Texas A&M football looks to take down the LSU Tigers in the season finale; here’s a scouting report for the team they have yet to beat since joining the SEC.
LSU has been a thorn in Texas A&M football‘s side since the Aggies joined the Southeastern Conference in 2012. To add insult to injury, on top of the Tigers winning every conference matchup, they also beat A&M in the Cotton Bowl in 2011. Seven years, seven LSU victories.
Jimbo Fisher was hired to change all that. He was hired due to Kevin Sumlin‘s inability to win conference games late. He was hired to bring the Aggies into national title contention. He was hired to compete with Nick Saban.
For the 2018 season, most Aggie fans would have settled for beating LSU as a step in the right direction.
We knew he wouldn’t beat this Alabama team that’s a total juggernaut. We hoped for a competitive squad, and we got it. Fisher has a chance to finally beat LSU with the way the Aggies are playing.
Having said all of that, here’s a quick run down of the LSU Tigers.
LSU Tigers
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Enrollment: About 45,000
Conference: SEC
Head Coach: Ed Orgeron (40-35, 24-8 at LSU)
2017 finish: 9-5, Lost to Notre Dame in Citrus Bowl
Key 2018 Statistics:
Yards per game – 384.1 (No. 76)
Points per game – 27.8 (No. 64)
Rushing yards per game – 169.7 (No. 59)
Passing yards per game – 214.4 (No. 80)
Yards allowed per game – 337.8 (No. 24)
Points allowed per game – 17.7 (No. 12)
Rushing yards allowed per game – 137.3 (No. 36)
Passing yards allowed per game – 200.5 (No. 28)
Players to Watch
RB Nick Brosset – 861 rushing yards, 4.4 ypc, 13 touchdowns
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire – 623 rushing yards, 4.7 ypc, 7 touchdowns
The LSU team features a two-headed monster at running back the Aggies will have to account for. The Tigers have gutted the Ags on the ground in all six matchups thus far, rushing for over 200 yards in all of them and 300+ in two of them. Mike Elko has the front seven playing great — they rank No. 4 in the country in rushing yards allowed — but they definitely need to slow both of these terrific backs down to have success.
WR Justin Jefferson – 45 catches, 725 yards, 3 touchdowns
Unlike previous matchups where the Aggies were exposed through the air by teams with multiple weapons, there is only one player the secondary will have to really lock up. Jefferson can exploit the Aggies if they let him, however, so Elko better have this group ready.
LB Devin White
White will have his hands on this game and will be a major force in likely slowing down Trayveon Williams. He is an All-American with 98 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, five pass break ups and two forced fumbles. White is should be a high NFL Draft pick in 2019.
CB Greedy Williams
LSU has been “DB U” over the years and this year is no different. Greedy leads the Tigers with eight pass breakups and also has two interceptions. He will be tasked with locking down Jhamon Ausbon, who has come back strong from his injury over the last two games.
Delpit has been all over the field this year for the Tigers. He has 9.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, five interceptions, six pass breakups and a forced fumble. If Kellen Mond tries to push the ball down field, he better know where Delpit is at all times.
Not unlike every year they have faced the Tigers, A&M faces an elite defensive unit and a team that has a ton of talent everywhere on the field. It will be a tough task for Jimbo Fisher and his Aggies, but this feels like a year they can get it done.
Jeff Shull is the Site Expert for the Gig Em Gazette on FanSided. Follow him on Twitter, and be sure to follow the Gig Em Gazette on Facebook and Twitter.