SEC Round-Up: No lie, Moss needs to keep balling as Ags face Tigers
According to an old adage, honesty is the best policy.
The second-best policy may be giving the football to Le’Veon Moss in the fourth quarter.
That was A&M’s policy in a 21-17 victory over Arkansas last week. Moss gained 90 rushing yards in the fourth quarter alone.
His runs sparked a go-ahead touchdown drive. Later, he ran twice for a key first down that clinched the victory.
Asked in a postgame press conference for recollections of a crucial 23-yard run to convert a key third-and-4, Moss gave an honest answer.
“I don’t remember much,” Moss said. “I just be balling, really. I ain’t gonna lie.”
The way Moss has been balling, it’s no lie to suggest he’s making a serious push for All-Southeastern Conference honors.
As the season approaches the midway point, Moss has amassed the SEC’s third-highest rushing total with 471 yards.
It could have been more had he been given more chances to pad his statistics in a 52-10 victory over McNeese State. In that game, Moss gained 84 yards on a mere nine carries.
Since then, he has rushed for 110 vs. Florida, 90 vs. Bowling Green and 117 vs. Arkansas.
Coach Mike Elko indicated he saw signs of Moss having a big season in the offseason.
“(He) hasn’t missed a workout,” Elko said. “I think he’s really changed his body. I think he would tell you he feels much better from a physical stature, strength, stamina standpoint than he ever has. That’s allowed him to go out there and practice a lot more consistently.
“(He’s) tightening down his lines, his angles, his entry points into the run game. Those things have helped him be more consistent.
"He's got unbelievable physical ability. He always has. Then you see him get out in space and run the way he runs. That’s something God gave him. We didn’t have a lot to do with that.”
The Aggies likely will need Moss to demonstrate that ability against Missouri at Kyle Field.
The visiting Tigers are ranked 19th in the nation in run defense. The most rushing yardage they’ve allowed in a game is 146 yards.
They’ve allowed just two runs of 20 yards or more. Vanderbilt had both as quarterback Diego Pavia had a 36-yard run and running back Sedrick Alexander broke loose for a 31-yard gain.
But the Aggies are confident that Moss can break off big runs. They’ve seen him do so. He has five runs that have covered at least 20 yards and two of 30-plus.
“I remember back in the Florida game, there’s one run where he’s just behind everybody, and then he just spun off (for a 27-yard gain). I was like, ‘I don’t even know how that happened,’” A&M quarterback Marcel Reed said. “It’s amazing watching him run. He does a lot of great things.
“It’s hard for people to tackle that guy. I wouldn’t want to be one of the people in front of him when he’s running 20 miles per hour. It’s great watching that guy do what he does.
“Like he said in his (post-Arkansas game) interview, he just balls. That’s what he is. He’s a baller. It’s great watching him.”
Around the SEC
This week’s games: No. 9 Missouri at No. 25 Texas A&M; Auburn at No. 5 Georgia; No. 12 Ole Miss at South Carolina; No.1 Alabama at Vanderbilt; No. 4 Tennessee at Arkansas; UCF at Florida
Who’s hot: Ole Miss wide receiver Tre Harris leads the nation with 804 receiving yards on 49 catches. He has had at least 94 receiving yards in each of the Rebels’ five games. He has 27 catches of at least 10 yards, 12 that covered at least 20 yards and nine of 30 yards or more.
Who’s not: Shockingly, it’s Georgia’s running game. The Bulldogs have managed just 182 total rushing yards in two SEC games vs. Kentucky and Alabama. Last week, they managed only 80 rushing yards vs. the Crimson Tide. That is partially explained by Georgia falling behind 28-0 early, but they still averaged barely three yards per attempt on 26 carries. Losing star right guard Tate Ratledge to a sprained knee vs. Kentucky obviously hurt, but isn’t Georgia supposed to have capable blockers ready to step in? Further, center Jared Wilson sustained an undisclosed injury in the second half vs. Alabama. His status is unknown for this week’s game vs. Auburn.
Keep an eye on: Missouri quarterback Brady Cook is typically rated among the SEC’s top five quarterbacks. Yet, he’s off to a rather modest start. Cook has been good, but not outstanding yet. He passed for 946 yards and four touchdowns in the Tigers’ first four games. His highest yardage output was 264 yards vs. Boston College. He exceeded 300 passing yards in five games last season, so that’s somewhat surprising for him. He next faces Texas A&M, which has given up at least 249 passing yards in each of the last three games.
Pressure is on: Quite literally, Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green. He has been sacked three times in each of the Razorbacks’ last four games.
Best matchup: The South Carolina pass rush figures to be a major challenge for Ole Miss’ passing game. Led by senior edge rusher Kyle Kennard, the Gamecocks have posted 14 sacks. That rush has provided significant help to the secondary. South Carolina is ranked fourth in the SEC in pass defense. Three of four opponents have been held to fewer than 200 passing yards. Meanwhile, Ole Miss leads the SEC and is second in the nation in passing offense. The Rebels average 390.4 passing yards per game. Quarterback Jaxson Dart has passed for at least 261 yards in every game. But he’s been sacked 10 times, including four times last week by Kentucky.
