Chasing Lane: Amid other A&M weapons, Lane remains a big-play threat

A well-planned sit-down meal is always good. Sometimes, though, you have a hankerin’ for fast food.

Same with football. Long, time-consuming drives are delicious. They establish dominance, wear down opponents and allow your defense to remain rested and fresh.

Oh, but nobody complains about an occasional quick score.

Texas A&M wants to add more of the drive-thru quality to its offense in 2021. Last season, the Aggies totaled 41 plays from scrimmage that covered at least 20 yards. Eight Southeastern Conference teams had more. Arkansas … yes, Arkansas … had just as many big plays as A&M.

Craig Bisacre/Texas A&M Athletics

Lane hauled in a crucial catch in the final minutes of the Florida game, helping set the stage for Seth Small’s game-winning field goal.

The Aggies have several reasons to believe that number would spike significantly. Ainias Smith is a reason. Jalen Wydermyer is a reason. So are Isaiah Spiller, Devon Achane and a healthy Caleb Chapman and Demond Demas.

Sophomore Chase Lane is typically omitted from that list. He shouldn’t be. Last season he averaged a 20-yard gain on every 5.8 catches. Only Ainias Smith, at 5.3 catches, averaged more big plays for receivers with at least 10 catches.

“Chase Lane definitely (is a big play threat),” A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said on Sunday. “Remember him catching the ball against Mississippi State coming across the field and outrunning everybody on the field for a touchdown? That was huge after the momentum had swung after a ricochet interception. Chase has the ability to make a lot of big plays running with the ball and catching it deep down the field.”

That 51-yard catch-and-run touchdown in the Aggies’ 28-14 victory over Mississippi State is Lane’s most memorable play.

It was hardly his only big play, though. He often came through on third down.

On third-and-2 against Tennessee, Lane turned a short pass into a 36-yard gain.

Facing third-and-seven against North Carolina in the Orange Bowl, Lane leaped to make a 27-yard catch. That led to a Spiller touchdown run that staked A&M to a 17-13 halftime lead.

Of course, not all big plays are defined by yardage. Two of Lane’s biggest plays were fewer than 20 yards.

With A&M facing third-and-eight in the waning minutes against Florida, he caught a 16-yard pass. That led to Seth Small’s game-winning field goal.

And on third-and-seven early in the fourth quarter against Auburn, Lane caught a 15-yard pass for a key first down. Wydermyer caught a 20-yard touchdown pass on the next play to give A&M a 21-20 lead.

“I think I’m in that space of being a big-play maker,” Lane said.  “I have confidence in myself and my abilities and what I’m able to do. I feel like I should be in that conversation because of what I’ve shown from the Mississippi State game and just how I prepare every day. I try to prepare like a pro and be ready for my moment as soon as they come.”

More of those moments figure to come.

Lane doesn’t have Achane’s speed (who does?), but he’s more than fast enough to beat coverage.

Further, with all the big-play threats A&M has — from Smith to Wydermyer to Chapman to Spiller — Lane figures to routinely face an opponent’s third- or fourth-best defensive back.

That’s a mismatch.

So expect A&M quarterbacks to look for Chase Lane. Expect big plays from Chase Lane. Expect opponents to be frequently in positions where they must chase Lane