too amped in the first quarter, but settled down to put the game away well before halftime, allowing the starters to rest for next week’s game against Arkansas. We knew the Aggies would win, so the outcome means little.
What I Liked: It’s tough to highlight too many things from this game despite the wide margin. SMU (0-3) has one touchdown through three games. But Texas A&M’s defense picked up eight sacks despite constant double teams on Myles Garrett, who entered the game leading the nation with 5.5 sacks and didn’t add to his total.
For the most part, Texas A&M spread around the football to multiple receivers and running backs. The running game impressed, averaging 8.6 yards per carry.
What I Didn’t Like: The team committed penalties on the game’s first three plays, including back-to-back personal foul calls.
A&M has to take better care of the ball. Kenny Hill threw the first interception of his career on an apparent miscommunication and then hit another SMU defensive back in the chest for what should’ve been a second first-quarter interception. When Kyle Allen came into the game, he leaped for a high snap and batted it at a player who had gone into motion, but didn’t expect the ball, and it knocked off his shoulder pads and fell to the ground.
Who’s The Man: Malcome Kennedy. With Speedy Noil (MCL) out, Kennedy caught seven passes for 85 yards, a lunch pail effort boosted by a 38-yard snag.
Key Play: Hill looked ready to hand the ball off to Trey Williams, but the running back wasn’t on the same wavelength. Instead, Hill turned a broken play into a 58-yard gain, setting up a Williams touchdown run two plays later to put A&M up 10-0. Texas A&M settled down after that miscue-turned-big play.
What’s Next: Texas A&M plays Arkansas in Arlington, Texas, looking to get a second SEC win in the bank. Can the sometimes-porous run defense handle the Arkansas
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.
