Closer Look: How LSU matches up with Texas A&M

Texas A&M football schedule: Post-spring breakdown series

Arizona State Sun Devils ... Ball State Cardinals ... Nevada Wolf Pack ... Arkansas Razorbacks ... Mississippi State Bulldogs ... Alabama Crimson Tide ... Ole Miss Rebels ... South Carolina Gamecocks ... Auburn Tigers ... Vanderbilt Commodores ... LSU Tigers

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D’s in college are considered to be passing by the slimmest of margins.

After winning 61 percent of their games a year ago, LSU will be faced with a similar test this time around. However, in 2015, the questions appear to be harder.


With a new defensive coordinator, a passing attack that finished last in the SEC and losses of players like Kenny Hilliard and Jermauria Rasco, LSU will be searching for answers.

Luckily for them, Leonard Fournette is back, alongside 12 other starters, which will provide a strong base for the Tigers to build on as they look to move back into title contention. With four double digit win seasons in the last five, the Bayou Bengals know what the promised land looks like. That only leaves one question.

Can anyone under center lead them there?

LSU Tigers

vs. Texas A&M: Nov. 28 at Tiger Stadium

2014 record: 8-5; lost to Notre Dame, 31-28, in the Music City Bowl

Returning Starters:

• Brandon Jones, TexAgs Les Miles has had a successful run at LSU but with a new defensive staff, things could be different in Baton Rouge. {"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"Les Miles has had a successful run at LSU but with a new defensive staff, things could be different in Baton Rouge.","MediaItemID":44644}
  Offense (8): QB Anthony Jennings, TB Leonard Fournette, WR Trey Quinn, WR Travin Dural, TE Dillon Gordon, T Vadal Alexander, C Ethan Pocic, T Jerald Hawkins

• Defense (5) DT Christian LaCouture, DT Davon Godchaux, SLB Lamar Louis, MLB Kendell Beckwith, CB Tre’Davious White, S Jalen Mills

Key losses: RB Terrence Magee, RB Kenny Hilliard, TE Travis Dickson, OL La’el Collins, DE Danielle Hunter, DE Jermauria Rasco, LB Kwon Alexander, CB Jalen Collins, S Ronald Martin

Rising Star/Star player: While the heisman pose he struck during week two was certainly ill-advised, it is hard to argue with the rest of Leonard Fournette’s 2014 season. The pressure of big expectations on his shoulders, the freshman posted impressive stats of 1034 yards, ten touchdowns on 187 carries in his inaugural campaign. Look for those numbers to increase across the board as much of the Tigers aspirations lay in his hands.

Impact newcomer: Losing most of their vaunted DBU secondary, filling in the gaps around Tre’Davious White will be crucial on the defensive side.

Hoping to fill that role will be five-star Florida native Kevin Toliver II. The highly touted cornerback will by no means be handed the starting role, but with a knack for physical play and elite speed, he should pose a formidable problem for opposing offenses.

Area of strength: Run the ball. It cannot be overstated. With the questions under center, LSU will live and die by their ability to move the football on the ground. With three linemen and a tight end returning in front of Fournette, the path should be clear to maintain the 224 yards per game they put up one year ago.

Area of concern: The rest of the offense. While LSU does have two established talents returning at receiver in Trey Quinn and Travin Dural, it means almost nothing without someone to throw them the ball. For the second consecutive year, the Tigers will enter the season deciding between Anthony Jennings (who is coming off a recent arrest) and Brandon Harris (25 completions) at quarterback. As the old saying goes, if you have two quarterbacks, you have none.

Matchup against Texas A&M

You will hear it a lot this season, if the Aggies can pressure the offensive backfield, the rest will take care of itself. That truth will remain evident on the final weekend of A&M’s regular season. With John Chavis rolling back down the bayou, bolstering talents like Myles Garrett, Dasheon Hall and the potential of Daylon Mack, the Aggies should be able to make whoever is under center feel uncomfortable in their own stadium. That facet will allow A&M to do what it does best.

Exploit the defense.

With a plethora of talent, A&M will look to expose a largely inexperienced secondary that could be brought to the forefront if Dave Christensen’s run game resurgence unfolds as hoped. Ranking 109th nationally with 19 sacks in 2014, before losing Jermauria Rasco and Danielle Hunter, the Tigers will have their hands full returning the defensive invasion taking place on the other side.