Texas A&M vs. McNeese State PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS | 2024 SEC Football

Published: Sep 03, 2024 Duration: 00:20:23 Category: Sports

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[Music] if you don't succeed try try again and literally that's the only answer you have if your mic ELO and Texas A&M following a less than Stellar opener against Notre Dame but the good news is you have time to tune things up work out the Kinks before the start of conference play and your first major road test to the swamp by taking on MCN does Texas A&M look better on offense and what are we going to find out more about this defense heading into the last tuneup before conference play begins what's going onc unfiltered he's Dave shoemate I'm Cole Thompson breaking down everything you need to know coming to you live from Kyle Field on Saturday but make sure you hit the Subscribe button down below because this is your new home for all things SEC download the podcast version of the show we're have podcast listening systems follow us on social media Tik Tok Facebook Instagram Twitter really everywhere you got social media we're there at secm filtered follow Dave on Twitter vports go yell at me on Twitter Mr Cole Thompson and to keep up with the number one source for all things SEC make sure that you visit SEC unfiltered.com this episode's brought to you by priz piix use the promo code SECU prix.com and sign up and get $50 instantly when you lay down your first five plus dollar lineup you want to make some bets you want to win some cash you want to go ahead and play a game that isn't just about the betting lines you actually get to look deep into matchups go ahead and use prize Pricks promo code SECU first $50 on us Dave We're Not Gonna spend a lot of time talking about MCN Cowboys listen they're one and one they got a win last week over Southern clipton McDow Camden six killer one of them is gonna be playing the quarterback in this matchup we know that they have some Mobility on the ground especially when it comes to QB position which could be beneficial depending on what happens with the Florida situation next week but this is all about Notre this is all about Texas A&M this is all about setting a standard and getting back to the basics after what we saw there was a lot to take away in this game you and I talked about this on the postgame show as much as we want to go and blame the offensive inconsistencies there still is a lot to like about the direction that this defense is going in you have to like that the offensive line looked a little bit more consistent holding blocks for cter Wegman and opening up running Lanes something that was a missing element the last few years down in Texas A&M and the talents there the talent is absolutely there and we know that this is going to be a game where as long as you're not completely unraveling going into the fourth quarter you're not only going to win you're going to feel pretty confident going into your next matchup in the swamp but let's just be real this is a Get Right game for Mike ELO to set a new standard in College Station you had the 48 hours to go ahead and just mope be upset understand that a loss is a loss but your season's not over and one game does not define your entire era 2024 no I I agree it's a Get Right game couldn't come at a better time I mean MC mcky State won one game I think when I was looking them up last year they're one in one this year um it it's all about A&M like you said it's getting back right this week before a big one for both Florida and Texas A&M in the swamp next week I mean both teams need it for different reasons but On's in a deeper part of their 10-e one I mean El obviously Billy NEP needs it more but Elco needs it too if he wants to have a successful uh First Year campaign in College Station but I would say somewhere along the line Colin Klein and Conor wigman there has to be some kind of compromise not between both obviously it's Colin Klein's decision Mike ELO's decision but compromise within maybe Colin Klein's system to play Within Conor wigman's strengths I mean traditionally he's a running quarterback traditionally he's had schylar Thompson at Texas Kansas State said will Howard at Kansas State guys he likes to run between the tackles I don't really think Conor wiman's comfortable in this system as we stand right now on September 3rd 2024 that could change that could change but mean even Conor wman said he was throwing off his back foot he was moving his landmarks just could never get comfortable his feet were all over the place you can see when you go back watch the game when you watched it live I think we talked about it postgame that's what I really want to see and it seems like what Martin Abu the uh Center is gonna be out for the season now so now it's my guy who I'm gonna have a big eye on here too we're adding another Center in this who played a little bit against Texas A&M but it's Utah transfer we've talked about him before but forgive me for the pronunciation colu fou the transfer from Utah Maggie fans you go you go after Dave for that one yeah go after me for that one go after me for that one but no I mean he looked honestly better a little bit than Martin Abu did in the first half so I think that could be fine but just really what kind of identity do we want to be I left that game uh on Saturday Co really I'm with you I don't think everything's wrong I think A&M's all right they'll be fine I think because the defense is gonna carry it's going to travel every game it's going to give them an opportunity and I think some of the things on offense can be fixed if we're willing to compromise and play Within some strengths of the Personnel just I want to see it starting on Saturday like we there