The challenge in front of LSU is clear: keep Marcel Reed from turning the game into one of his usual headaches.
No. 23 Texas A&M heads into Baton Rouge for a matchup with No.
10 LSU that carries major weight for both teams. Each side is trying to bounce back after taking its first loss of the season.
The Aggies were stunned at home by Kentucky, while the Tigers fell to Ole Miss and quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.
That loss gave LSU a fresh reminder of what a mobile quarterback can do. Now the Tigers have to deal with another one they know all too well.
“Well, this is a big test.” LSU Football Head Coach Lane Kiffin says.
“We’ve struggled with him here before. It’s a different set of challenges; it really takes a lot of discipline and a lot of guys doing really well on defense to avoid that.”
Reed has been a problem for LSU over the last two seasons, piling up 187 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns against the Tigers. Texas A&M’s offense has totaled 87 points against LSU during that stretch, and Defensive Coordinator Blake Baker has had a rough time containing mobile quarterbacks in general, with Reed standing out as a particularly difficult matchup.
LSU’s defense does have a plan, though, and it starts with staying attached when Reed breaks the pocket.
“We just have to plaster drill when he gets out of the pocket, keep him in the pocket as much as we can.” LSU Football Safety Ty Benefield said about the gameplan to slowing A&M down.
“He’s going to test your rules. He’s good at what he does.”
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Joe Burrow Just Gave LSU Fans A Reason To Stay Patient
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Joe Burrow helped steady that conversation in an interview, making clear he believes Kiffin can succeed long term at LSU. For a fan base that is already eager to see signs of progress, that kind of endorsement carries weight, even if the on-field results are still catching up to the expectations. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Secondary Gets A Timely Boost Before A Huge Texas A&M Test
LSU heads into a top-25 SEC matchup with Texas A&M still searching for its first conference win, and the timing could hardly be more important for a secondary that needs a steadier night. The Tigers are already dealing with season-ending losses to tight end Trey'Dez Green and safety Dashawn Spears, but they did get some encouraging injury news this week as cornerback Ja'Keem Jackson was upgraded to questionable and safety Tamarcus Cooley was listed as active.
That matters because Texas A&M brings a receiving corps that can stress the back end, and LSU's secondary is coming off a performance that left room for plenty of correction. The Tigers do not need a perfect health report to make this one interesting, but getting bodies back into the mix at least gives them a better chance to match up with a passing game that could put real pressure on the defense right away. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Burrow Just Reignited A Loaded LSU Mount Rushmore Debate
Joe Burrow has never been shy about weighing in on LSU history, and on a recent podcast with Julian Edelman he jumped straight into one of the programs favorite debates: who belongs on the schools football Mount Rushmore. Burrows list mixed different eras and different kinds of greatness, bringing together Billy Cannon, Justin Jefferson, JaMarr Chase, Odell Beckham Jr. and Tyrann Mathieu as the names he felt best captured what LSU football has been.
It is the kind of conversation that can go on for hours in Baton Rouge because each pick comes with its own case and its own crowd of supporters. Burrows choices also say plenty about how he sees the programs identity, rewarding not just championships and accolades but the players who helped define LSUs national profile. And as always with a Mount Rushmore discussion, the real intrigue is in who gets left out. [Read more 🡒]