Compared to previous years, Texas A&M came into 2014 with low expectations. With Johnny Manziel sitting on the bench for the Cleveland Browns, some of the media attention would be off the Aggies, allowing them to reload and rebuild in peace.

The preseason No. 21 Aggies blew that out in the season opener, when they ran circles around then-No. 9 South Carolina, totaling nearly 700 yards of offense and cruising to a 52-28 win in Columbia. That game put them on track for a flying 5-0 start in August and September. The Aggies piled up gaudy offensive totals, rose to No. 6 in the polls and looked to be far ahead of Kevin Sumlin’s reloading plan.

Those heightened expectations have only made Texas A&M’s tumble back to earth and out of the polls all the more jarring. Starting with the offense, the decline has been swift and stunning. The numbers:

  • August/September: 51.2 points per game, 401.2 passing yards per game, 193.4 rushing yards per game, 27:37 time of possession, 53.9 third down conversion rate, minus-2 turnover margin
  • October: 17 points per game, 302.3 passing yards per game, 82 rushing yards per game, 26:30 time of possession, 29.2 third down conversion rate, minus-5 turnover margin

In a microcosm of the team’s fall from grace, A&M has scored as many points in October (51) as they averaged in the first month-plus of the season.

What’s happened? There have been breakdowns all over. Malcome Kennedy, the team’s most consistent receiver, missed the two losses against Mississippi State and Ole Miss. With him out of the lineup, and even with him, the receiving corps had trouble holding onto passes. Unofficial counts had the Aggies’ drop totals at more than 10 in the loss to Mississippi State, and it didn’t improve against Ole Miss the following week.

Next up: offensive line issues. A major tenet of Sumlin’s offense is being able to spread the field out with four and five skill position players, with the offensive line being counted on to handle the pass rush with just five blockers. That plan has gone to hell in recent weeks. Mississippi State, Mississippi and Alabama have been able to disrupt Kenny Hill’s rhythm, both by pressuring him (the Bulldogs registered 10 quarterback hurries) and by breaking up passes (at least three each). That kind of defense has rattled Kenny Hill, forcing him into 6 interceptions over the last three games.

The defensive issues the team has seen compounded in October were more expected than the offensive woes, but still don’t look good. A quick statistical comparison:

  • August/September: 15 points per game, 219.6 passing yards per game, 156.8 yards per game, 4 turnovers forced, 16 sacks
  • October: 47.3 points per game, 253.7 passing yards per game, 246 rushing yards per game, 2 turnovers forced, 6 sacks, 14 first half points

Many of the season-long numbers the Aggies have posted are ahead of their basement-dwelling defense from a season ago, but they’ve regressed majorly in October, especially against the run. Defensive coordinator Mark Snyder’s unit has not gotten up to speed, even as Sumlin and company bring in top-notch recruits. Of the nine four- and five-star defensive recruits enrolled for this fall, only one of them — defensive end Myles Garrett, the Aggies’ sacks leader — is seeing consistent playing time. Safety Armani Watts, a four-star recruit, has been benched in recent weeks, as he has the same problem much of the Aggies defense has: tackling.

Sumlin likely is growing tired of watching defender after defender whiff on tackles, oftentimes not coming anywhere close to the ballcarrier. Snyder said earlier this week that his defense lacks physicality; the question is why. Despite their talent, the Aggies don’t seem aggressive or tough when it comes to defending. It seems like the nightmarish tackling issues will be a recurring theme for Sumlin this fall, whether or not the Aggies adjust their scheme.

Can the offense rebound? A&M has a talented offensive line, with at least three NFL draft prospects, and one would assume they’ll pull it together at some point and keep Hill from having to rush his throws like he has been. The receiving corps is loaded, too, and drops are something that can be corrected with hard work. It would help if their defensive teammates could put the pressure on in practice.

In this rough stretch, Texas A&M has suffered two of its three losses on the road. The team is young, and Sumlin has been telling reporters that his team is built for 2015 and 2016, not 2014. With the recruits and money flowing into the program (not to mention Sumlin’s bank account), the kinds of embarrassing efforts the team has put up won’t stand for long.

Sumlin’s team has sleep-walked through too many big moments this season. Sumlin is going to have to wake his troops up, or the nightmare will continue.