Thursday’s Thanksgiving showdown will feature a clash of two great strengths on the field: Texas A&M’s passing attack against LSU’s pass defense. A&M is very good throwing the ball, but LSU might be even better at stopping it. Will the Aggies be able to move it through the air against the Tigers?
Everyone knows all about both programs strengths in these two areas. Kevin Sumlin’s Air Raid-style offense puts up huge numbers with an array of quick-hitting passes. LSU has long been known as “Defensive Back U,” and they’ve made a good claim to that title with an impressive season from a young secondary.
LSU is sixth in the country in passing yards allowed, giving up just 164 yards per game and 5.4 yards per attempt. That’s a far cry from the 321.2/7.8 averages Texas A&M posts.
One of the keys to slowing down Texas A&M’s passing game, other than getting pressure on the quarterback, is to disrupt the receivers at the line. LSU’s biggest corner, Rashard Robinson, is serving an indefinite suspension and won’t be with the team on Thursday, but starter Jalen Collins certainly has the frame to contend with Texas A&M’s big, physical receivers.
A&M might be able to pick on Tre’Davious White if they can get him matched up with someone like Ricky Seals-Jones or Josh Reynolds. White stands just 5-foot-11 and will be giving up close to a half-f00t and a good amount of weight to those two stud receivers.
The Aggies will also have to keep LSU out of the backfield. While the Tigers don’t have huge sack numbers, they have several players capable of disrupting the quarterback, specifically Danielle Hunter and Jermauria Rasco. Hunter is second on the team in pass deflections, so Aggies quarterback Kyle Allen will have to make sure he gets the ball up out of Hunter’s reach.
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
