Johnny Manziel's been relatively quiet this season about Texas A&M's struggles and the Aggies' fall from preseason top-10 to outside of the national rankings. The program legend and 2012 Heisman Trophy winner who torched SEC defenses during his two seasons in College Station couldn't help himself after Saturday night's abhorrent display from the Aggies, a 35-6 loss to LSU. Manziel took to social media and sharply encouraged Texas A&M to "do some soul searching" -- with a colorful "or else" hypothetical that we will link to rather than embed in case you're reading this article at work -- after the program's second straight failure-to-show in the SEC to open the season.
Week 4 for the Aggies was an opportunity to bounce back on the road after a home loss last week against Kentucky, but it didn't happen. Texas A&M was out-gained by LSU, 506 yards to 197, and was a shell of the Marcel Reed-led offense that came to Baton Rouge a year ago and scored 49 points. Reed has regressed this season after helping the Aggies reach the College Football Playoff last fall with a SEC-worst 55.4% completion rate.
Manziel's right: Texas A&M is closer to be one of the league's bottom-dwellers this season than a title contender unless something changes quickly. "We have to play better football. I just don't know what else to say," Aggies coach Mike Elko said.
"We got to look at everything." The program's decision to retain Reed this offseason when a move could've been made elsewhere isn't yet working out for a unit that replaced four offensive line starters and is feeling the first-round exit of KC Concepcion. Many of Reed's throws against the Tigers sailed well beyond his intended targets, a 10-of-26 showing for 106 yards that included four sacks and several questionable decisions. Even during Texas A&M's 48-20 win over Arizona State in Week 2 this month, signs of offensive struggles were there.
The Aggies managed just 255 total yards in that one, failed on 11-of-14 third-down attempts and couldn't get going on the ground. This program ranked in the top-3 of the SEC in rushing offense during Elko's first two seasons and is currently slotted 11th through four games at 151.5 yards per contest. Only Arkansas and Oklahoma have fewer rushing touchdowns.
The explosive aren't there either. Texas A&M has the fewest passing plays of 20 or more yards (six) in the SEC, which is tied for the worst nationally among Power Four teams. "Right now it's bad and we're at rock bottom, but you have to dig yourself out of this hole.
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