Texas A&M needs a bounce back win this weekend’s showdown in the worst way— and that’s a pretty bad situation to be in when you’re headed down to Death Valley. The Tigers have long had one of the most intimidating home field environments in the nation, and the Aggies are already feeling the pressure of a must-win game ahead of their trip down to the Bayou.
The same could be said for the Tigers, though, after their early loss to the Ole Miss Rebels last week. The Bayou Bengals were the talk of the nation when they knocked off Clemson in dominant fashion in week one, and they are stilll considered an elite team by many, but the fact is that another loss would severely hamper their chances to make the College Football Playoff.
Ahead of this pivotal game for both teams, both the Aggies and Tigers are coming into with some key injuries. Texas A&M will (presumably) be without Terry Bussey in this game, and the status of KJ Edwards, Jamarion Morrow, and Ashton Bethel-Roman— all major offensive weapons for A&M— is in doubt. LSU will be without Trey’Dez Green, one of their top pass-catchers, and now news has come down that one of their best defensive backs, DaShawn Spears, will miss this game as well.
LSU set to miss DaShawn Spears for Texas A&M’s trip down to Baton Rouge
The Tigers have displayed an aggressive defense thus far this year, led by a great pass rush, but their defensive backfield— led by Ty Benefield— has been a big part of that. Spears was a key part of that backfield, so Kiffin and company will have to do a lot to figure out how to replace him.
Spears reportedly tore his ACL in the game against Ole Miss, so he is out for the season. That’s a huge blow to a Tigers team that has designs on a deep postseason run, but this is why Kiffin hit the portal so hard— isn’t it?
Of course, if the Aggies are unable to push the ball downfield at all, then this absence for LSU will be all but completely meaningless. Against Kentucky, Marcel Reed was having trouble completing routine passes, much less stretch the defense with a deep pass game.
Mike Elko knows what the issue is with Marcel Reed, as both of them acknowledged, but it’s fixing it that’s the hard part. Blake Baker’s defense has been a welcome sight for Marcel each of the last two years, so maybe this can be a bit of a get-right game for him, using his legs a little bit more against the Tigers.
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