Aggie linebackers looking for answers against SEC running games

Perhaps Claude George is the solution to the problem.

That is, if Texas A&M has a problem.

Whether the Aggies have a problem with run defense – or how big an issue it truly is – isn’t quite clear.

A&M has surrendered 569 rushing yards in two games against Tennessee and Alabama. That’s an alarming total by anyone’s count.

However, before that the Aggies were allowing an average of just 134.8 rushing yards after five games. That included a clash with Auburn, which is ranked third in the nation running the ball.

So whether A&M is struggling in general or just against strong-running, SEC teams is subject to debate.

What would be hard to debate is that A&M seemed to play stronger run defense against Alabama after George replaced Otaro Alaka at middle linebacker.

On the year, George has posted 29 tackles, including 6.5 for losses. Alaka has 35 tackles with 4.5 resulting in lost yardage. But A&M coaches are hesitant to put George in the starting lineup because they don’t seem to be sure which player would step in.

“I would say that Claude George has been up and down all year,” A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said.

“If he were more consistent, he would play a lot more. He's made some huge plays but has been responsible for some serious issues. Consistency has been his issue. I think he played more snaps than people think. If you learn anything about us defensively this year, it's that you don't play the most snaps just because you start. It's hit or miss with him.”

Defensive coordinator John Chavis seemed to echo that thought.

“I'm not ready to say Claude George is ready to be a starter,” Chavis said. “Alaka played well. I might need to play the freshmen (Tyrel Dodson) a little bit more. George is fighting for a starting job. I like what he's getting done.”

Chavis even said freshman Tyrel Dodson may deserve more playing time in the middle.

“Dodson played fifteen plays and made four tackles (against Alabama),” Chavis said. “He's a young kid. We want him to grow with experience. I don't want to put him out there without knowing what he's doing. I probably need to rotate Alaka more to give him a breather. The three guys at that position were pretty productive.”

For his part, George, a senior who last season transferred to A&M after earning second-team junior college All-American notice at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, isn’t campaigning to get into the starting lineup.

“That’s really not my call,” George said. “I just play. Whatever I can do to help my team win I go out and do.”

George does appear to add an extra jolt of toughness to the defense. He said that’s a byproduct of growing up in Lafayette, La. and playing at Acadiana High School.

“I’ve always had the mentality to be physical,” George said.

Because of that, he and several teammates have been personally insulted when members of the media, like the SEC Network’s Booger McFarland, have labeled A&M as “soft.”

“Everybody talked about us not being able to stop the run and us being soft,” George said. “That kind of motivated us to show people we can play assignment football and hard-nosed football.”

The Aggies will have to be hard-nosed to finish the regular season 11-1 and perhaps get into the College Football Playoff field.

A&M’s run defense doesn’t figure to be challenged by New Mexico State this weekend, but the remaining schedule includes run-oriented Mississippi State and LSU with a healthy Leonard Fournette.

Mississippi State averages 203.5 rushing yards per game. LSU averages 239.8.

So, with opponents like that coming up it stands to reason some would be concerned with A&M’s recent lapse in run defense.

Chavis took some of the blame for those lapses rather than putting it on players.

“In the last two games – when there's a mistake, I'm not going to jump on a kid if we haven't put him in position to succeed,” Chavis said. “We gave up a big play because we got someone out of a gap. We have to grow, get bigger and stronger. I like the fight in our football team. We need to continue to get better.”