Texas A&M Football: 5 Defensive Improvements Aggies Must Make to Compete in SEC

In a league that is known for its defensive prowess, the Aggies have to make some changes, and fast. The SEC is the dominating force on this side of the ball, and if A&M and their new head coach want to be able to compete with the rest of the conferences, be watching for some major changes to start up soon.

Overall, the Aggies aren't the worst program in the nation on the defensive side of the ball. However, a No. 51 ranking in overall defense is nothing to be too proud of. New Defensive Coordinator Mark Snyder has already switched up A&M's scheme from a 3-4 to a 4-3, and more changes are in the works. 

Here are five defensive improvements the Aggies must make to even have a shot at competing in the SEC. 

Pass Defense

During last season as Texas A&M's record began to spiral out of control, many Aggies turned to the pass defense as a scapegoat. The unit seemingly collapsed in upon itself every single game during crucial moments, killing chances for A&M to secure or gain a lead.

At the end of the regular season, Texas A&M ranked No. 113 in the country in overall pass defense, allowing 280 yards per game in the air. In all honestly, that is terrible. Only two BCS programs, Washington and UConn, ranked below the Aggies in what had to be one of their worst statistical categories.

With new Defensive Coordinator Mark Snyder coming in, this has to be the unit that makes the most improvement in the SEC. While the conference is known for ground-and-pound tactics, league quarterbacks will rip apart the Aggies secondary if they have the opportunity. Take the Arkansas loss last year as an example of what happens when a top-notch signal-caller gets in rhythm.  

Decrease Fourth Down Conversions

In almost any league, there are three options once your team comes upon a fourth down. If you're in field goal range, you attempt to grab three points. If not, you punt it away and try again next time. The third, and most rare option, is to go for it. It is in these situations that a game is defined.

Over the course of last season, A&M allowed opposing offenses to go nine for 21 on fourth down attempts. Overall, that meant that the Aggies had to stay on the field after a fourth down attempt a stunning 43 percent of the time.

While that percentage is decent on the national scale, this has to improve for A&M to compete well in the SEC.   

Increase Turnover Margin

As many football fans know, one of the most important aspects of the game is turnovers. When I was a player, my coaches would vibrantly express how if our team could hold the advantage in that area of the game, then we had a much higher chance of taking home the win.

The same is true today with college sports. Holding the lead in turnover margin is usually a good sign of whether a program is successful on the field. This season, Texas A&M ranked No. 103 in the country with a turnover margin of -0.7, meaning that the Aggies gave the ball away more than they took it.

Again, this has to be a part of the game that must change. While the offense needs to also hold onto the ball more, it is crucial for the defense to create more turnover opportunities on the field.  

Get off the Field

As far as fatigue goes, a defense gets much more tired much faster than an offense. Defensive players are literally running sideline to sideline almost every play, making their job much tougher in the overall scheme of things. 

To counteract this, offenses tend to try and keep their own defenses off the field so that they can rest, reboot and shut down their opponents. For their own good, then, defenses must stop offenses quickly so that they can sit on the sideline and keep up their energy stores. 

Last year, Texas A&M failed to do this as, on average, opponents' offenses were on the field more than the Aggies' was. A&M's defense has to be able to get off the field more often. 

Consistency

One of the biggest flaws of A&M's defense last season was consistency. One drive would be a quick three-and-out dominated by sacks and stuffed runs. The next could be a slow and steady drive by the offense down the field for a score. 

The Aggies lacked consistency on this side of the ball. Having the ability to continually shut down opposing offenses is a necessary tool for defenses of this era in order to be successful overall. This mental advantage is a crucial part of the game.

Without it next season, the Aggies will once again be torn apart defensively. Keep an eye out for new DC Mark Snyder to make some changes so as to allow A&M's defense to stay consistent.