The Texas A&M Aggies knocked off the LSU Tigers in Week 9, claiming the outright lead in the SEC entering Week 10. However, it was a decision mid-game to bench QB Conner Weigman for Marcel Reed that left many puzzled.
The latest and more elaborated answer from head coach Mike Elko gave a little more clarity on the decision.
Why Was Conner Weigman Benched?
As it stands right now, Texas A&M has been quiet on who will start their game in Week 10 against South Carolina. That’s because Weigman was benched in favor of Reed and the Aggies held on to defeat LSU under Reed’s guidance.
And apparently, Weigman’s sluggish play was the culprit to his benching. But head coach Mike Elko said all the blame doesn’t belong on Weigman, instead saying the coaches (play-calling) and the offensive line (protection) also played a part in his decision.
“Part of (the benching) is Conner and part of that is protection and part of that is play calling,” Elko said. “We all own a share of the deficiency in the passing game right now, and that’s exactly what I said to Conner on the sideline.”
“‘Hey, listen this has nothing to do with you, but we got to try something different.’ And that’s really all it was.”
Reed entered the game and his dual-threat abilities kick-started the Aggie offense in the process. He had previously started multiple games in place of the injured Weigman earlier this season.
Against LSU, Reed led the Aggies back into the lead with two rushing touchdowns on his first two possessions. Before the action, he had totaled eight touchdowns in relief of Weigman, six through the air and two on the ground.
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Now, with the SEC Championship Game within reach, the Aggies are forced to make a very public and seemingly very difficult decision: Weigman or Reed. There is no denying Weigman’s arm talent, but if Reed gives Texas A&M a better chance to win within their current offensive structure and personnel, no one could blame Elko for sticking with Reed.
It’s a catch-22 and a really interesting point in the season for the current SEC leaders, as two-quarterback systems certainly do not typically pan out.
The clock is ticking for Elko to make a decision, but apparently, there’s no hard and fast rule that states he has to stick with that decision.
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