Why Texas A&M coach Mike Elko is sticking with Marcel Reed at QB instead of giving Brady Hart a shot

Texas A&M coach Mike Elko provided some insight Monday into his coaching mindset for why backup quarterback Brady Hart hasn't been given an opportunity on Saturdays despite Marcel Reed's struggles.

"We feel like Brady gets a ton of opportunities to showcase where he's at, a ton of opportunities to show us whether or not he's ready to go or step in and be the guy," Elko said during his weekly news conference ahead of Saturday's game at South Carolina. "The challenge to him has been if you want opportunities, there's a level that we need to see in order to feel comfortable about doing that."

Advertisement

Elko has continued to put his trust in Reed throughout the season, even if the senior quarterback's play has been well below the level he played at last season.

Hart has gotten only garbage time reps throughout the season with only one pass attempt coming in SEC play, but Elko did consider going to Hart in the Alabama game.

Hart warmed up on the sidelines after Reed threw his second interception within the first five minutes of the game. But Texas A&M elected to stay with Reed after the play, and he did respond with some of his best football of the season.

Reed finished with 163 passing yards and the Aggies offense went 4-for-4 on red zone scoring opportunities. They even entered the fourth quarter with a lead before the Crimson Tide reached a higher gear to win 31-20.

Advertisement

"Through the second and third quarter of that game, I thought offensive efficiency was as good as it's been," Elko said. "We didn't finish the game obviously the way we would have wanted to, and didn't get it done in the fourth quarter the way we needed to to be successful. But I think some of the growth is there."

On the whole, Reed has been among the least productive quarterbacks in the SEC. Reed is tied for the conference lead in interceptions. He is last among qualified quarterbacks in completion percentage (56.8%) and second-to-last in quarterback rating (114.4). Only Mississippi State backup quarterback Parker Puckett has a lower quarterback rating.

Reed has thrown for over 200 yards just twice this season and only once in SEC play while totaling at least two touchdowns in a game just once since the season-turning loss to Kentucky in Week 3.

But even amid it all Elko has said that Reed remains the guy, stating some version of the refrain that he gives the Aggies the best shot to win on gamedays. That will remain the case, it seems, going forward.

Advertisement

"There's a lot that Marcel can improve on, for sure," Elko said during last week's SEC coaches teleconference, according to The Bryan-College Station Eagle. "He knows that, he's aware of that, but we have to get better as an offense and I think through the middle part of that game, you saw what it could look like with everybody healthy, playing and rolling the way that we're capable of. Unfortunately, we didn't finish it the way we wanted to."

Peter Warren reported from Houston

Subscribe

There's more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.

This article originally published at Why Texas A&M coach Mike Elko is sticking with Marcel Reed at QB instead of giving Brady Hart a shot.