I think the biggest concern with TAMU is the placement of the game coupled with their explosiveness. MSU didn't give us a close game the last few years but we've frequently sputtered around in the first half. I think a lot it had to do with the physical and mental hangover of a game like those against LSU. TAMU is a team that we don't want to start slow against. They come out hot out of the gate every week it seems and a game where it takes a half for us to get into the flow may be a game we struggle to win in the end.
They're probably the most coherent offensive football team we'll see this season. They are very balanced with a solid OL that may only be bested by Alabama in terms of NFL futures. Their tailbacks have been very successful and their QB is elusive in the pocket. The receivers are not little Wes Welker types, they've got some NFL-sized receivers and Swope is a great slot guy who can abuse our proclivity to use 3 safeties over a true nickelback corner.
The key will be to keep the broken plays at a minimum. We've consistently sought to keep these types of QBs in the pocket but unlike Tebow and Cam, this guy is a short QB. I think sacks are an afterthought, leverage on the edge and getting hands up to muddy the picture in the pocket can be just as successful as a bunch of sacks. Also, don't think this team will abandon running right at us. They will trust their OL to make blocks and I think they can win their share. We aren't getting the Texas Tech offense, this is a balanced spread-to-run type offense with a lot of the old Air Raid concepts on top of a "traditional" run blocking attack. It isn't all draws, traps, and passes.