We are allowing opponents to convert 16 of 78 on third downs….

Holy crap…..that's nuts!

The D started off like crap but then adjusted and played great rest of the game!

And all but two of those were before the Bye if I'm not mistaken

jokershady said:

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We are allowing opponents to convert 16 of 78 on third downs….

Holy crap…..that's nuts!

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I love when we are good at something!

This is a national title caliber defense. If Reed can improve his game just a little (maybe hit a deep ball more than once a month), I don't see a team in the country that we couldn't beat.

No more 3rd and Chavez

2/34 in SEC play.
That's utterly mind blowing.

If you pay attention, the defenders are no longer going for the big hit and instead breaking down on open field tackles and actually making the tackle instead of the shoulder/big hit thing where the RB/WR keeps running.

Wow. Impressive.

I love having a monster defense

Elmer Dobkins said:

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No more 3rd and Chavez

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Too soon.

TheDecadeSapling said:

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And all but two of those were before the Bye if I'm not mistaken

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you are correct

Hank the Grifter said:

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2/34 in SEC play.
That's utterly mind blowing.

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Pretty dope. But why did we give up so many third downs to OOC then!?

We were #5 in country at 22% before this game. Now a hair above 20%

If the D were not held all night long, it would have been a complete massacre.

Drum5343 said:

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Hank the Grifter said:

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2/34 in SEC play.
That's utterly mind blowing.

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Pretty dope. But why did we give up so many third downs to OOC then!?

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Notre Dame is really good and Elko treated UTSA and Utah State as scrimmages

Now add in 4th down too. Pretty sure we've been all over that as well.

agracer said:

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If you pay attention, the defenders are no longer going for the big hit and instead breaking down on open field tackles and actually making the tackle instead of the shoulder/big hit thing where the RB/WR keeps running.

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I noticed a DB do this in open field on 3 and 15ish. Florida sideline went nuts because they thought he got trucked, when in reality he broke down and made sure the guy didn't get free before help arrived. Very mature, would have been a whiff or a targeting penalty in the past trying for a highlight. Absorb the hit and hold on!

aezmvp said:

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Now add in 4th down too. Pretty sure we've been all over that as well.

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3-6 on 4th downs….

Not really any statistical significance there….

Deputy Travis Junior said:

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This is a national title caliber defense. If Reed can improve his game just a little (maybe hit a deep ball more than once a month), I don't see a team in the country that we couldn't beat.

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D is good at home. Need to see D against LSU on the road before full commitment.

And Ohio State is the only program currently playing Joyless Murder Ball. Maybe Miami.

Elmer Dobkins said:

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No more 3rd and Chavez

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Who is Chavez?

agsquirrel97 said:

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agracer said:

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If you pay attention, the defenders are no longer going for the big hit and instead breaking down on open field tackles and actually making the tackle instead of the shoulder/big hit thing where the RB/WR keeps running.

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I noticed a DB do this in open field on 3 and 15ish. Florida sideline went nuts because they thought he got trucked, when in reality he broke down and made sure the guy didn't get free before help arrived. Very mature, would have been a whiff or a targeting penalty in the past trying for a highlight. Absorb the hit and hold on!

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Yes, sometimes you just have to hang on and wait for help.

I seriously hope Elko has changed the mindset that led to the DB pushing a RB (I think it was Bama in 2022/23) up the field on his way to the endzone. Big hits are meaningless if the runner stays on their feet.

The Mizzu RB Hardy is very difficult to tackle. Everyone needs to just grab him and hold on for help.

Elmer Dobkins said:

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No more 3rd and Chavez

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Damn, John Chavis is now Mexican.

there is one player that has been inserted into the lineup over the last theee games when our defense has moved to a completely different level. it's damion sanford. that dude is a super star. mark my words he is a first round draft pick before it's all said and done if he stays healthy. look at his and our defensive numbers since he went in the lineup. the kid is a beast like up there with powell as the most dominate player on our defense.

agracer said:

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If you pay attention, the defenders are no longer going for the big hit and instead breaking down on open field tackles and actually making the tackle instead of the shoulder/big hit thing where the RB/WR keeps running.

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This, our discipline has been night and day. Coaching is clearly working. Something we haven't seen in a long time

He didn't seem to play much against auburn recorded 2 total tackles…..

However he was #2 in total tackles last week and #1 today and I believe both games he had one or more TFL and PD….so yeah he's been a beast the last two games

Jawn Dough said:

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Elmer Dobkins said:

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No more 3rd and Chavez

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Damn, John Chavis is now Mexican.

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Juan Chavez!

Texas A&M defense’s rushing yards allowed to UTSA in Week 1: 203

Texas A&M defense’s rushing yards allowed to Auburn, Mississippi State and Florida combined the past three weeks: 203

— Robert Behrens (@rcb05) October 12, 2025

And I think 76 of those yards against UTSA were on one play

Logos Stick said:

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If the D were not held all night long, it would have been a complete massacre.

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This.

The left tackle held every single play. Howell should have had at least 4 more sacks.

When the left tackle is standing directly behind the DE, and holding the DE back from hitting the QB by grabbing the DE's shoulderpads with both hands, that is a hold. Apparently these officials didn't think so, though.

Austin Barber wasn't the only person holding a grudge against Howell last night. The Zebras were too.

Bison said:

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Deputy Travis Junior said:

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This is a national title caliber defense. If Reed can improve his game just a little (maybe hit a deep ball more than once a month), I don't see a team in the country that we couldn't beat.

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D is good at home. Need to see D against LSU on the road before full commitment.

And Ohio State is the only program currently playing Joyless Murder Ball. Maybe Miami.

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Pretty sure that with the new portal and NIL rules, the days of multiple years of joyless murder ball are over for any team, unless the rules change again.

There are zero talented college football players that want to waste away on the 3rd string of an Alabama squad when they can go start for a different school making $400,000 more per year there.

It's going to be even more impossible for the top programs to stack talent as long as the rules we have about player pay and transfers stay in place.

Howell is the new Myles Garrett. Dude was held on many, many plays last night.

The Cashius Howell Effect ™️

Florida's starting LT Austin Barber received a pass blocking grade of 0.0 against A&M, according to PFF.

Barber's stat line allowed could be the Sarah McLachlan Special (cc: @JoshPateCFB):
▪️4 pressures
▪️2 sacks
▪️2 penalties
▪️1 hit
▪️1 hurry pic.twitter.com/Qi0fFRuFUy

— TexAgs (@TexAgs) October 12, 2025

That is a very telling stat and speaks to the improvement since the beginning of the season. I think letting a lot of guys play In those first 2 games really helped from a depth and recognition perspective

I would remind tho that we allowed Notre Dame 46+ % 3rd down conversion rate .