Random things to worry about against Texas A & M

 First  of all we all need to get ready for a verbal lashing by Beergut. And  a lecture on how we aren't worthy of Tier 1 status- yet.

Next get ready for the wounded and cornered animal syndrome. If you think someone like Baylor is ready for A Bowl game  you haven’t seen anything yet from the Aggie faithful. They actually have been to some in the past few years and by golly they really want some more.

Defense: A& M’s Jerrod Johnson –is a  good QB, he is a great passer and he has several good receivers. They need help with the O line.  Staying upright and not scrambling if he gets to do those things he can sting the Raider secondary. Last Saturday the Raider Dline rattled the Husker QB and tipped or broke up passes and I know I’m going to hell for saying it tackled in space rather well. For A&M an uncomplicated blocking scheme would help these big uglies as well. What can they do is try to play ball control and insert trick plays for some extra pop.  Defensively we have seen several meltdowns in the Aggie secondary last week  vs K state ouch!  But Von Miller is the real deal. I think they are probably down in the mouth but Joe Kines is not going to let them slack off in Lubbock. Heck the governor will probably show up. And the Aggie band despite the rumors will attend. And march.

Offensively:  It’s important for the Raiders to take what’s given. Limit the number of opportunities for A& M to get a big play  no I’m not espousing a conservative strategy here just don’t want the wounded beast to get the Sticks induced  pick "6". Let’s hope our own thinness on O line is not an issue. A very healthy dose of Raider blast blocking and a steady diet of Batch, Jeffers and Stephens is in order. Sweep,  dive then sweep again. Except for Von Miller we may have a bit more speed (Do you think?) than the Aggie d line. On a serious note these guys are dangerous and can rise up (unless) the Raiders  - must be / are/ very, very careful and very fired up. The usual formula would be prescribed. Tech must get up 2 plus scores and play downhill. I was very pleasantly surprised the defense got a TD against NE. Howards score was just a flat A$$ed heads up alert play. There may be an opportunity for the secondary to do the same to A& M just based on Jerrod  Johnson forcing things i.e. a desperation mentality. The Raiders need to play fired up but patiently induce/create/ force the Aggie mistake then push it down the field very methodically. I like the fact that our sack hurry ratio is up- I swear 5 or 6 time vs. NE the D ends were leaping at Zac Lee’s outstretched throwing arm as he released the ball. We will need more of this.

 Special team must refuse to allow the trick play. Mike Sherman is an old hand at this stuff. He saw the Notre Dame hide out play vs USC. I think we could see several of these type plays. BTW isn’t Ryan Tannehill the holder?  And he is a real QB/Wr . I.e. he came into last year’s game as QB. Sherman wants TD’s not FG’s last week’s win against NE just reinforced this thought. To get any kind of hope going they must match the Raiders scoring. Guess I ‘m  trying to say  allow no momentum changers. Desperation may cause them to create somthing we have not seen. Be on your guard special teamers! In all the congratulatory posts we forgot our two covergae gaffes and a less than impressive return game for the Raiders. Except for  the E. Stephens 4th Quarter return to spark the nail in the coffin final Tech drive.

Reacting to adversity: The home team view: Excute, reset, excute again. The injury to our O-linemen T. McDaniel and S. Byrnes is a tough blow. Getting the 3rd string QB ready is mandatory. Potts will play but must be protected. Don’t be surprised by a running back reprise. They - the RB's are now the strength of the team. Like last week deal with the adversity Raiders. Either Potts or Doege must quite simply just manage the game. Use the weapons, let the Aggie defense over commit then stick a knife in them with the E.Britton, B.Batch, H. Jeffers,  D.Lewis and T. Swindal weapons. Don’t over try just push down steadily and  cause the Aggie offense to implode and their defense to melt down. Defense just smother the Aggie run game. I feel the team, coaches and support staff are ready: remember it’s a reload event. I don’t think anyone on this forum really cares about an ugly win. Just win then sort out the details later. Raider team leaders know it’s the last half of the season. Steady  Boys just steady as she goes.

Its at home, I love the Jones. It’s worth the drive to Lubbock. And the place will be rocking. I can feel a sellout.  Wreck Em!