I can not wait for this game even though i got upper deck tickets I think A&M has a good shot of controlling the game. va tech might have an even worse passing attack then the aggs. anyway with the Wrecking Crew on form i say aggs win 17-10
Huge Game for the Aggies! I'm looking forward to it! I found that recent article about Slocum in the Chronicle pretty interesting...it mentions that RC has been very secretive about who he's planning on starting at quarterback for the game. There's rumors that McNeal is actually a possibility to start. That would surprise the hell outta me. I predict the Aggies will win, because the game is at Kyle.
If Reggie McNeal starts, A&M could definitely pull the upset. If anyone can do it, they can stop VaTech's running game, and VaTech simply cannot throw. That's just like A&M of course, so it may boil down to which team makes the one big play.
i heard mcneal was possible but that was earlly this week. It seems like it will be Long(hopefully) or Farris. I have a friend in cain hall that talks with some of the football players and some of the football players said that the reason Mcneal ran 4 plays is because thats all he really knows. im sure it was just a joke but i guess that means Mcneal doesnt know the playbook meaning he wont get the start.
The big problem is...the Aggies can barely beat the Panthers. Virginia Tech is a much better team, but the game might be close because its in Texas. I don't think the Aggies have a chance in hell though.
From a UT perspective, If A&M's run defense is as good as usual (I haven't seen them this year), they should give Va Tech problems. I am predicting a close game.
What has Reggie McNeal done? R.C. Slocum isn't the best coach ever, but if he really thought that O'Neal was good enough to take over that inept offense now, he'd have named him starter already. He's probably not ready yet. I'm definitely rooting for A&M though. I want them to be undefeated when they come to Austin after Thanksgiving for a potential #1 v. #2 matchup (if UT wins out). Someone needs to shut Kiel up though...he's been running his mouth way too much and has given Va. Tech all the bulletin board material they need.
Now that Wally Groff has "quit," RC KNOWS he is coaching for his job. The only way he remains coach is if the Aggies shock the world and get into a BCS bowl. That is why I expect him to do something totally unexpected. Whether that is starting Reggie or not I don't know. The A&M offensive coaches have mentioned that Reggie has picked up the offensive scheme a lot sooner than anybody expected. Not to mention that Reggie is a natural playmaker. Farris will not start...in fact I think his colleghe playing days may be over. Long has been better, but still pretty ineffective. They may give Reggie the start and see if he can jumpstart the offense. If he does well...then he'll continue to play. If not, we'll punt on the first few series and then go with Long. It's not like we wouldn't have punted had Farris been playing, so what's the difference? The difference is that Reggie is an unknown...he may come out and shock EVERYBODY (myself included). You go with the normal game plan and we know what the result will be. You go with McNeal...who knows what will happen? It's worth the gamble. Plus...now Va. Tech has to prepare for 3 QBs instead of just preparing for Farris. As for the defense...Va. Tech will not be able to run the ball effectively. A&M has what many consider to be one of the best linebacker corps in the country. 2 yards and a cloud of dust kind of stuff. They won't score many points. This game will be decided by 6 points or fewer.
I don't understand why RC didn't play McNeal against Pitt. It would look awful now to put him ahead of Long. IMO Ol' RC is blowing smoke...I think he will stick with Farris. He will go with experience over talent. If he does something unexpected (start McNeal) and it backfires, the crowd will go nuts. I like how you titled this thread "Wrecking Crew vs. va tech" cause that's what it's going to be -- the defense vs. the Hokies, but I don't know if the D can carry the team this week. I don't think any Texas fan wants RC to lose his job, but I can't help but root for an ABC embarassment as VT squashes aTm like a bug. Ags like to point out RC is undefeated against non-conference opponents at home, but the Ags have never played a non-conference opponent at home as good as VT. I don't know how you guys can be confident going up against the #7 team in the country after struggling against Lafayette and Pitt (vastly inferior opponents).
What Refman said. On a thread a few weeks ago, where RC was bashed for "wasting" McNeal's redshirt, I, like Refman, stated that this is RC's make or break year. He can't be concerned with whether or not Reggie is at A&M 5 years from now. Rather, he needs to make sure that he pulls off all the stops. I don't think RC would have to go to a BCS bowl to keep his job, but I do think A&M must win 8 or 9 games, and win their bowl game. My prediction is: VT- 24 A&M- 17 What A&M MUST do is make sure that they force VT turnovers. The TOs are vital to create easy scoring chances for their piss poor offense, Reggie or no Reggie. This would go a long way in winning the field position battle against VT, who always has the best special teams units in the country. A&M must also make sure that VT doesn't get any gamebreaking plays on special teams, like blocked punts. I think A&M's defense will do an overall good job against VT. But A&M won't win unless the defense forces TOs. As for the QB situation... I would start Long. Conventional football wisdom says that you don't start a raw, true freshman at QB against a defense like VT. However, if VT continues to apply pressure on Long from the outset of the game, to about the 2nd quarter, then I would insert McNeal. McNeal's ability to make plays on the fly might be needed against an aggresive VT defense. I think McNeal is a better QB than Long, but the idea of starting a true frosh in this situation is scary.
This is where we disagree. Reggie has shown that he can run the unconventional play and turn nothing into something (with his own legs if need be). That is what A&M HAS to have in order to have a shot at winning this game...and RC knows that. Reggie may not start...but he WILL see significant playing time.
Again, RC should have played McNeal vs. Pitt. The guy has only led one collegiate drive! And that was against Lafayette with the game already in hand. Nothing will shatter his confidence faster than being thrown to the wolves on Saturday.
VT manhandled LSU, the defending Sugar Bowl and SEC champs earlier this season. A$M sqeaked out a victory over a very depleted Pittsburgh team thanks in large part to a missed extra point. VT has the best backfield in the nation, and the best special teams unit in the nation. I think A$M's offense will do nothing and VT will break a few big plays. I'm putting my money on the Hokies. VT opened up as a 3 point favorite, but now is down to 2.5.
I would definitely get in on this bet, Aggies have a decent defense, but the Va tech running backs are STUDS... I would think A&M has a decent chance to win because it's in TX and because they have a good run defense, but Va tech is a superior team so I look for them to win by at least 7, but maybe 14.
What? No game, set, match? No thanks for playing, rookie? If this game were so much of a mismatch the line would be a lot wider than 2.5.
Gotta root for the Ags this game. Their football program is desperate for a big win. Not to mention the fact that two Big 12 powerhouses in Nebraska and Colorado got humiliated. It's starting to look like the Big 12 isn't as strong as advertised. A win over Va Tech would not only reaffirm the Big 12's status as the top football conference, but it would guarantee that RC Slocum stays another year in Collie Station. Mark Farris won't get the job done, and neither will Dustin Long. Now is the time to turn Reggie McNeal loose and see what he can do. Keep RC. Whoop!
