How worried should LSU football fans be about Alabama game in post-Texas A&M LSU mailbag
COLLEGE STATION, Texas. — The second-half performance, or more directly the collapse, at Texas A&M felt like something completely improbable for LSU football, given he way it had been playing the last few weeks.
As wild as this Southeastern Conference season has been, a tale-of-two-halves debacle shouldn't be surprising. And it bit LSU in a game for the SEC's top spot. The Aggies outscored LSU 31-6 in the second half on the way to a 38-23 victory.
For LSU (6-2, 3-1 SEC), the first loss was its first since a season-opener to USC. Coach Brian Kelly's squad is now tied with Texas and Tennessee for third place in the SEC.
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Should LSU football fans be concerned about Alabama and Jalen Milroe?
If what A&M freshman quarterback Marcel Reed was able to do against the Tigers' defense is any indication, LSU fans should be very afraid of Jalen Milroe and the Alabama Crimson Tide coming to town on Nov. 9.
Milroe is more polished in the zone read, quarterback design run game and Alabama certainly uses him in more advantageous ways than Texas A&M did with Reed Saturday.
The good news for Kelly, defensive coordinator Blake Baker and the defense is they have two weeks to prepare.
Would LSU be better off if Garrett Nussmeier runs more?
It's easy to pick apart LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier's performance at Texas A&M, where he threw three interceptions.
I don't think LSU's offense would be drastic improved if Nussmeier ran the ball more. Can LSU's offensive line block quarterback-designed runs better than traditional run plays?
The O-line's run blocking is the bigger story. In games LSU could not establish anything on the ground, it's lost. What would make LSU's offense better is a more consistent traditional run game with Caden Durham and Josh Williams and the offensive line.
Does LSU still have a shot to make College Football Playoff?
Despite the ugly loss in College Station, LSU is still very much alive in the College Football Playoff picture. The Tigers aren't eliminated from SEC Championship Game contention either.
On Saturday, Kelly, Nussmeier and linebacker Greg Penn conceded the margin for error is now basically zero.
It seems that the LSU-Alabama will be CFP elimination. If LSU wins, it'll stay on the playoff bubble. Lose and it might need to starting making travels plan to the Gator Bowl or somewhere.
LSU'S CFP PICTURE Can LSU still make College Football Playoff? What's next for Tigers after Texas A&M loss
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Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU football mailbag: Should LSU fans be concerned about Alabama game?