shouldn't be any struggle against MCN State guys we like I don't like to put a point total on it but just in layman terms they should be scoring 50 plus on this mcne state Cowboy defense guys like come on we got the Russ needs to come off and then I think it's a big season tone Setter next week it's going to really be a true tale of A&M their 24th season under Mike Elco in his first season I mean so you got to set the tone this week get right work on yourself kind of use it as a by week no offense to make me state but it is what it is we got to figure ourselves out and we're lucky we get a game like this to figure it out after week one and we still have 11 games in front of us let me just say what has been on my mind for the last 72 hours since we did the live stream since I've gone back and I've watched the film it's it's the reality of the situation Notre Dame is very very well potentially a top 10 team in college football uh they have an elite secondary the fact that you weren't able to create separation that's partially due to the fact that it's a lot of young receivers a lot of transfers a lot of new names joining the mix and a lot of guys who aren't used to the system but it's also a combination to say we're not going to see many secondaries that are as great as this Xavier watts and Benjamin Morrison and the linebacker play you're not going to find many back sevens that have that much talent it is one of the best in college football so for you if you want any type of I would guess say Serendipity of the offense know that that is going to be the standard of what you will see in a college football playoff but right now you're not thinking of the college football playoff you're thinking of getting back setting the right mindset putting your mind uh putting your body in the right situation to go into conference play and be able to show why everything that was talked about this off season in such a positive direction you can still achieve that you can still achieve being one of the teams that people don't want to play on Saturdays because of that physical bite because of that torrenti Force because of the stability of what you have on the offensive line and the defensive line that is what your MO is so take that with a grain of salt but let's go back to the main point it's Conor wigman and for me when you look at Conor wigman in this game it's about understanding this is the style of offense that we're going to run what works and what doesn't and honestly that's also big on Colin Klein where he's had several months to work out with exactly what type of quarterback he knows that he has his disposal for qb1 and again we've heard Mike ELO talk about this in the offseason we heard him talk about it in Spring ball Connor is the starting quarterback until he's not and so this is a game where you really want to be able to know that there is a great identity there is a certain plan there is a certain type of personnel package that will work for your guy because of we know what punchline culture is we know that people right now are absolutely dogging on number 15 who still was a five-star Talent still was one of the best quarterbacks in the state of Texas when he was coming out of Briton high school and still showed you the potential at times last year before we got injured that this is somebody that can work so it's one of those moments where what works and what doesn't let's finalize this before halftime that way when we go into the third quarter what we can do is we can have you play one or two drives like we saw with Jackson Dart like we see at time like we saw with nicoo Al ala like we saw with Jaylen milro let's do that that way we can get our backups in see what they offer because just in case of anything we have to know that we are still like all state in good hands no I know I'm with you got you got to work out some Kinks You got to get some of the backups in to start building that competitive depth as you roll into uh League Play know I mean you hit on most of it co I mean I have to go back into it again I think it's just a week of A&M need to treat it like a by- we we need to figure ourselves out especially offensively defensively D I think you were fine I mean I do think I was a little surprised Notre Dame started leaning on you in the fourth quarter but I think for the most part everything's fine I think Notre Dame's offensive lines a little bit a little better than we expected they are like let's let's just go ahead and cut that c the chase the way that they have recruited the last few years is something that I think is going to be a standard underneath Marcus Freeman and now with Mike denrock there it's going to be I think a major asset to the Irish especially they they know how to build offensive lineman and and they always have like like s Dame has been one of those programs known for offensive line play yeah I mean sh I mean shoot they lost alt this past year alt and fiser is past year but uh no I mean yeah A&M's defense gonna be fine it's the least of my concerns again mik ELO doesn't field bad defenses like they're never gonna be bad this so The Season's gonna come down to their offense how does that develop like you say can they re can they create an identity Within These next this week and next week after that game ended on Saturday they had about two weeks to hey we got to figure out some kind of off of identity I mean they have to mean you bring that into a game I mean you could go into Arlington and lose this year I mean if Arkansas gets their stuff right I mean it's not un I mean defensively Arkansas's gonna that early in the year the dep's still going to be there for them to compete get them in November maybe a little different but yeah & M's gota it'll be interesting you gotta