Texas A&M offensive line hoping to settle lineup woes versus Arkansas

The Aggie offensive line is back where it started. Well, almost.

Texas A&M football coach Kevin Sumlin indicated the Aggies will start their fourth different offensive line combination when they face Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference opener on  Saturday.

It’s the quintet the Aggies were projected to use before the season, except sophomore Erik McCoy will be at center rather than guard where he’s started in two of A&M’s three games. Koda Martin and Keaton Sutherland are at tackle with Colton Prater and Connor Lanfear at guard. Lanfear sat out last week’s game, but is expected back in the lineup.

“We're a better team with Erik McCoy playing center,” Sumlin said on Tuesday. “He's probably our best and most versatile lineman. Now that we're in conference play, we'll have experienced players to start the game.”

The Aggies certainly want to start like they did this season. They rushed for 382 yards in the season-opening, 45-44 victory over UCLA.

But the running game wasn’t as explosive in victories over Nicholls State and Louisiana. That may be explained by sophomore running back Trayveon Williams apparently sustaining an injury that forced him to miss the second half against Nicholls and the entire game against Louisiana.

Sumlin said Williams, who leads the Aggies with 256 rushing yards, will return to the starting lineup against Arkansas. A&M needs its running game at maximum strength to take full advantage of Arkansas' apparently soft run defense. That would not only support A&M freshman quarterback Kellen Mond, but could also keep dangerous Razorback quarterback Austin Allen on the sideline as long as possible.

In their most recent game, the Razorbacks allowed 195 rushing yards in a 28-7 loss to TCU. Arkansas is ranked 63rd in the nation in run defense, but its statistics are boosted by an opening win over anemic FCS member Florida A&M. The Razorbacks allowed just 80 rushing yards in that game.

“In order for this team to be successful, in order for this offense to be successful, we’ve got to be able to run the ball,” McCoy said.

That won’t necessarily be easy. Louisiana is last in the nation in rushing defense, but held A&M to minus-22 rushing yards in the first half last week. For all its issues, Arkansas has more defensive talent than Louisiana.

“We just flat-out didn’t execute in the first half,” McCoy said. “We did not play well. They were throwing some stuff at us that we haven’t seen. We made adjustments, came out in the second half and executed like we have to.”

Multiple changes along the offensive line might have contributed to the lethargy in the running game in the first half against Louisiana. Cohesion is a key to sound offensive line play. Sumlin often speaks about a desire to have “a nickel instead of five pennies.”

“You have chemistry with certain players,” McCoy said. “Some players you have to work with that chemistry. “It’s just something we all have to get used to.

McCoy will be glad to have Lanfear back on his left side.

“Me and him have chemistry,” McCoy said. “We played every game together last year. He’s a big, physical guy that knows what it takes, especially in SEC play, to win games and be able to run the football.”