Obioha moves over to help ‘D’ move up
COLLEGE STATION — Defensive coordinator John Chavis arrived at Texas A&M from LSU last winter with an uplifting message for a beaten-down defense, Aggies senior defensive lineman Julien Obioha said.
“Coach Chavis said, ‘We’re here to win championships. We have the talent and pieces to do it right now,’ ” Obioha said this summer.
Turns out those pieces required some shuffling to fit Chavis’ idea of a championship puzzle. One required snagging senior running back Brandon Williams from the other side of the ball to try to play cornerback, one of the defense’s biggest needs.
The other prominent shuffled piece was a bit less proclaimed and one of only a few feet along the defensive line, but plenty important, too, to the Aggies’ fortunes as the team begins practice Monday. Obioha started his first three years at defensive end for A&M, before Chavis came onboard and requested he make a move inside to defensive tackle.
“I look at it as the coaches think I’m versatile enough to play defensive end and defensive tackle, so it’s truly a blessing,” Obioha said of his upbeat approach to a position switch prior to his final season. “And playing defensive tackle highlights one of my strengths: run defense.”
The reasons for his shift are twofold: The Aggies needed help inside, and they didn’t need help outside along the defensive line. Chavis has said sophomore Myles Garrett and junior Daeshon Hall might make up the nation’s top end tandem as the season unfolds.
The 6-5, 260-pound Garrett, one of the nation’s top recruits a year ago, set the Southeastern Conference record for sacks by a freshman with 11½. Meanwhile, the 6-6 Hall enters camp weighing 260 pounds, after checking in last year at 245.
“The development of Daeshon Hall will be big for us,” coach Kevin Sumlin said, adding that while the defense has question marks, “rushing the passer is not one of them right now.”
Sophomores Qualen Cunningham, Jarrett Johnson and Darrell Jackson are capable backups at end; sturdy senior Alonzo Williams should bolt down one of the tackle slots in Chavis’ 4-3 scheme.
A&M has some intriguing youngsters at defensive tackle, chief among them five-star freshman Daylon Mack, but this is where Obioha enters the picture.
“We feel like defensive end could be our strong point,” said Chavis, who inherited a defense that finished 102nd nationally in yards allowed in 2014. “And not only at end, but (all) up front. We’ve got some really talented guys up there.”
Obioha, the most experienced player on the roster with 36 starts, registered a lone sack per year the past three seasons. He played last season at 260 pounds but has beefed up to 280 to try to be more of a runstuffer in the middle, alongside Williams, Mack and the likes of junior Hardreck Walker and sophomore Zaycoven Henderson.
“I want to be at 290,” Obioha said of his goal entering the season, which starts Sept. 5 against Arizona State in NRG Stadium. “I can pass rush a lot better on the inside. I’m so happy coach Chavis allowed me to move inside. Now, I can play anywhere on the defensive line. If coach Chavis asks me to line up somewhere, I’ll say, ‘Yes, sir,’ and line up there.”