Why Johnny Manziel and No-Huddle Offense Will Lead Texas A&M to Victory

The Texas A&M Aggies travel to Alabama on Saturday in a battle of the top SEC West teams. The Aggies sit at 7-2 while the Crimson Tide are one of the remaining undefeated teams at 9-0.

Alabama can easily run the table if they can get past Texas A&M, but it will be a lot harder than it looks.

Aggies freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel is leading A&M to one of their best starts in recent history. They reached nine wins only twice in 12 years, 2010 and back in 2006.

Manziel excels in the passing and ground game. He has 2,527 passing yards with 66.6 percent accuracy and 1,058 rushing yards with 15 touchdowns this season.

In the Aggies win against Mississippi on November 3, Manziel completed 30 of 36 passes for 311 yards and rushed for 129 more yards with two touchdowns.

On the year, Manziel has 31 total touchdowns and is averaging 383.2 yards of offense per game.

Defenses need to keep an eye out for Manziel. He can pick defenses apart with his arm or break away from pass rushers with his legs.

"We're lucky to have him," running back Ben Malena said. "The play is never over. You've got to stay in the play and try to help him out any way you can."

The fast-paced Texas A&M offense ran 97 plays and totaled 693 yards. It was the fifth time this season the Aggies gained over 600 yards.

According to ESPN, Saban had some disheartening words about the no-huddle offense. "Is this what we want football to be?" he said. The statement came after Alabama played Mississippi, who play a similar style of offense. However, Mississippi averages 348.2 yards of offense per game, 35 yards less than A&M.

Texas A&M averages 44.7 points per game and was held under 30 points only twice, both were loses.

The Aggies may be the only team left who can hand the Crimson Tide their first loss—and it could happen.

The only way Alabama can win is if they keep Manziel in the pocket. LSU and Florida kept him contained as he averaged only 43.5 in those two games. In the Aggies seven wins, Manziel rushed for at least 78 yards.

Texas A&M will rely on the arm, and more importantly the legs, of Johnny Manziel as they try to take down No. 1 ranked Alabama.