Returning loads of experience, A&M's defense is ready to make strides

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Strange new math formulas must have been used to calculate Texas A&M football defensive statistics in 2022.

Somehow 123, 111 and 125 resulted in 25.

To explain:

The Aggies allowed 209 rushing yards per game to rank 123rd in the nation. They managed just 19 sacks to rank 111th. They only intercepted four passes, which ranked 125th.

Yet, surprisingly, A&M ranked a healthy 25th in scoring defense.

Discussion about Texas A&M at Southeastern Conference Media Days this week has centered around the offense.

Had assembled media taken a closer look, there might be just as many questions about D.J. Durkin’s apparent sleight of hand.

Durkin was far from perfect in his first season as A&M’s defensive coordinator.

Too often, he used four linebackers even though that was the weakest position on defense.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

D.J. Durkin came to Texas A&M after spending two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Ole Miss.

Too often, he didn’t “spy” mobile quarterbacks and, thus, allowed scrambles for key first downs.

However, Durkin found ways to keep opponents out of the end zone. They held SEC West division winner LSU to 23 points. They limited Alabama to 24.

Opponents averaged just 21.2 points, which enabled A&M to remain competitive in close games despite its mundane offense.

There are high hopes for the Aggies entering this football season because the offense is projected to be much better with offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino’s influence.

But the defense projects to be much better, too. The pass rush and run defense should be better because the defensive line should be better.

McKinnley Jackson and Fadil Diggs missed about half of last season with injuries. They’re back and healthy. Heralded prospects from the acclaimed No. 1 recruiting class of 2022 are expected to make giant strides.

In that case, the defense will, too.

“A big thing for us is there’s been injuries and younger guys thrown in there early,” Diggs said. “I look at that as a positive going into this year.”

Those positives figure to show up in the areas where A&M underperformed last season.

Sometimes, freshmen must learn how to rush the passer. They often could rely on a powerful bull rush in high school but must develop more moves at the collegiate level.

More pressure leads to more interceptions, and better run defense puts opposing offenses in less advantageous passing situations.

Diggs had two sacks in a close loss to Alabama. The next week against South Carolina, he was injured and lost for the rest of the season. The pass rush left with him.

Diggs promised sophomores Walter Nolen, Shemar Stewart, LT Overton and Malick Sylla are ready to make a bigger impact.

“Those guys were young. They didn’t have an understanding of what pass rush rules to work or different things,” Diggs said. "Now they understand like the down-and-distance and what they need to work on. I feel like our pass rush will be much better.”

Jackson echoed that opinion.

“I just see the confidence rise for them,” he said. “Those guys got a lot of snaps last season, and they get a chance to go into this season to show the things they worked on, and they're working very hard right now.

“The 12th Man should just be ready to watch those guys get after the quarterback, make a lot of plays.”

A&M defensive linemen made plays last season. Nolen, Stewart and Overton showed flashes of brilliance. They gave glimpses of what could be.

A year of growth in size, strength and experience figures to make A&M’s defensive front dangerous. The Aggies' defensive front could be among the nation’s elite.

That will make A&M’s defense elite. Great defenses always have great defensive fronts.

Jackson said A&M is primed to take the next step.

“The game comes down to consistency,” he said. “How consistently you stop the run and rush the quarterback and get knocked back and contain the rushing lanes in order to put the offense in good field position to score.

“We have to be complementary to one another, you know. Just do our jobs.”