Defensive backfield turnaround vital to A&M's chances of a U-turn

The proliferation of unnecessary medians in College Station seemingly has increased U-Turns by the thousands.

Yet, hope abounds for a monumental U-Turn this fall.

Three consecutive disappointing football seasons showed Texas A&M’s program was headed in the wrong direction.

Of course, coach Mike Elko was given the task of executing a U-Turn.

It’s a big job, indeed. But it seems the Aggies could take a big step toward a turn-around simply by instructing defensive backs to turn around.

No doubt there are several areas in which A&M needs to improve in 2024. Offensive line play must be upgraded. Special teams have to be better. Tackling was a problem that must be solved.

Also, adequate replacements for receiver Ainias Smith, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson must be found.

But anyone who watched A&M’s pass defense last season would know the Aggies need defensive backs with enhanced ball skills.

Game after game, A&M DBs — particularly cornerbacks — would run with receivers but rarely turned to make plays on the ball.

Perhaps the worst example was the 38-35 loss to Ole Miss. Jaxson Dart had several big completions, including one for a touchdown, in which A&M defenders were in decent position but never looked for the ball.

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A&M allowed 387 passing yards in the loss at Ole Miss. In 2023, opponents averaged 207.4 yards through the air.

Indeed, it occurred so often that it raised the question of whether the Aggies were coached not to look for it. A common strategy now is for defensive backs to run with receivers and then react to how the receiver positions his hands.

Maybe that’s why A&M’s interception totals have been mediocre to poor the last three seasons. In that span, A&M has managed just 23 interceptions.

Last season, Liberty led the nation with 21. Even more pertinent, three of the four teams in the College Football Playoff had at least 16. Alabama had 12.

It would seem A&M could raise its total in 2024 simply by looking for the ball.

But Elko cautioned that it’s not that simple.

“I think there’s probably a lot more to it than everybody wants to say,” Elko said on Wednesday. “Everybody wants to say ‘find the ball.’ There’s more technicalities to it. I do think, at the end of the day, you’d like to find the ball, but I don’t think it’s quite as easy as (fans) think it is.”

That’s especially true if the defensive backs aren’t as fast, talented or experienced as the receivers they’re trying to cover.

That was an issue last season. But there are reasons for at least cautious optimism that A&M will be upgraded, especially on the corners.

The Aggies often had to use true freshmen. They also started guys perhaps out of position. Some that started have transferred to teams in lesser conferences.

The aforementioned freshmen figure to be better as sophomores. A&M also was fortunate that Tyreek Chappell, its best corner the last two seasons, opted to ignore the transfer portal and return.

Elko also mined the transfer portal to bring in Kansas State starter Will “The Blanket” Lee, Florida starter Jaydon Hill, former five-star corner Desmond Ricks from Alabama, BJ Mayes from UAB and Donovan Saunders from Cal Poly.

They also brought in five-star recruit Terry Bussey‍.

That’s a lot of reasons to anticipate an upgrade in coverage.

And maybe even expedite a turn-around in 2024.