A few weeks ago, Brian Kelly banged a table at a post-game press conference after losing to USC. He called the loss “unacceptable” and “ridiculous”. One day earlier, Mike Elko told his home crowd that they “deserved better” after losing his opener to Notre Dame. Both coaches the Tigers and Aggies quickly became afterthoughts regarding the race for the conference crown. As fate would have it, LSU will face Texas A&M on Saturday for first place in the SEC.
Elko’s Aggies have rattled off six straight wins following the opening loss in his first year at the helm. The former Notre Dame defensive coordinator and Kelly assistant seems to have complete buy-in as well as quarterback depth on his new team. The wins kept coming, despite starting quarterback Connor Weigman missing three games due to injury before returning to lead A&M to a resounding win against Missouri.
LSU has quietly improved every week, resulting in a team that looks much different than the vulnerable felines that lost on the national stage in week one. Apparently, the loss stayed in Vegas, but the underwhelming performances continued to plague LSU. Although improvement wasn’t always indicated in the box scores, the defense played with more discipline. Also, the running game has improved with the help of Caden Durham. Both teams in this contest have grown markedly, but how do they match up?
LSU Faces Texas A&M
Facing the Talented A&M Defense
Texas A&M presents a defensive front that’s in the conversation with South Carolina and Ole Miss as one of the most talented that LSU will face all year. Shemar Stewart and Purdue transfer Nic Scourton are supersized, versatile defensive ends that set the edge and rush the passer effectively. Scourton is very disciplined and does not get fooled by misdirection or eye candy. Even after losing star nose tackle Walter Nolen to the transfer portal, the Aggies also remain solid on the interior.
Texas A&M is similar to LSU in obvious passing situations when it comes to blitzing. Elko trusts his corners and is very aggressive. The Aggies will throw different looks at quarterbacks but lean toward man coverage. For the most part, they focus more on winning one-on-one than fooling offenses. Thanks to a talented front and aggressive nature, Texas A&M is second in the SEC in sacks.
As with most defenses, there are chinks in the armor. The talented group of linebackers led by Taurean York are headhunters against the run but vulnerable in pass coverage. LSU has made a habit of passing to the running backs as both extended handoffs and check-downs. The Tigers completed six passes to backs against Ole Miss and could have success in that regard.
Mississippi State was able to have enough success running against Texas A&M to keep the defense honest. The Bulldogs had runs of 25 and 40 yards, which is encouraging for an LSU offense with an explosive back like Durham. An effective running game would be huge for LSU in calming the energy level of the home crowd.
The Obstacles of the A&M Offense
As for the Texas A&M offense, it all starts with Leveon Moss. The explosive Baton Rouge native is sixth in the SEC in rushing yards per game. The Aggies will have to get Moss going without the help of starting guard Chase Bisontis, who has been ruled out of the game due to injury.
Weigman has all the physical tools needed to be an NFL quarterback but lacks consistency. To be fair, injuries have hindered his development. He has adequate size at 6’3”, a strong arm, and moves well within the pocket. There’s no doubt that he can make all the throws needed. When Weigman went down early in the season it was Marcel Reed who stepped up in his place. Reed is a better runner and cautious with the ball, with no interceptions on the year.
When Weigman is on, wide receiver Noah Thomas is a problem on the perimeter. Thomas has great size at 6’6” but is also a fluid and nuanced route runner. It’s not only his athleticism that stands out, but he also tracks the ball well. Thomas will be a challenge for the LSU secondary, and it will be interesting to see if Blake Baker decides to move Zy Alexander wherever Thomas is when in man coverage.
The Result
The Twelfth Man of Kyle Field will be deafening approaching this game. The Aggies will make plays; they’ve done it all year. A&M is a physical team that will set the tone early in the game. Moss will be as motivated as ever to run through his hometown’s Tigers. But what if he can’t?
One of the biggest improvements for the LSU defense throughout the year has been its defensive run fits. Whit Weeks is playing as well as any defender in the league. Individual players within the defense now have more clarity in their roles, resulting in Major Burns playing the best football of his career. If LSU keeps the A&M run game in check, Weigman has shown the propensity to make ill-advised throws. He’s thrown three touchdowns and four interceptions on the year, and Mississippi State defiantly refused to catch two more bad passes from him last week.
Sure, Nussmeier is also prone to bad decisions. However, he’s shown the ability to bounce back and make plays when his team needs them the most. This will likely be another classic in the series between these two teams. Quarterback play will be the difference in this one, and LSU will sneak into first place in the SEC. Post-game press conference tables in College Station can breathe a sigh of relief.
