COLLEGE STATION, Texas — For a fleeting moment Saturday, football wasn’t fun for the LSU defense, as it chased Texas A&M redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel around the field.
Shifting in and out of LSU defenders as he pleased, the Texas A&M (5-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) quarterback, affectionately known as “Johnny Football,” dazzled
the crowd of 87,429, leaving LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis with one option.
The Tigers moved into the mustang formation, featuring only three defensive linemen. Chavis’ defense limited Manziel to only 107 yards through the air in the second half while neutralizing his blazing speed.
“It’s hard to simulate that speed, we don’t get it constantly in practice,” Chavis said. “When we adjusted to the speed of the game, I felt comfortable that we could do a good job shutting them down.”
Manziel gave LSU (7-1, 3-1 SEC) fits throughout the first half as he carried his team to an early 12-0 lead.
“They came out in the first half and did some stuff we didn’t work on,” Mingo said. “Quick throws, three-step drops and getting the ball out of [Manziel’s] hand, and they had a lot of success with it.”
Manziel’s short passing game paid dividends for the Aggies in the first half, forcing the Tigers into both the mustang and dime packages on defense, something junior safety Eric Reid called the turning point.
Finishing with 11 total tackles and a pass break up, Reid credited the defensive line’s execution of the mustang for allowing him to stay in coverage and eliminate the passes that plagued the Tigers in the first half.
“[The Mustang] got pressure on the quarterback, but at the same time it gave the DB’s time to stay in coverage,” Reid said. “Credit the D-line once again. They stepped up big for us.”
LSU coach Les Miles shook off the early defensive struggles saying the unit needed to “get their feet set,” while crediting Manziel’s escapability.
“Boy, he is a good one,” Miles said. “He’s a tough, hard-nosed guy, fights like hell. He’s a tremendous competitor.”
Chavis also praised Manziel, who finished with 276 yards through the air and 27 on the ground, as someone he never expected to defend completely.
“There’s a way you can rush him and be somewhat effective, but you’re not going to be completely effective,” Chavis said. “He’s a great football player. There’s no question about that.”
Reid commended his teammates for containing the elusive Manziel, who was hindered by three interceptions that resulted in 14 points for the Tigers.
He called the last of the three interceptions, a slant route jumped and picked by junior cornerback Tharold Simon, the defining moment in the closely decided defensive struggle.
“It was a big momentum change for us,” Reid said. “[Manziel] was scrambling, trying to look to make a play and Tharold got to it.”
Led again by junior linebacker Kevin Minter, who chipped in 12 tackles, one sack, a tackle for loss and an interception, the Tiger defense
didn’t waver when facing its largest deficit since last year’s national title loss to Alabama.
“Our guys are in great condition,” Chavis said. “They knew we were going to have to suck it up and play the second half.”
Though the mustang and dime packages called for defensive backs and safeties to play more extended minutes in coverage, Reid said it’s what he’s trained to do.
“That’s why we came to LSU, to play defense,” Reid said. “We don’t mind being on the field, because that’s what we do.”
