Everything 3 Aggies had to say on Monday ahead of Texas A&M's Week 9 matchup vs. LSU
14th-ranked Texas A&M (6-1 4-0 SEC) is still atop the SEC standings after defeating Mississippi State 34-24 on Saturday afternoon. Head coach Mike Elko and his team are now 3-0 on the road in SEC play. They are set to return to Kyle Field for the season's biggest game against 8th-ranked LSU.
One of the main storylines coming out of the win was the play of starting quarterback Conner Weigman, who struggled in the pocket due to bad footwork and mental mistakes. At the same time, the raucous environment caused by the ringing cowbells, a Mississippi State tradition, surely disrupted his timing on several throws that led to two interceptions.
On Monday, Elko, along with several players, including linebacker Scooby Williams, took questions from the media ahead of the game. The Tigers are also 6-1 and undefeated in conference play after defeating Arkansas 34-10 on Saturday night, making this the game to watch in Week 9.
Here is everything Dametreous Crownover Bryce Anderson, and Scooby Williams had to say on Monday afternoon ahead of the game.
Texas A&M right tackle Dametreous Crownover
"We grew up, and we grew up together. We found out what it means to play as an offensive line. We didn't have success the last two years, but it helped us find out what we need to do now."
Crownover on returning to Kyle Field for a primetime night game
"A night game at Kyle is always going to be electric. It's always fun to have that experience." "It's a great opportunity for us to go out and play LSU. ... We're excited for it."
Crownover on facing LSU
"They're a good team. There is no beating around the bush, but if we come out and play the way we're capable of playing, we're going to be good."
Crownover on Texas A&M's Week 8 win over Mississippi State
"We knew it was going to be shaky coming out, but we knew that if we were going to win that game, we knew we had to play all four quarters."
Crownover on facing LSU's pass rush
"You can't put them on a pedestal because every game, you have to play the way you're capable of playing."
Crownover on the Aggies' improved pass protection
"We're protecting (Conner Weigman), and he knows he can sit back there comfortably and know his reads and where he needs to go with the ball."
Crownover on earning his increased playing time this season
"I made myself a promise at the beginning of this year that I'm going to do everything in my power to get a starting position, hold my starting position and do everything I can to help my team."
Safety Bryce Anderson praises CB Will Lee III
"Will Lee, that's my guy. He's 'The Blanket.'" "He shuts down his side of the field and tells me I don't have to help him. He makes my job easier."
Anderson on why facing LSU is personal
"Pretty much all of my family on my dad's side is from Louisiana, so this game means a whole lot to me."
Texas A&M finall found the inches!
"Being able to find the small things. We've been able to find the small things that we couldn't last year."
Anderson on facing LSU's offense
"Their quarterback is special. He has a big arm. Their receiving corps, as a group, is the best receiving corps we've seen all season."
Anderson on covering LSU's wide receivers
"I'm putting pressure on myself to put the top on coverage and not let them do what we want to do." "We're going to have to go out and cover those guys."
Anderson on returning to Kyle Field for a primetime night game against LSU
"Night games at Kyle Field are always electric. This is going to be even more electric knowing what the atmosphere is going to be like and how much the game is going to mean."
LB Scooby Williams on facing LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier
"The quarterback they've got now is a great player. They always have great receivers coming out of LSU."
Williams on his continued improvement during his first season with Texas A&M
"Since I came to Texas A&M, the plan was always to get better, better myself and better myself with my teammates."
"It has always been about 'How am I going to get better for my teammates?' ... My teammates help out with that."
Williams on snagging his first career interception against Mississippi State
"It meant a lot to me. It was crazy."
"At the crib, I was like, 'What am I going to do if I get a pick?' ... Coach Elko was yelling about ball security, so I was just making sure I didn't give it back to the offense."
Expect over 100,000 in Kyle Field on Saturday
"We expect the 12th Man to show up and show out."
Williams on preparing for LSU
"This is the type of stuff you dream of as a little kid. You have to prepare yourself so that when the time comes, you can let loose."
Williams on keeping away from the "outside noise"
"I don't listen to the outside noise. The only noise that matters is the noise between us. It's about listening to Elko, our coaches and my teammates."
Williams on Texas A&M's elevated linebacker play
"Each and every day, whether it's an off day or Coach is drilling us in practice, we're always in competition with each other and trying to get better."
"We were overly prepared, and that starts during the week in practice. ... All of that adds up over time, and y'all get to see the results on Saturdays."
Treat Saturday's game like any SEC opponent
"There is a lot at stake from an outside point of view, but internally, it's just another game."
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Everything 3 Aggies had to say on Monday ahead of Texas A&M's Week 9 matchup vs. LSU