Some things just go together. Ham and cheese. Peanut butter and jelly. Mike Elko and strong defenses.
It’s true. Strong defenses and Elko go hand-in-hand.
Ten of the last 14 teams coached by Elko — as head coach or defensive coordinator — have ranked among the nation’s top 40. Five were among the top 20.
That was accomplished despite Elko often working with less-than-elite athletes at Bowling Green, Wake Forest and Duke.
Just last year the Aggies ranked 18th in the nation in total defense.
What matters, though, is whether they can do it again this season. Skeptics will be doubtful. That’s somewhat understandable considering A&M’s defense lost four NFL Draft choices — Cashius Howell, Albert Regis, Tyler Onyedim and Will Lee III — as well as All-SEC linebacker Taurean York.
But skeptics may be convinced if they’d just listen to reason. Or listed reasons.
For example:
Earlier this summer, Elko said this year’s secondary — which returns starting safeties Dalton Brooks and Marcus Ratcliffe and cornerback Dezz Ricks — would be the best he’s had in six seasons as A&M head coach and/or DC.
But what about the linebacker position? York is gone. Daymion Sanford is fighting his way back from a spring injury.
What about a rebuilt defensive line? Or the pass rush? Or A&M’s recent inability to force turnovers, especially interceptions?
Skeptics should heed the words of Elko’s defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill, who serves as the voice of reasons.
Earlier this week, Hemphill confirmed heavy-hitting Tulsa transfer Ray Coney has been a star in August camp.
“He worked really hard between spring and fall camp,” Hemphill said. “I felt like in spring he was trying to keep his head above water. Then we got to this summer, he really dug in, knew what he had to get better at and worked his tail off at it. He’s had a great camp.”
As for Sanfor, well, he’s practicing and looks like he’ll be back in the starting lineup sooner rather than later.
But even his injury may have positive effects with guys like Noah Mikhail and Jordan Lockhart stepping up.
“Losing Daymion for a couple of months was the worst thing in the world for me,” Hemphill said. “But on the flip side of that, it made some other guys have to step up and say, ‘Hey, I might be the guy.’
“So it really lit a fire under some younger guys, which is a really good thing for the program. Very, very happy with the progress of the linebackers.”
Hemphill also indicated he was very, very happy with the depth in the interior defensive line.
DJ Hicks, who last year rotated into the lineup with Regis and Onyedim, is showing signs of being on the brink of a breakout year.
There’s no shortage of options to play next to him, ranging from transfers CJ Mims and Angelo McCullom to rising sophomores Landon Rink and DJ Sanders.
The situation is very similar on the edges. Hemphill likes the pass rush of Anto Saka, Marco Jones and T.J. Searcy. He also mentioned Sam M’Pemba.
“We have four or five defensive ends that can go in the SEC,” he said.
That’s vital. Although Hemphill came up as a secondary coach, he acknowledges that an elite defense usually requires a strong defensive line.
“Everything starts up front,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what coverage you play. If you can’t get to the passer, (opponents) are going to find it.
“I really think from stopping the run, making people one-dimensional, rushing the passer … it all starts up front for me.”
Usually, a strong pass rush leads to a glut of turnovers. That wasn’t the case for A&M last season. The rush produced 43 sacks, but the Aggies only had three interceptions. Just one of those was grabbed by a defensive back.
Hemphill is also encouraged by what he’s seen in that area. Defensive backs have been taking reps with the Jugs machine just like receivers.
“I tell them if you can get 10 or 20 (footballs) a day times 20 practices, you’re looking at a lot more catches,” he said. “They need it.”
He added: “I’m glad to see it’s actually paying off. We’re not just getting our hands on the ball. We’re actually catching it.”
An elite defense typically is good up front, has a strong pass rush, active linebackers, a good secondary and forces turnovers.
Hemphill at least provides reasons to believe the Aggies defense can be productive in all those aspects.
If more reasons are needed to believe A&M can again field an elite defense … well, there’s always Elko.
