Mike Elko elaborates on decision to bench Conner Weigman for Marcel Reed

Texas A&M may be undefeated in the SEC this season and sitting in the driver’s seat of the conference standings, but it’s still unknown who will be the starting quarterback this weekend when they visit South Carolina. Especially after starter Conner Weigman was benched last Saturday against LSU for Marcel Reed, who went on to lead the Aggies to a comeback.

Reed also started three games previously this season when Weigman missed time with an injury, boasting a 3-0 record as a starter for Texas A&M. And on Wednesday, head coach Mike Elko pulled back the curtain on Saturday’s crucial decision at quarterback and his overall philosophies on managing the position.

“I’ve said this to Conner, I’ve said this to Marcel, I’ve said this to every quarterback I’ve ever talked to. Me and the quarterback we walk toe to toe in getting way too much credit and way too much blame for everything that happens, and that’s just the natural evolution of it all,” Elko said. “And so anytime the offense isn’t functioning, all eyes immediately go to the quarterback, right?”

Weigman got off to a rough start against the Tigers last weekend, completing just six of his 18 pass attempts for 64 yards before Reed took over the offense in the third quarter. But he also did not get much help from others, particularly the offense line after being sacked four times.

“But when you when you think about an efficient passing game, there’s a lot that goes into it. There’s a rhythm and timing of the quarterback. There’s a rhythm and timing of the routes and the tempo at which they’re being run. Are they getting into the spaces in the right time? Are they getting disrupted?” Elko explained. “And nobody sees that, because everyone’s just seeing Conner with the ball, and we call passes, and they don’t work, and they don’t work for such a variety of reasons.”

“And part of that is Conner and part of that is protection and part of that is play calling. We all own a share of the deficiency in the passing game right now, and it’s exactly what I said to Conner on the sideline. Was like, ‘Hey, listen, this has nothing to do with you, but we got to try something different. We’re going to go in a different direction.’ And that’s really what it was.”

The decision to go in a different direction worked, with Reed’s rushing ability having a significant positive impact on the Texas A&M offense. As the Aggies would score on each of their remaining drives that Reed led and he’d end the game with 132 total yards of offense and three rushing touchdowns following a tough but effective decision by Elko and his staff.

“It’s hard and we don’t hide from that. It was hard when we told Marcel he wasn’t going to be the guy against Missouri. It’s hard for Connor when we tell him we’re going to Marcel in this big game right now. It’s hard and all you’re looking for is a level of professionalism for both of them to just say yeah, it sucks … I know it does. But I’m going to get over that and it’s about something a little bit more than me right now,” Elko said.

Both of Texas A&M’s quarterbacks have had moments this season where their feelings have had to be put to the side for the greater good of the team. Which has clearly worked after rattling off seven straight wins with a mentality that Elko’s been impressed with.

“And then I’m gonna be a good teammate, I’m gonna cheer my guy on and then you see Conner all game,” Elko added. “The first one on the sideline when Marcel comes off and how much maturity is that to be dealing with it internally, and I’m sure the struggles of it, but to still be that teammate to be there for his friend and his teammate.”

It will be fascinating to see how the quarterback position is managed by Elko moving forward this season for Texas A&M, but so far, the results have been undeniable in College Station.