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COLLEGE STATION, Texas--Texas A&M's offense is sputtering, the defense is getting exposed by a keyed-in Blaine Gabbert, and the fans at Kyle Field are restless. Twice in the second quarter, the Aggies threatened to score, but failed both times, punting once and failing to convert a fourth down on another. Jerrod Johnson is avoiding what he's often described as "catastrophic" turnovers, but like last week's performance (15-of-40), his inaccuracy has fueled some of the frustration of the Aggies fans in attendance. He's completed just 7-of-21 passes, and missed a pair of open receivers on the final drive by the Aggies that could have moved them into the red zone.Texas A&M trails, 16-0, after a big stop inside the 5-yard line late in the second half. Wes Kemp was originally given a touchdown, but the play was reviewed and reversed, and a fumbled snap on the following play backed up the Tigers and cost them four points.
Missouri settled for a 21-yard field goal.
Stat of the half: Sometimes its this simple. Blaine Gabbert's completion percentage: 67. Jerrod Johnson's: 33.
Best player in the half: Blaine Gabbert. He completed 22-of-33 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown.
Record performance: After shutting out Colorado last week, Missouri has a run of six consecutive shutout quarters for the first time since 1967.
What Texas A&M needs to do: Jerrod Johnson is having another rough day, but the Aggies still have two of the best backs in the Big 12, Christine Michael and Cyrus Gray. Use them. Michael hasn't been super effective in the first half, rushing six times for 20 yards, but Johnson has been off all day, and establishing the run might help open up some simpler throws to get the offense rolling. If Texas A&M eschews balance in favor of stepping back and slinging it for the entire second half, it will lose big.
What Missouri needs to do: Keep preventing the big plays. That's the easiest route for Texas A&M to get back into this game. Ryan Tannehill nearly hauled in a deep touchdown pass, and Johnson has tested Missouri's defensive backs deep multiple times. Defensive coordinator Dave Steckel has emphasized his trust in them all season, both in words and actions like leaving them alone with one of the biggest receivers in the conference, Jeff Fuller. They've passed those tests so far, but they might want to offer some safety help on Fuller down the field in the second half to make sure they have some insurance. Make Johnson complete a lot of passes to move the ball, something he hasn't been able to do in two weeks. Don't give up the big one.
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