Texas A&M Football: How Kenny Hill Can Lead Aggies to Upset Alabama
After a rough couple of weeks, Texas A&M quarterback Kenny Hill has a chance to turn it all around when the Aggies take on Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET on CBS).
Losses to Ole Miss and Mississippi State put a damper on the team’s surprising 5-0 start. More importantly, it put a serious damper on Texas A&M’s SEC title and College Football Playoff hopes.
Fortunately, a win against the Crimson Tide would be the perfect remedy to all of that.
Here’s what Hill has to accomplish to help the Aggies pull off the upset on Saturday.
Assume More of a Leadership Role
Life as a first-year starting quarterback can be a trying time. However, playing in the SEC West, Hill has no choice but to fast-track his progress if Texas A&M wants to hang around.
More specifically, Hill must become a better leader.
After beginning the season on a tear, the sophomore has had some rough outings of late. But worse than his mistakes in recent weeks was his composure on the sidelines. That includes coming off the field laughing after one of his fumbles was returned for a touchdown against Ole Miss last Saturday.
“I could have stepped up and been a better leader,” Hill said in his postgame presser a week earlier following a loss against Mississippi State. “We’ll get it fixed.”
We're still awaiting that transformation.
College football teams that wish to be successful in late October and November generally boast great leadership from the important positions. A road trip to take on Alabama would be a great time for Hill to take the reins of this team.
Attack Alabama Secondary
It’s never easy facing the Tide defense.
According to Tide 99.1's The Game, however, the same can’t be said about the secondary:
Through six games, Alabama ranks No. 34 against the pass (208.3 yards allowed per game). That marks the school’s first time outside of the top 15 in the category since 2008.
Although the unit has only allowed six passing touchdowns, the Tide aren’t forcing many turnovers—just three interceptions—and haven’t been able to stop teams from moving the ball. In fact, opponents have recorded 200 or more passing yards in every game but two this season.
Already a pass-happy team, the Aggies should be perfectly content with sticking with the MO. Entering this weekend, the team ranks No. 3 in passing offense (396.0 YPG).
Just take a look at the weapons Hill has at his disposal. Josh Reynolds has been a favorite, leading the team in yards (476) and touchdowns (eight). In total, five different wide receivers have recorded 300 or more receiving yards, six have caught 20 or more passes and seven have found the end zone at least twice.
All these secondary concerns should be music to the ears of Hill.
Shake Off Turnover Bug
Through the first five games, Hill threw just two interceptions. Over the last two, he has five, including one that went back for a touchdown.
Hill also coughed up a fumble during last Saturday’s 35-20 loss to Mississippi State that went back for a touchdown. That makes two turnovers that resulted in immediate scores in a game that was decided by two touchdowns.
That has to change against an Alabama team that usually feasts on opponents’ turnovers.
“When you lose, there’s a lot more criticism or a lot more questions asked from outside than even inside,” said Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin, per AL.com’s Michael Casagrande. “The way we do things here, we’re always analyzing everything. When you lose a game or you’re inefficient, you have to start looking at things and saying, ‘What’s wrong?’”
On the season, the Aggies rank No. 115 in turnover margin at minus-six. Although the Tide haven’t picked off too many passes—just three—the defense has forced five fumbles thus far.
Beating Alabama at home is a tough enough task as it is. Hill and Texas A&M wouldn’t be doing themselves any favors by handing the Tide free possessions.
All stats, recruiting information and rankings used in this article are courtesy of cfbstats.com and 247Sports.
For complete coverage and everything college football, you can reach Sebastian on Twitter and via email at Sebastian.LenaBR@gmail.com.
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