figure it out they got two weeks to figure it out for they go to the swamp Florida's gonna probably be improved too figure out what they need to figure themselves out so this week's all about just getting right and unfortunately for MCN state they're going to be the experimental gy Pig on all this let's talk about the offense real fast especially when it comes to what does work for a Colin Klein system number one the running backs you you saw a glimpse of that you saw a little bit of Le'Veon Moss you saw a little bit of EJ Smith you saw a lot of Amari Daniels being able to be that third down type of guy I think Moss right now is taken over as that lead back but the other thing that's really important and you know this because of we've studied the film Colin Klein's offenses love to utilize the tight ends they absolutely love to Target across the middle of the field to their big body receivers it's why the guy from Kansas State Ben sonat is currently a third round pick that's now in the NFL so for me what I'm looking for in this game is how consistent can you see Trey Watson uh see Merlin see see Donovan Green if he can come back in and play fully healthy how can we get these three to be almost you remember Cole you go watch the case take they're almost hybrid HBS and they kind of have to be too that's that's the other thing they gotta be able to block at the point of attack as well too that may be something A&M doesn't have that's what I'm saying the Personnel fit with this will be really interesting down the line here but I think that the main point is for me we don't know what we're going to see at wide receiver this is one of those games where you're going to get better separation you just simply are because of the talent level yeah and that's and that's not an insult toward MCN at all it's more so a compliment to what A&M was able to bring is what it is it's a SP and also they they have young players that you want to kind of see maybe separate themselves you got an Ernest Campbell you got an Isaiah will uh you got Isaiah Williams uh you got a Terry Bucy what can they provide alongside a moose Muhammad what can they provide alongside a Noah Thomas what can they provide alongside a Juday Walker a a Cyrus Allen but for me I want to see those tight ends be utilized because what it feels like more so than not and what it does feel like is going to be beneficial for not just wigman but also for Klein's offense to work the way he wants is to see those guys actually step up the Watts the Merlins the Donovan greens maybe it's somebody that we haven't even mentioned just yet but but I want to see that tight end play be really on point because it does feel like when you look at that Florida game as well there were some inconsistencies right past that 12 yard marker if you can attack the middle of the field like that the way that you see the way Miami did you might actually end up having a better chance than we're at than we're probably projecting right now yeah no there's two weeks to empty it out you're right 100% you're right I think that Center Spot and the tight ends are going to have to be able to change some ways too and obviously you're right we won't know this week about the receivers 100% they're just you're better there's more athleticism and the Gap now between this the SEC level like this and FCS is only bigger now so I mean it's it is what it is but uh no I mean we got two weeks we'll see a little sample of it it's all gonna come down to the A&M A&M fans are GNA see it in three weeks or sorry two and get in the swamp Dave the beauty that you and I do when we work together is we pick one player that we're watching let's be real we're not going to be caring that much I think about this starters on defense like a Nick scorton like a Shamar Stewart we we we saw enough of them against a top 10 team to know that they're good but is there somebody that you're just wanting to see maybe take that next step forward on either side of the football uh let's go offens you're right it's tough to go receivers because again we talked about that athletic mismatch A&M has I think it's going to go back again I think it's going to be the guy I mentioned early like I think the guy's going to take over fulltime at the center spot I think he's going have a big key initially in this I think you had a I'm not stealing yours here but I think you just mentioned a good position too one of those tight ends would be phenomenal because you're right they're key factors key Pawns in that Colin Klein system but I'm gonna go with my guy sorry people Utah transfer Kino new fou so like Cole said y'all y'all come at me A&M fans for the mispronunciation if you did I actually thought that was decent honestly I'm sure I missed a a vow or something there somewhere but I thought it was pretty good but again he played some a little bit on Saturday I thought he honestly looked kind of the best out of all I mean TJ Shanahan got in there for a fourth down snap Martin Abu went out with an injury he's out for the year so it's five years spot uh hopefully for the rest of the year thought he looked the best like I said but let's see it translate again new center new quarterback this would be the game to work it out let's see what it looks like I'm sure it'll look fine but let's see we don't have any like pre- Snap or procedural stuff that gets you beat undisciplined stuff that a quarterback in Center needs to have that relationship to hey we're not everybody's on the same page we're all communicating this is a game where even if you commit those it's not going to haunt you but the next week in the swamp when you're trying to get your first SEC win yeah that could be the difference between a win and a loss before you go and pig Ro Dave before you put