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Communication is said to be the key to a successful relationship.
It’s the key to a successful defense, too.
Texas A&M defensive coordinator Jay Bateman on Tuesday acknowledged the Aggies had communication problems last year, especially during their November struggles when they lost three of four games.
However, now that the Aggies are older, wiser and more experienced, Bateman is confident the communication will be better. Consequently, the defense should be better, too.
“They’ve played together for a year now,” Bateman said. “I think the communication is better, which obviously was a critical problem at the end of last year that I think we’ve addressed.”
The communication issues were primarily in the secondary. A&M was ranked just 13th in the Southeastern Conference in pass defense.
The Aggies allowed an average of 232.2 passing yards per game.
Motions and shifts sometimes caused confusion and communication breakdowns, which opponents exploited.
Those breakdowns, Bateman said, are being repaired.
“I think they’re more confident in what we’re doing,” he said. “I think we’ve made the defense a little more user-friendly, which is helping them.
“I feel really good about where we are right now and our ability to go out there and communicate and line up and play.”
Bateman said he’s seen plays during August camp in which offensive shifts, motion and changes were recognized and successfully communicated.
“A couple plays stand out,” he said. “This motion happened. This shift happened. You saw the communication go back and forth.
“It ain’t perfect. But we’re getting a lot closer to what the standard needs to be.”
Getting exotic
Coach Mike Elko has a reputation for blitzing various positions from surprising angles.
When Elko served as A&M’s defensive coordinator in four seasons from 2018-21, the Aggies frequently used blitzes to sack the quarterback.
In 2018, A&M blitzed for nine of 37 sacks. In 2019, blitzes accounted for 11.5 of 29 sacks. In 2020, it was 9.5 of 28, and it was eight of 39 in 2021.
But last season, Elko’s first as head coach, the Aggies managed just six sacks via blitzes.
Bateman said A&M was more hesitant to blitz last season because of coverage issues.
“Last year, we got to a point during the season where the coverage piece of it was a little bit scarier for us than it has been,” he said. “And we also had some edge guys and D-linemen rushers who were pretty good one-on-one pass rushers, so we kind of morphed that way a little bit.”
Bateman indicated that progress made in coverage will lead to more of the exotic blitzes for which Elko is known.
“I think coach Elko’s exotic stuff is in bloom,” he said. “We’ve got a pretty good plan coming up on third down.”
Power forward
Coaches sometimes will compare someone to another football player.
However, Bateman compares 6-foot-3, 295-pound defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim, an Iowa State transfer, to a basketball player.
“He creates matchup problems for us,” Bateman said. “To me, he’s a little bit like an NBA power forward. If you get him on a shooting guard, you can run him over. If you get him on a center, he can take them outside and dribble past him.
“I think he’s a unique player. We’ll put him in some different spots. He was kind of a guy we were looking for in the portal. … A bigger end that can play inside, too. Kind of like Shemar (Stewart) was. I think he’ll bring a lot to our defense.”
Going to the Chappell
The Aggies' secondary is boosted by the return of Tyreek Chappell, a three-year starter who missed most of last season with a knee injury.
Chappell could excel at nickel or cornerback when healthy. Well, he is healthy.
“I think he weathered the storm this summer — June and July — of the knee,” Bateman said. “(He’s) Starting to run and starting to play nickel and all the movement you have to do at that position on a repaired knee. I feel like, health-wise, he’s in pretty good shape. I think now he’s back in football shape.
“I’m proud of that kid. He’s going to graduate from Texas A&M, and he’s going to be a really good player this year.”
Old York?
It comes as no surprising to Bateman that linebacker Taurean York has been named to several preseason All-American teams.
“Taurean, I thought, was one of the best linebackers in the country last year, so I’m not surprised he’s on all those awards (lists),” Bateman said. “I think he’s worthy of them.
“I think he’s a tremendous player, a tremendous leader. I do think he’s improved his body a little bit this offseason.”
Last season, York accumulated 82 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, broke up four passes and intercepted one.
New kid on the block
Tight end Theo Melin Öhrström worked hard to improve in all facets during the offseason.
“I’ve just tried to really pour my heart into focusing on things I feel like I didn’t do to the standard that I want to last year,” he said.
“Thor,” as he’s known, apparently put in extra work to upgrade his blocking ability.
"I’ve done a lot to be a better blocker,” he said. “Just the way I use my hands, my feet, everything. My physicality.”
Öhrström didn’t block much when he was a high school receiver in his native Sweden. Therefore, his blocking technique needed to be polished.
“My willingness was there, but maybe my technique wasn’t in a lot of areas,” he said. “That’s something I put a lot of effort into this offseason to fine-tune my technique and just be able to put myself in situations to be successful.”
Hands down
A&M has a deep tight end room with Öhrström, transfers Nate Boerkircher, Amari Niblack and Micah Riley and freshman Kiotti Armstrong.
So who has the best hands in the room?
Öhrström indicated that’s a topic for heated debate. But then he offered a surprising answer.
“Carter Braugh,” Ohrstrom said. “He’s always making one-handed catches. You’ll have to look up Carter Braugh and do some research on him.”
Done. Braugh is a 6-foot-6, 246-pound sophomore from Austin. Last year, he played vs. New Mexico State but did not catch a pass.
