WANTED: THE MOJO OF 2012
AFTER THEIR STRONG START IN SEC, SUMLIN AND AGGIES SEEK AN ESCAPE FROM 8-5 RUT
COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M’s first year in the Southeastern Conference was easily its best, and coach Kevin Sumlin often is reminded of as much. · “As the new guys, we jumped in here and surprised some people,” Sumlin said of A&M’s 11-2 record in 2012. · The Aggies haven’t had a season with less than four losses since, and the past three years have resulted in 8-5 finishes. Quarterback Johnny Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, standout receiver Mike Evans and an NFLcaliber offensive line get most of the credit for that surprising first season in a league that’s won eight of the past 11 national championships.
But Sumlin noticed something else in glancing back at that season, and it had to do with the other side of the ball — the less-heralded one.
“We were very lucky that year — yeah, it’s about Johnny — but the other thing is, looking back over those 13 games, we started 13 guys on defense the whole year,” Sumlin said. “We only had two guys get hurt.”
Point being, it wasn’t an abundantly talented defense — only two players from it were even drafted — just an abundantly healthy one.
“I had my one pass,” Sumlin kidded of that mostly injuryfree first season, “and I’ve paid for it since.”
The key moving forward is having enough quality players to fill in for those hurt or gassed, without a tailspin in talent.
The 2012 second-string defense, had many of those players been forced into action, might have allowed at least twice as many losses.
“What we have tried to do is recruit and develop depth,” Sumlin said.
He vows the Aggies’ depth is the best it’s been in his six seasons in College Station, and fans will find out if he’s correct starting Sept. 3, when A&M opens its season at UCLA.
“L.A. is a great place to play,” A&M senior safety Armani Watts said. “There have been a lot of good games played there in the (Rose Bowl), and playing on a Sunday should make it an even better experience.”
Defense needs shoring up
The Aggies begin their season on a Sunday night before a national television audience, in trying to win their fifth consecutive opener under Sumlin. Early in the season has never been the problem for the Aggies — it’s a habitual November nosedive that has his gig on the line. “There are no excuses, we’ve got to be better,” Sumlin said. “November has been an issue for us.” Unlike five years ago, a big part of the problem over the past few seasons has been a leaky defense. Sumlin hired defensive coordinator John Chavis away from SEC West foe LSU two years ago, but the Aggies finished 90th nationally in total defense in 2016.
Chavis came to A&M with the reputation as one of the best defensive coordinators in the history of the SEC, but to date that hasn’t meant a better defense at Kyle Field, once known for its intimidating atmosphere in large part because of the “Wrecking Crew” defense.
“We’ve got to get in position to tackle, and do a better job of tackling,” Chavis said. “We put
a big emphasis on turnovers, and we’re going to continue to do that, but we’re not going to do it and jeopardize tackling.”
The biggest question on defense is who will take over for departed ends Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall. Garrett was A&M’s first No. 1 overall selection in history in the NFL Draft last April, and Hall was tabbed in the third round. Sumlin said he’s confident veterans Jarrett Johnson and Qualen Cunningham and juniorcollege transfer Micheal Clemons will fill in just fine.
“Jarrett Johnson had as many sacks as Daeshon Hall (4.5) last year, in less than half the playing time,” Sumlin said. “And Micheal Clemons is a special talent. The rotation of bodies there will be good enough to create what we want.”
And what they want is what 2012 delivered: a surprisingly strong finish in SEC play.