LSU football failed to prepare for Texas A&M's Marcel Reed | LSU

COLLEGE STATION, Tx. — LSU senior linebacker Greg Penn said the defense failed to prepare for Texas A&M backup quarterback Marcel Reed, who led a second-half comeback in the Tigers' 38-23 loss.

Reed stepped in earlier this season when starter Conner Weigman missed three games with a shoulder injury, but Weigman had played most of the last two games. Reed did not play against Mississippi State last week.

“We honestly didn’t really prepare for it,” Penn said. “We didn't think he would come into the game, so he surprised us. We didn't really know what races they were going to run. That opened up the game for them in terms of what they were doing offensively.”

With No. 8 LSU leading 17-7 in the third quarter Saturday night, Reed came in on No. 14 Texas A&M's third possession of the second half. He led five straight scoring drives while scoring three touchdowns and 62 Yards scored.

Weigman opened the season as Texas A&M's starter before suffering a shoulder injury. Reed started three games, then Weigman returned and led the Aggies to victories over Missouri and Mississippi State.

LSU's pass rush hurt Weigman, who finished 6 of 18 for 64 yards while being sacked four times. Texas A&M scored 7 points and averaged 3.5 yards per play with Weigman at quarterback.

“We just thought Conner Weigman would take most of the snaps,” Penn said. “He played pretty well. He played really well in that game against Missouri. We just thought he would be the guy.”

Last week, LSU held Arkansas dual-threat quarterback Taylen Green to three carries for 14 yards when accounting for sacks. Green was also sacked three times in a 34-10 win.

Penn said LSU didn't “make the same calls that they did with Taylen Green,” noting that the Tigers had a full week planned for him. Penn felt the timing of Reed's entry made it difficult to adjust since he didn't enter the game until the third quarter.

“We have a plan for the running quarterback,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said. “I don’t know if we have reached the necessary level. Should we have spent more time on this? Definitely looks like it. But I don't think we felt like we weren't capable of doing it after we felt really good about the running quarterback that we played last week at Arkansas because we had a similar plan had.”

Reed only attempted two passes, but Texas A&M's offense changed with him as the game progressed. The Aggies scored 31 points and averaged 8.6 yards per play with Reed at quarterback.

“We played such good defense in the first half,” Kelly said. “It was so nice to see how our defense was playing and then we go to a running quarterback and he just walks away from us. We know what we need to improve there.”

As LSU begins its open schedule ahead of its game against Alabama, Kelly said the team needs to focus on stopping quarterback runs, which will be a priority against Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. He ran for 330 yards and 11 touchdowns.

“I would say we need to spend more time,” Kelly said. “Every week it has to be a part of it because right now I would let the quarterback play against us.”