The Texas A&M Aggies missed a big opportunity for a statement victory on Saturday, says Good Bull Hunting's Ranger222. The Aggies' 24-19 loss to the LSU Tigers followed the same formula of other recent big games at Kyle Field: A&M took a sizable lead early, then gradually let it slip away.
Offensive coordinator Kliff Klingsbury's playcalling was a problem, according to GBH, especially after the Aggies jumped out to a two-score lead.
I really thought we would see an expanded playbook today. I found out we really don't have that much of a playbook at all. We have the scramble by Johnny (Manziel). The short 5-yard pass. The inside run. The throw to the edge for a yard. The "just throw the ball deep and hope something happens". And the "OH GAWD JOHNNY NO, NO, NO....YES YES YES!". That's about it. Disappointing because with 7 games played, we should be doing so much more with the talent we have on offense.
Four turnovers didn't help the cause on offense, either. The offense executed poorly, and that was no more evident than in an important series late in the game, which could have changed the outcome of the contest.
...down 17-12 late, Trey Williams' runback inside the twenty gave A&M life it dearly needed. With a dime look, A&M elected to run a QB sneak. It was there; Johnny just decided to run into one of his lineman. A botched snap and a poor pass later, you are faced kicking a chip-shot field goal and missing, sucking all the momentum out of Kyle.
Placekicker Taylor Bertolet compounded the offense's problems by missing two field goals and an extra point. However, GBH doesn't blame him, but rather an ankle injury that the coaching staff has failed to properly address.
Bertolet has been reportedly fighting a bum ankle for about a month. If your kicker is in fact hurt, you do have other kickers on your roster, especially for a home game. In fact, if you look at the A&M roster, you see 5 placekickers listed. Davis Plowman was the kicker who competed with Bertolet throughout all of fall camp. Give the young man a chance.
Bertolet, Manziel and the Aggies have a week to get their heads straight before traveling to Auburn for a primetime contest on Saturday.