Texas A&M Football: Coaches Who Would Be a Better DC Than Mark Snyder

The Texas A&M football team is again featuring the worst defense in the SEC. Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mark Snyder has done a poor job, and there are a number of candidates who the Aggies should consider to replace him. 

The Texas A&M defense allowed 475.8 yards per game in 2013. They were one of the worst defenses in the country. In 2014, they are allowing 422.6 yards per game to rank No. 88 overall. 

This trend of poor defense cannot be allowed to continue. Offenses can be inconsistent, but you can still win games when the offense has an off night if you have a solid defense to keep the score close.

Texas A&M's head coach has to consider making a change at the defensive coordinator position to ensure the viability of the program. The defense cannot consistently tackle, nor can it create turnovers in the third year of Snyder's system. 

This is a look at some of the candidates who the Aggies should consider to replace Snyder.

Michigan State DC Pat Narduzzi

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Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi is one of the top defensive minds in the game. He was Kevin Sumlin's top choice for defensive coordinator when Sumlin came to A&M. However, Narduzzi turned down A&M's offer for the position and remained at MSU. 

He has produced the top defense in the Big Ten for three years in a row. In 2013, his defense allowed 252.2 yards per game, earning the rank of No. 2 in the nation. 

Narduzzi's defenses shut down the run and created turnovers. This season, the Michigan State defense is allowing 292.7 yards per game and 3.4 yards per rush. In 2013, they allowed 2.9 yards per rush. 

Narduzzi is an elite defensive coach whose style is perfectly suited for the SEC. He should be the No. 1 choice on Sumlin's list of candidates. Narduzzi has turned down Texas A&M once before, but he also has not received any head coaching offers of late, so a change of scenery might be what he needs to get noticed.

Florida HC Will Muschamp

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Will Muschamp is currently the head coach of the Florida Gators. How long that remains the case, however, remains to be seen. The Gators are 3-3 on the season and 2-3 in the SEC. They are riding a two-game losing streak and there has been a lot of supposition in social media and talk radio that he will lose his job at the end of the season.

Muschamp is a bit abrasive as a person, but he is a very good defensive coordinator. Very few coaches in the country are capable of building a defensive line as well as Muschamp. He is also an excellent recruiter.

Muschamp has his faults as a coach, but he would put an attacking defense on the field and he knows how to be an effective defensive coordinator in the SEC.

Muschamp would be an excellent hire for the Aggies.

Auburn DC Ellis Johnson

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Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson has been excellent in the DC role in the SEC for years. He had successful stints as a defensive coordinator at Mississippi State and South Carolina before he went to Auburn in 2013 with Gus Malzahn. 

Johnson is not going to produce defenses that are statistically elite, but his defenses do know how to force turnovers and make the plays to win games. He's also had experience formulating game plans against every offense in the SEC. 

Johnson would not be the home-run hire that Narduzzi would be, but he would be able to put a defense on the field for the Aggies in 2015 that would help them immediately compete for an SEC title. 

The question is: Why would Johnson consider leaving Auburn for College Station? The Tigers played for the national title in 2013 and are still on track to make the playoffs in 2014. Therefore, it is doubtful that the Aggies could lure Johnson away from Auburn.

Georgia DC Jeremy Pruitt

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Georgia defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt spent the 2013 season producing a defense that helped the Florida State Seminoles win a national title. In 2014, he took the defensive coordinator job at Georgia. 

The Bulldogs defense is allowing 320.6 yards per game. They also shut out Missouri 34-0 in Missouri two weeks ago. Clearly, Pruitt knows how to coach dominating defenses. 

The issue with Pruitt is that there is a good chance that he will be offered multiple head coaching jobs at the end of the 2014 season. The Aggies' only shot at getting Pruitt would be if he wants a raise and also believes that Texas A&M would be a better stepping stone to a head coaching job than Georgia. 

All things considered, it is doubtful that the Aggies would be able to land Pruitt.

UTSA DC Neal Neathery

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One outside name to keep an eye on would be UT-San Antonio defensive coordinator Neal Neathery. He has consistently put a solid defense on the field throughout his career. 

His current version of the Road Runners defense is allowing 3.6 yards per rush, despite sporting a 2-5 record. His defenses at San Antonio have always been tough against the run and forced turnovers. 

Neathery is a relatively unknown commodity on the coaching circuit, but he has consistently put quality defenses on the field. His name should be down on the list when it comes to looking for new coordinators, but it should be considered nonetheless.