COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – After Texas A&M\u2019s 35-6 loss to LSU in Tiger Stadium, Aggie head coach Mike Elko handed over defensive play-calling duties to defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill.<\/p>\n
For Elko, the move freed the head coach to take a more CEO approach to the whole program, especially an offense that has not scored a touchdown in two of the last three games.<\/p>\n
\u201cI gave up play-calling a few weeks ago on defense just so that I could function and focus more as a CEO and be able to try and be involved as much as I can to be helpful and try to create different things in practice,\u201d Elko said after the Missouri game. \u201cYou try to create different scenarios. You try to create different situations. You try to just create opportunities to find success. That\u2019s the role and the job that I can play and try to do the best I can to help and be involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
So, what has that meant for the defense in A&M\u2019s last two games?<\/p>\n
On the scoreboard, the Aggie defense held Arkansas to seven points but allowed Missouri to post 27. Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons, one of the FBS\u2019s most explosive passers, was held to 147 yards, a low mark this season in a power conference matchup.<\/p>\n
Arkansas was held to 103 rushing yards, but Missouri posted 247 on the ground against the Aggies. The 214 total yards the Razorbacks posted against the Aggies was the second-lowest this season. Missouri tallied 394, which ranks third on the season in six games.<\/p>\n
A&M gave up a combined 66 points to Kentucky and LSU. <\/p>\n
A&M\u2019s pass rush hasn\u2019t seen much change in frequency but has been more successful in the Aggies\u2019 last two games.<\/p>\n
Against Kentucky and LSU, the Aggies tallied 18 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. Kentucky quarterback Kenny Minchey recorded five blitzed dropbacks, in which he completed 2 of 4 passes for 35 yards and a touchdown. LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt was blitzed on 12 dropbacks, in which he completed 8 of 11 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown.<\/p>\n
In those two games, A&M brought five or more defenders in the pass rush 24 times, allowing 6.3 yards per attempt for a 54.2% success rate, according to SECStatCat.com.<\/p>\n
Against Arkansas and Missouri, A&M brought five or more defenders in the pass rush 23 times, one fewer than in the previous two games. Teams averaged 5.5 yards per attempt at a much lower 30.4% success rate, according to SECStatCat.com.<\/p>\n
A&M recorded 22 pressures in those games, according to PFF. Arkansas quarterback KJ Jackson faced seven blitzed dropbacks, completing 5 of 6 passes for 56 yards and a touchdown. Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons recorded nine blitzed dropbacks, in which he completed 4 of 9 passes for 8 yards.<\/p>\n
In the first two games of the conference slate, in which Elko called plays, the Aggies had a success rate allowed of 47.9%, which ranked 13th in the SEC, according to SECStatCat.com. In the last two games, A&M\u2019s success rate allowed drastically improved to 35.6%, which ranked second in the conference, according to SECStatCat.com. A significant piece of that equation can fall back on facing Arkansas, which ranks 13th in the SEC in offensive success rate, a spot ahead of A&M.<\/p>\n
Kentucky ranks fourth in the SEC in success rate, LSU comes in at fifth and Missouri is 12th.<\/p>\n
Success rate measures how well a team stays on schedule and gains productive yardage within the context of the game.<\/p>\n
A&M gave up 27 big plays against Kentucky and LSU, with big plays encompassing all pass plays gaining 15 or more yards and run plays of 10 or more yards. Both teams tallied 12 big run plays for 204 yards and 15 big pass plays for 451 yards.<\/p>\n
Against Arkansas and Missouri, that number fell to 16 total big plays. The Razorbacks and Tigers tallied 11 run plays for 214 yards and five big pass plays for 119 yards.<\/p>\n
Though pass rush might have been the biggest difference between the pairs of games, A&M defensive tackle Brandon Davis-Swain said he hasn\u2019t felt there has been much difference since Hemphill took over play-calling duties.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t feel a difference,\u201d he said Tuesday. \u201cYou get the call, do your job. I don\u2019t really feel the difference at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
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