How will a freshman QB fare for MSU?

(All rankings within the SEC)

A&M: 4th in passer rating defense (114 rating), 13th in pass rush (Pro Football Focus)

Mississippi State: 10th in passer rating (149 rating), 13th in pass block rating (Pro Football Focus)

1. Texas A&M’s pass defense is based on the pass rush, in which rushers stay in their pass rush lanes, perform stunts to squeeze the pocket, and trick the quarterback into throwing the ball away across coverage. They play two high looks behind with man or zone underneath to not give up the big play (six plays of 30 yards in 2024 versus 20 in 2023) and to turn you over (seven picks on the season).

2. Mississippi State’s offense wants to kill the RPO game and play action. This means running the ball well, getting to the perimeter in man coverage, and making downfield shots against man coverage. Unfortunately, it’s a higher-risk, higher-reward passing attack that is difficult to move the chains at times and really needs the threat of the running game to be most effective.

3. The Aggies have been much more aggressive in recent weeks when it comes to sending people hard off the edge and supplementing that with blitzing. They gradually generate more sacks and pressures and can rotate a variety of defenders at all levels of the defense.

4. You face the freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren who stood his ground last week Georgia but has a much better pass rush this weekend against the Aggies. He’s hit on some long throws, but he’s better at generating speed via RPOs on shorter and intermediate throws. He’ll take some risks and is good at making things happen, which is why it’s important for the Aggies to stay disciplined at times.

5. A&M identified several discrepancies in advance each weekend that they were able to exploit from a personnel standpoint. center Ethan Miner can get them into the right defense and he plays with a chip on his shoulder but lacks athleticism. Right guard Marlon Martínez (five penalties) and left tackles Luke’s work And Makylan Pounders (a total of nine penalties this season) play more with their hands than their feet.

6. Mississippi State’s defenders are really good pass blockers because they don’t make mistakes and develop into rushers. They have to give their best this weekend.

7. A&M has played with its fastest backups (Daymion Sanford and Solomon DeShields), who can blitz quickly and run crossing routes better.

8. A&M plays two quality players and wants to keep the games in front of them. They’re still trying to figure out who to pick in their combination coverages other than the cornerbacks who play the outside receivers. They win with quicker throws to the outside, they also tend to lose people and their tackling could be better. Will Lee will pick people off early on routes and use his hands to overpower them (but can’t be too obvious about it). Former five-star hotel Dezz Ricks Learning at work. Trayvon Thomas has improved a lot and provides a nice rotation for the Aggies.

9. MSU slot Kevin Coleman is a sudden guy who can create separation from his breaks and his running after the catch. He has twice as many receptions as the closest targeted receiver. External receiver Kelly Akharaiyi has the speed to get downfield quickly, but primarily runs deep routes (16 yards per catch) and therefore isn’t targeted as often. H back Seydou Traore can move the chains, but plays the position more like a big wideout and doesn’t make many contested catches.

10. Mississippi State really relies on its running game to get its passing attack going. They tend to go too often (22% of the time) because they can’t sustain the chain shift on schedule. If the Aggies can get to Van Buren, not allow him to break containment, and don’t allow MSU’s wideouts on the field, then perhaps the Bulldogs’ best chance could be to get the ball in the passing game (off-schedule plays). ) to move, to fall by the wayside.