him on the bonfire just remember agie Nation this was a guy that did work for you he worked at your school and more importantly he has some stories to where he definitely an Aggie Ring man he he has some stories that definitely agree with what you have been preaching for years for me this is a very simple one there is a five-star quarterback that we saw few highlight plays with I I think that you're going to need to see him Step Up by the time that it gets to Mississippi State by the time it gets to LSU by the time it gets to potentially you know when it gets to Texas when it gets to Auburn they they have those talents and again for me this is a Get Right game I I did not think Dez rggs played extremely well when he was out there I thought he had some highs he had some lows I I think the talent is through the roof on this kid I mean when you're getting recruited by Nick Sabin and he's saying that you have a shot to be special and be one of the best that walks through this building you know that he is not sugarcoating it he he truly does believe that with the right coaching and with the right teachings you can get there they have the right teachings in Texas A&M they they have the right guy that can get the best version of defensive play in Mike ELO this is a game where we need to see him take that next step forward Because of You may call on him a lot especially when we don't know what's going on with the nickel position right now especially if you got to move Tyreek Chapelle inside more this is where Des is going to I think have a much more substantial role so let's see what he does now separating himself after a game where he was truly tested against receivers that I think by The Season's end Bo Collins Shane Greenhouse we're gonna be talking about them in a much more prominent light and it was just a really Rocky performance first day underneath Mike demock but he was able to have some good moments let's see what he does against another team there is no spread on this game 11:15 kick at Kyle Field so really early 11:45 my apologies kick no spread that that that people colge station get in out that kind of tells you exactly what to think about this game uh Dave we we're not gonna have to go into too much detail but what do you want to see in let's just call Spade of spade a win for a&f let's just be confident on offense guys they're not gonna go empty the Playbook either just because they know they got a big one the next week let's just no pre- snap penalties let's look like we're getting some push let's look like we're doing what we're supposed to be doing uh at this level I trust the defense again I think this final score is going to be it's a name your score game but it's I it's go something like 54 to three maybe I don't even know if they if MCN will score I think it depends if A&M wants them to score or not really to me I think that A&M doesn't let them score personally I I I still think that with a Mike ELO defense you're you're not GNA play that many teams that are as physical and look that way like Notre Dame and when you do they're probably playing for more than just a spot with a nine- win season they're probably playing for for Atlanta they're playing for a college football playoff birth they're right there alongside you so I don't think they they allow him to score even with the second team but I'm going to be cautiously optimistic I I I have learned in the past not to put the wagon before the horse when it comes to Texas A&M and after the performance that we saw I have made it clear I I I can't continue to say what the potential is of Conor wigman I have to see it I have to see him show that growth I have to see that maturation I have to see that consistency on third down I have to see where errant passes that look a little bit short-sided end up connecting and he will on this game and it shouldn't be something that we take away but it does show that I need to let it actually mellow I have to let it kind of saturate I have to let it really really soak up what I'm watched on the field I'll go 41 nothing I I I think that they're not going to be as polished on that opening drive I think they'll find their way into the end zone very quickly in the second third fourth drive but I think it will take a little bit longer than what we expect that's just my personal belief hopefully I'm wrong hopefully I'm wrong I again A&M I have picked you this year I'm doing a yearly segment on secm fil oh is that a c is that a cause for concern if that happens prove me wrong it might be but honestly here's the thing I think by the fourth quarter we are seeing Jaylen Henderson we are seeing Marcel Reed potentially play Let's see what they look like and let's and let's let's see if they don't have to go to them and say the second or third quarter because if you have to go to them in the second or third quarter that's where we have the cause a little bit for concern yeah no I agree let us know in the comments section down below what do you think the final score is Texas A&M fans let us know do you think that Connor wigman is still the long-term answer do you believe that you'll see enough in this game to feel confident going into the swamp next week against a very sluggish and probably also hybrid dating Gator roster like review subscribe make sure that you follow us on Instagram Facebook Twitter Tik Tok SEC unfiltered download the podcast version of the show wherever get your podcast listening systems follow Dave on Twitter ATM 10 sports if you want to scream and yell at me for my bad takes on Twitter it's Mr Cole Thompson and to keep up with the number one source for all things SEC make sure that you visit SEC unfiltered.com for Dave shoate I'm Co Thompson a 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