Texas A&M's defense has been equally bad during the Aggies' two-game losing streak, especially at linebacker, as transfer Ray Coney has struggled in coverage, while senior Daymion Sanford is just two games into his return from injury. However, sophomore linebacker Noah Mikhail has been one of the rare bright spots, recording 18 tackles and two pressures through four games.
On Tuesday, Mikhail and Alabama transfer offensive lineman Wilkin Formby spoke to the local media, providing more detail on the Aggies' struggles on both sides of the ball. For Mikhail, it's been a blatant lack of communication on defense; the talent level likely isn't the issue, and the only way forward is to work together to fix it.
As a sophomore, Mikhail wasn't expected
to take on a leadership role, but after consecutive blowout losses in SEC play, someone has to step up, and it looks like the former blue-chip prospect is taking on a new role. This week, before the Aggies host Arkansas on Saturday night, Texas A&M's defense has practiced with greater focus than it did against LSU, according to Mikhail.
“I think out at practice today, we're communicating more, we're having fun with it, we're talking more, we're trying to create that energy on the defensive side to bring everybody up, make everybody's play be better.”
While the Aggies generated nine pressures against LSU, three sacks through four games is highly worrying and lands on third-year coach Mike Elko and new defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill, who need to find more creative ways to blitz starting Saturday night.
“I don't think we need to you know from the standpoint of scheme stuff changed too much. I think they're gonna do what I know they're capable of doing, and they're gonna make it to the quarterback.”
While Mikhail trusts his defensive line to improve after four games, the proof is in the pudding, and all of us are waiting for Northwestern transfer Edge Anto Saka to step up as well; he has recorded one sack and three pressures. Texas A&M will host Arkansas on Saturday at 6:00 p.m., which will air on ESPN2.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M defense is 'communicating more,' per LB Noah Mikhail
