Toughness in the trenches vital in taking down LSU on Saturday

The Aggies’ toughness and physicality has been tested often in their first football season under Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher.

They passed those tests, too.

“I’ve been very pleased with our physicality,” Fisher said. “We are second or third in the country in run defense and Trayveon (Williams) runs so hard. We are getting better on that front.”

Now comes the final exam in the form of LSU, a traditionally tough and ornery opponent, which has routinely handled — and often manhandled — the Aggies.

Reversing that trend figures to be the key to reversing their fortunes when the No. 22 Aggies (7-4, 4-3) and No. 7 Tigers (9-2, 5-2) square off at Kyle Field on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Not since 2012 has so much been on the line for A&M when facing LSU. The Aggies can finish second in the SEC West standings, likely pave the way for a bowl game in Florida, close November with three victories, maybe boost recruiting and finally end a seven-game losing streak to LSU.

Accomplishing all that may depend on how successful the Aggies are in running the football and preventing LSU from doing the same.

Rey Romo, TexAgs

Trayveon WIlliams leads the SEC in rushing and is averaging well over 100 yards a game.

A&M exceeded 200 rushing yards in each of their last three games. However, A&M has failed to run or stop the run in recent clashes with LSU.

Since the 2011 Cotton Bowl, LSU has typically run roughshod over the A&M defense and often suffocated the offense. LSU has outfought, outclassed and out rushed the Aggies, accumulating three-times as many rushing yards as A&M in that span.

Running successfully is even more important because LSU’s secondary is among the best in the nation and figures to cause problems for A&M’s passing game.

“That’s our biggest challenge and always has been because they are so physical an dominant up front,” A&M junior center Erik McCoy said.“We just have to be physical. We have to match their physicality.”

Williams, who leads the SEC with 1,326 rushing yards, agreed.

“I definitely feel like if we go out there and do what we have to do and just play us, relax and play physical ball for four quarters we can get it done,” he said.

The Aggies must get it done on both sides of the line of scrimmage. LSU doesn’t have a star running back like Jeremy Hill, Leonard Fournette or Darius Guice, but Nick Brossette and Clyde Edwards-Helaire have combined to rush for 1,484 yards and 20 touchdowns.

“They pride themselves on running the football,” A&M senior defensive lineman Kingsley Keke said. “No matter who’s back there they’re going to run the ball hard.

A&M has contained every opponent’s running game thus far. The Aggies rank second in the nation in run defense. They’ve not allowed more than 143 rushing yards in any game. So, they can be confident they can stop LSU’s running game.

However, the Aggies cannot be as confident against the pass.

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow has completed just 56.4 percent of his passing attempts and has thrown for just nine touchdowns. He’s thrown just one touchdown pass in the last five games against SEC competition.

Yet, A&M’s pass defense is among the weakest in the nation. It’s vital for A&M’s defensive front help out its suspect secondary with an effective pass rush.

“We’ve got to get to him because he can throw the ball really good,” Keke said. “We’ve got to make it hard for him and close the pocket on him. Make him see tough places to throw it.”