{"id":444366,"date":"2026-09-22T20:06:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T20:06:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/444366\/"},"modified":"2026-09-22T20:06:13","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T20:06:13","slug":"mike-elko-says-texas-am-defense-must-catch-up-quick-before-lsu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/444366\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Elko Says Texas A&M Defense Must \u2018Catch Up Quick\u2019 Before LSU"},"content":{"rendered":"

Texas A&M\u2019s defense<\/a> wasn\u2019t solely responsible for what happened against Kentucky on Saturday. The Aggies\u2019 offense didn\u2019t exactly hold up its end of the bargain during the 31-21 loss, either, turning the ball over and failing on multiple occasions to answer Kentucky\u2019s punches. It also repeatedly put the defense in difficult situations.<\/p>\n

Kentucky still managed to expose something concerning, though, as the Wildcats bullied Texas A&M far more frequently than should ever be acceptable for a defense coached by Mike Elko<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Elko didn\u2019t attempt to sugarcoat it afterward. On Monday, he called it \u201cone of the worst defensive performances\u201d of his tenure and explained that Texas A&M never became comfortable with what it was trying to accomplish defensively.<\/p>\n

The timing couldn\u2019t be much worse.<\/p>\n

Texas A&M travels to No. 10 LSU this weekend, where Lane Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. are waiting with an offense capable of creating the exact kind of confusion that caused the Aggies so many problems against Kentucky.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think one of the challenges in the early part of the season … you spend so much time going against your own offense,\u201d Elko said. \u201cEvery offense has a different layer and different multiplicity to it that creates stress and dilemmas.\u201d<\/p>\n

His conclusion was considerably simpler.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got to catch up, and we\u2019ve got to catch up quick.\u201d<\/p>\n

LSU Presents Another Challenge for the Aggies\"LSU<\/p>\n

Tigers Head Coach Lane Kiffin, The Ole Miss Rebels take on the LSU Tigers. September 19, 2026; Oxford, MS, USA; at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

There are plenty of reasons for Texas A&M to be wary of LSU\u2019s offense. Kiffin has long carried a reputation as one of college football\u2019s premier offensive minds, while Weis followed him from Ole Miss after the duo helped Trinidad Chambliss emerge as one of the country\u2019s biggest stars last season.<\/p>\n

There have already been glimpses of what that partnership might eventually produce with Sam Leavitt in Baton Rouge. The Arizona State transfer has shown an ability to hurt defenses with his arm and legs, giving Kiffin another talented quarterback to build around.<\/p>\n

There are weaknesses to exploit, obviously. Leavitt can become erratic and doesn\u2019t always see the field particularly well, providing opportunities for a Texas A&M defense that desperately needs a bounce-back performance. Taking advantage of those weaknesses isn\u2019t a given, though, especially after what happened against Kentucky.<\/p>\n

LSU<\/a> will provide different stresses, and Elko doesn\u2019t expect Kiffin to abandon what he wants to do simply because of what appeared on film Saturday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re going to have a lot of confidence in who they are and what their system is,\u201d Elko said. \u201cI\u2019m sure that\u2019s what they\u2019ll use on Saturday night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Texas A&M has spent the past few days trying to figure out what went wrong against Kentucky. It won\u2019t have much time to dwell on the answers.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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