Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
By Hunt Palmer
Mike Elko has Texas A&M unbeaten and 7-0 for the first time since 1995.
The Aggies are a top five team playing great football on both sides of the ball. Their balance and versatility have been so impressive in shootouts versus Notre Dame and Arkansas, as well as a slugfest against Auburn.
This group has shown multiple ways to win games and sits comfortably in the playoff picture as the end of October approaches.
A reminder that the smaller the ranking, the better the statistic.
Green: Top 25
Red: Bottom 50
OFFENSE
Scoring Offense: 27th, 36.1 points per game
Total Offense: 17th, 464.0 yards per game
Yards per play: 23rd, 6.66 yards per play
Plays: 32nd, 69.7 plays per game
Rushing Offense: 30th, 196.7 yards per game
Yards per carry: 37th, 4.9 yards per carry
Rushing Attempts per game: 31st, 39.7 attempts per game
Rushing Touchdowns: 37th, 15
Passing Offense: 36th, 267.3 yards per game
Yards per Passing Attempts: 16th, 8.9 yards per attempts
Completion Percentage: 81st, 61.4%
Passing Touchdowns: 23rd, 16
Interceptions Thrown: 60th, 5
First Downs: 27th, 23.3 per game
Third Down Conversions: 73rd, 39.6%
Fourth Down Conversion attempts: 104th, 9
Red Zone Touchdown Percentage: 16th, 74.1%
20-plus yard plays: 14th, 42
10-plus yard runs: 45th, 38
20-plus yard passes: 19th, 29
Sacks Allowed: 17th, 1 per game
Tackles For Loss Allowed: 1st, 2.7 per game
Time of Possession: 15th, 32:28:43 per game
That’s about as solid a statistical breakdown as you could hope for. Texas A&M’s offense has been good at just about everything and bad at about nothing. They could complete a higher percentage of passes and be a little better on third downs, but that’s nitpicking. Colin Klein’s unit has been balanced and consistent all season long.
Marcel Reed can run and throw, and the veteran offensive line has won the point of attack in both the rushing and passing games.
Texas A&M didn’t have a lot of weapons coming back, so they hit the portal for wide receiver help. KC Concepcion (NC State) and Mario Craver (Mississippi State) have been excellent. At running back, Le’Veon Moss is dealing with a knee injury that likely means he won’t play Saturday. Former five star Rueben Owens II is filling in admirably. He had a pair of rushing touchdowns at Arkansas.
DEFENSE
Scoring Defense: 62nd, 23.4 points per game
Total Defense: 37th, 327.7 yards per game
Yards per Play Allowed: 49th, 5.24 yards per play
Run Defense: 46th, 126.9 yards per game
Yards per Carry Allowed: 71st, 4.1 yards per carry
Rushing Touchdowns Allowed: 42nd, 8
Passing Defense: 46th, 200.9 yards per game
Completion Percentage Allowed: 43rd, 59.5%
Yards per Passing Attempt Allowed: 36th, 6.4 yards per attempt
Interceptions: 123rd, 2
Passing Touchdowns Allowed: 84th, 11
Sacks: 6th, 3.6 per game
Tackles for Loss: 6th, 7.9 per game
Third Down Defense: 2nd, 23%
Red Zone Touchdown Percentage Allowed: 82nd, 63.6%
20-plus yard plays: 93rd, 32
10-plus yard runs: 77th, 32
20-plus yard passes: 64th, 20
Notre Dame and Arkansas went up and down the field on Texas A&M. The defensive efforts against Utah State and UTSA to open the season weren’t great, either.
The Aggies get to the quarterback well and force negative plays. They also give up explosives. The most telling stats here is the third down defense where Texas A&M is among the nation’s best.
My assumption is that Elko will field more dominant defenses than this one over his time at A&M, but this one has gotten the job done, thus far.
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