Peter Burns of ESPN and the SEC Network recaps Week Five in the SEC

Key notes from Peter Burns interview

• Texas A&M now understands that the issues are real and now have to play spoiler and focus on building your team as opposed to last year when you had an opportunity to make a run.
   
• The offensive line push that we've seen from teams that typically have good offensive line play. There is no reason why programs like LSU and A&M shouldn't have recruits on recruits and dominant offensive lines. When you want to be a playoff-contending team, that's a position you should never miss on. Obviously, the timing was bad with so many guys leaving last year combined with going to your backup quarterback. Zach Calzada and Max Johnson have been left out to dry.
   
• Anytime someone throws it 60 times, you're going to have busted coverages at some points. I'm surprised Mississippi State had room downfield to go along with those short throws. It all stems from the offensive side because the Aggies didn't get sustained drives. The defense suffers and gets tired. When you can't run the ball and be the bully, it becomes a problem.
   
• A&M has elevated itself into one of those teams that other programs want to play. They are a game that everyone else circles like Alabama and Georgia. That's something they need to understand and combat for the rest of the year.
   
• With COVID, you've had a lot of kids who can play an extra year. Look at Arkansas. Guys who weren't NFL-caliber guys came back. That's why you see so much parity. These mid-major teams are taking the next step. The second step is the transfer portal. Some coaches are finding ways to plug in deficiencies that they have. Grabbing X amount of guys out of high school to go along with the ready-made three and four-star guys can you plug in out of the transfer portal is how this is going to go.
   
• When I talk to people at Alabama and at Georgia, they go after the big five-star at quarterback and wide receiver, but they also look at where they're screwed if X happens. They do some self-scouting. They know they're going to grab great athletes and great skill position players, but they look at what can derail them if you-know-what hits the fan. They build their recruiting around that.
   
• This game against Kentucky is monstrous for LSU. They have a chance to beat them while they're punch-drunk off this win over Florida. I think LSU's coordinators are just green. Ed Orgeron put guys who have never been play-callers before in this situation. I think they can save it and go 8-4, but they can't have any more losses like they did to Auburn.
   
• This A&M team seems down and needs a spark. Getting Haynes King back would provide that. For LSU, it's not a spark thing. It's a coaching thing.
   
• Danny Kanell got all bunched up because I said there were only two teams right now and everyone else is playing for those third and fourth spots. Anyone with eyeballs can tell you that Alabama and Georgia are head and shoulders are better than everyone else. Georgia and Alabama have 15 guys that will play in the NFL next year. Penn State, Iowa and Cincinnati don't have that. Alabama and Georgia are going to meet each other in the SEC Championship and probably again in the national championship game.