NCAA Football Week 6: Texas A&M Aggies vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Cowboys reach new heights as the Aggies embrace a new future

Aggies vs. Cowboys Overview:

The Oklahoma State Cowboys have been playing second fiddle to in-state rivals the Oklahoma Sooners, but at 4-0 the OSU Cowboys look good. The Texas A&M Aggies have been struggling to close the gap with their rivals the Texas Longhorns since the Vince Young era but are sitting at a 2-2 record. Texas A&M Aggies head coach Mike Sherman has plenty of NFL experience and his new pro-style system is starting to take hold. With Big 12 play beginning this week, the records go out the window as the conference war begins.

Texas A&M Aggies Offense:

Mike Sherman brings in the same offense that he ran with the Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans in the NFL, and the complicated zone-blocking/West Coast system is taking some time to implement. QB Jerrod Johnson will start due to injury to Stephen McGee and is a great scrambling threat. RB Mike Goodson is the key player in the Texas A&M Aggies offense and is blossoming into the All-American he was forecasted to be. WR Jeff Fuller is on his way to being a great receiver for Jerrod Johnson and can stretch the field.

Texas A&M Aggies Defense:

True freshman S Trent Hunter was a monster in the first start of his college career and could be a playmaker for the Texas A&M Aggies defense for years. DT Kellen Heard tips the scales at around 350 pounds and is a wall against the running game. Young DE Paul Freeney had a monster game against the Army Black Knights and will have to do so again in place of an injured Michael Bennett. OLB Von Miller is another young playmaker on the Texas A&M defense and can rush the passer like a defensive end.

Oklahoma State Cowboys Offense:

Head coach Mike Gundy has put all his internet critics on notice as his great offense has the Oklahoma State Cowboys ranked 21st in the nation. QB Zach Robinson is the centerpiece of the Oklahoma State Cowboys offense and has guided them to three-straight 50-point games. WR Dez Bryant is the weapon of choice for Zach Robinson and has torched defenses so far. RB Kendall Hunter forms the third part of a young trio that could have the Oklahoma State Cowboys burning up scoreboards in the Big 12 for years.

Oklahoma State Cowboys Defense:

Cornerback Jacob Lacey is the leader of the Oklahoma State Cowboys defense. Having started more than 30 games Jacob Lacey is not only a playmaker but a mentor to others in the complex defensive system. S Andre Sexton is another threat in the secondary in both the passing and running games. DE Ugo Chinasa has all the skills to become an elite NCAA pass rusher and has a veteran DE on the other side in Derek Burton. The defensive tackles of the Oklahoma State Cowboys are athletic and lean.

Texas A&M Aggies Keys to Victory:

Due to quarterback injuries, the Texas A&M Aggies will devote more of their offensive game plan to the running game. RB Mike Goodson is the best player on the whole Texas A&M Aggies team, and they always try to get him the ball. Freshman RB Cyrus Grey is a dynamic return man and can burn a defense everytime he touches the ball. QB Jerrod Johnson will have to be careful with the football to prevent turnovers. To combat the dynamic spread offense of the Oklahoma State Cowboys the Texas A&M Aggies will pound the rock to run the clock.

The Texas A&M Aggies defense will not be looking forward to the arsenal of weapons that the Oklahoma State Cowboys will throw at them. The main goal of the Texas A&M Aggies will be to get pressure on Zach Robinson as they try to ruin the rhythm. The Texas A&M Aggies front seven will have to stay at home as well to prevent shotgun sweeps and draws by Kendall Hunter. The veteran secondary of the Texas A&M Aggies must play physical in press coverage against the many receivers of the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

OSU Cowboys Keys to Victory:

The onus of the Oklahoma State Cowboys offense is on their offensive line. To run the spread offense the linemen must be equally good in pass and run blocking. RB Kendall Hunter has to be a big factor as both a decoy and a threat on the draw. If the running game is established and the line protects well, Zach Robinson can shred the secondary of the Texas A&M Aggies. Zach Robinson can move around as well and may draw a QB spy which will open up even more passing routes.

To stop the running game of the Texas A&M Aggies, the Oklahoma State Cowboys must crowd the box. S Andre Sexton is a former linebacker and should be asked to move between the box and deeper coverage. Due to the zone-blocking nature of the Texas A&M Aggies offense, the linebackers of the Oklahoma State Cowboys must mind the cutback lanes. The emergence of homerun hitter Cyrus Grey is a new dimension for the Oklahoma State Cowboys to cover and he cannot be allowed to get loose.

A&M Aggies vs. OSU Cowboys Outlook:

The Texas A&M Aggies have had one of the best recruiting classes in the past 10 years and the future looks bright for Mike Sherman, Reveille, and the millions of Aggie fans. Like the USC Trojans and the Alabama Crimson Tide, the prospect of playing for a former NFL coach draws the best athletes from around the nation to Texas A&M. The pieces are quickly coming together to rebuilding the Texas A&M Aggies program.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys are at the end of the long rebuilding trail and show what an underdog college can do to spring back up from the shadow of a big in-state rival. The Oklahoma State Cowboys offense has been nearly unstoppable and the defense has finally emerged to support it. The Texas A&M Aggies and Oklahoma State Cowboys have the groundwork to be future Big 12 dynasties but the boys of OSU have a complete team invested in their system while the Texas A&M Aggies are still developing their raw talent.