LSU doesn’t need a scouting report to know the damage Marcel Reed can do.
The Texas A&M quarterback has already spent the last two seasons giving the Tigers headaches with his legs, and Saturday night brings another shot for LSU to finally solve him. Reed has piled up 170 rushing yards and five touchdowns in two career games against LSU, and both meetings turned on what he did once the ball was in his hands.
“Well, this is a big test,” LSU coach Lane Kiffin said. “Like you said, we’ve struggled here with him before.”
The first time Reed changed the game against LSU, he did it almost immediately after taking over. Texas A&M was down 17-7 when Reed came in for Conner Weigman in the second half, and on his first snap he sprinted eight yards for a touchdown. He ended that game with three rushing scores as the Aggies rallied and rolled to a 38-23 win.
The next time around, Reed was just as disruptive in Tiger Stadium. He ran for 100 yards, threw for more than 200 yards and added two passing touchdowns in Texas A&M’s 49-25 victory.
This LSU defense, though, is not the same group Reed saw before. Through three games, the Tigers have been among the nation’s best against the run. Even in the 32-24 loss to Ole Miss, LSU limited the Rebels to 63 rushing yards.
Still, Kiffin said the raw numbers only tell part of the story.
“I think we lead the country in rush defense, but that hasn’t been against a ton of quarterback-schemed runs,” Kiffin said. “So, that’s a different set of challenges.”
That’s the real issue for LSU. Stopping a quarterback after a play breaks down is one thing. Handling an offense built to make the quarterback part of the run game from the start is something else entirely.
Texas A&M can make Reed a constant factor, forcing LSU to account for him on every snap and adding another layer to the run game. That puts pressure on the Tigers’ front to stay disciplined and not lose shape chasing him.
The edge defenders can’t get so aggressive that they leave space behind them. The linebackers have to keep Reed in view even when the play looks like it’s headed to the back. And if Reed escapes the pocket, LSU’s secondary has to hold its ground instead of breaking off assignments to chase the highlight.
Safety Ty Benefield said LSU has been drilled on exactly that.
“Stay disciplined in coverage, don’t be too greedy, but he’s gonna test your rules,” Benefield said. “He’s good at what he does.”
The Tigers got a fresh reminder of the problem last week against Ole Miss. Trinidad Chambliss did most of his damage through the air, throwing for 363 yards and two touchdowns, but the play that swung the game was his legs. His 14-yard keeper gave the Rebels the lead late in the fourth quarter.
Now LSU is facing another mobile quarterback, and this one has already shown he can hurt them. The Tigers know what happens when they don’t finish the job. Saturday night will reveal whether knowing is finally enough.
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