Texas A&M is looking to move past its 28-13 loss to Mississippi State in preparation for its match up with the Auburn Tigers.
Against Mississippi State, the Aggies suffered from a barrage of dropped passes, which Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher said was uncharacteristic for the team.
“On offense, we’re way too inconsistent,” Fisher said. “We haven’t had a day of over three [dropped passes] since I can remember in practice, and that’s throwing 110-15 balls a day [between two quarterbacks].”
Sophomore wide receiver Camron Buckley said the drops seemed to plague each receiver in the game, but they are only a fluke and that can be fixed.
“It’s not contagious,” Buckley said. “We all just have to lock in more, make the catches, and make the most of the opportunities. We need to calm down and execute like we’ve been doing most of the season.”
The Aggies also struggled to run the football against the Mississippi State defense, garnering only 61 rushing yards.
The Aggies missed a touchdown to tie the game in the fourth quarter, then gave up a 76-yard touchdown run to Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald to put the Bulldogs on top.
Sophomore quarterback Kellen Mond said he thinks the Aggies’ failure to score comes from a lack of focus, which will be the key to success against Southeastern Conference opponents.
“Playing against these really good SEC-type competition, we’re going to need that to click,” Mond said.
Saturday’s game at Auburn will be a homecoming for wide receivers coach Dameyune Craig, who played quarterback for the Tigers from 1993 to 1997 under then-quarterbacks coach Fisher. At Monday’s weekly press conference, Fisher recalled the 1997 SEC Championship game when a battered Craig almost topped then-Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, but ultimately lost 30-29.
“[Craig] was one of the great players in [their] history,” Fisher said. “Auburn is always in his heart and it’ll mean a lot to him to go back.”
Fisher said going forward, the team must capitalize more on the opportunities they receive.
“I’m disappointed we’re not reaching our capabilities,” Fisher said. “When you go on the road, you have to lock in. You have to play to make a statement sometimes and we have to make a statement. Every play has to be like it’s the last play in the world.”
Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. from Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama on Saturday and will mark the end of the Aggies’ road schedule before they return to Kyle Field to close out the season with three consecutive home games.