SEC Network host Peter Burns highlights progression of A&M's offense

Key notes from Peter Burns interview

• Kalen DeBoer is still trying to figure things out. Alabama’s first drive looked good. But ultimately, what doomed them in that game, they went 16 plays, one drive, and punched Florida State in the mouth, and everyone was then underrated Florida State and relaxed, but Florida State didn’t relax.
   
• Thomas Castellanos went full Diego Pavia, and Florida State just stuffed Alabama in a locker. It is wild to think that Alabama still has a good chance. They still have a talented roster. They are not some 6-6 team, and they are not going to fire DeBoer.
   
• LSU’s defense is not overrated. The reason I was so high on LSU was that defense. I saw it. Throughout spring, speaking to coaches throughout the offseason, people were telling me this was going to be a throwback LSU defense. It is something they didn’t have last year. When Brian Kelly first got there, they were thinking of people who just flock to them. But when Bryce Underwood left and went to Michigan, it kicked Kelly into high gear. They went to build an NFL-like roster. I think Clemson still wins the ACC, but LSU found a way to punch them in the mouth.
   
• Dabo Swinney said, “If you grade this game, we were a 58, and they were a 64.” I’m like, “What the hell did you watch?” You got killed in the second half. Kelly has confidence now, and I like him. For Les Miles and Ed Orgeron, they bled Purple & Gold. For Kelly, for him to talk the talk and walk the walk. He is a northern, but he kept receipts, and he is pushing back. I am here for every part of it.
   
• The Netflix documentary caught Kelly in the season where they were good, but they had a lot of question marks. But now, he understood. I talked to him about two weeks ago, and it was a different feeling down there. This is finally the roster he wanted. So when A&M comes to town in October, it's going to be monstrous, especially after what Marcel Reed did to LSU last year. This is going to be a must-watch game for the entire country to see if Reed can go into Death Valley and win.
   
• I am not concerned about Texas. Defensively, they will be in every single game. Steve Sarkisian was too conservative in the play calling. Arch Manning didn’t help himself either. They had to be aggressive. But I am not too concerned about it. Manning has to answer the bell, and Sarkisian will let them loose a bit more. I still think there’s too much talent where 9-3 is the worst they could finish, but I still think they are a 10-2 team.
   
• Progress was made. Collin Klein knew he could do that against the UTSA team. They lacked depth. I thought this first game would be a figure it out what you want kind of game. You should always be able to run the ball. You have Le’Veon Moss back there. He was an emergency player if they needed him in the game. This was more of what we saw in the bowl game. We wanted to see Reed pass. To show he was a passing threat. If you can put on film that Reed is a good passer, it’ll open up the offense.
   
• Hugh Freeze loved to run the ball. I think it's a growing pain. There was so much worry about Jackson Arnold, like what if he throws an early pick on the road. Let’s build a comfort level for him. They have a talented receiver room. I am not too worried about it. Now, it feels like there is blood in the water after Alabama got pushed around by Florida State.
   
• I needed South Carolina to be sticky. LaNorris Sellers is a beast. There are still some things to work on. They have dudes. The credit I have to give to Shane Beamer is that they don’t go after the top prospects because they normally can’t get them. They get guys that fit their scheme. I still think they take a step back slightly. I see an 8-4 squad. There are a lot of those in the SEC.