While most of the attention surrounding the Texas A&M Aggies has revolved around the quarterback situation, the defense will get back some key players for the remainder of the season.
The Aggies have struggled to a 7-4 record- having lost four of their last six games. Coming off of a heartbreaking defeat to Missouri, head coach Kevin Sumlin’s defense will receive a major boost when defensive end Myles Garrett, defensive tackle Ivan Robinson and linebacker Otaro Alaka all return to the lineup for Texas A&M’s Thanksgiving day game against LSU. Even with the players in the lineup, the defense has let down the squad on several occasions throughout the 2014 season, allowing 27.7 points per game.
Both Garrett and Robinson sat out last weekend’s loss to Missouri with unspecified injuries and Alaka was hurt early on. It will require a lot of help to keep the Tigers off of the scoreboard, and it all rests on the shoulders of defensive coordinator Mark Snyder. Snyder, who makes roughly $700,000 a year, is under contract through 2016, but his recent struggles have put him on the hot seat. In a conference that has made a name for itself on hard hitting and tough defense, Snyder has not been able to build a contending defense during his tenure. This could leave him as the likely odd man out when the team begins re-evaluating their squad this off-season.
“The day you take the job, you’re on the hot seat,” Snyder said. “This is a production-based business, period. And you have to produce.”
Texas A&M wraps up their season against the Tigers next week and should have an opportunity to continue their success on the national stage in a premier bowl game. Coach Sumlin has done a great job preparing his teams for bowl games and this season should be no different. Several sources have indicated that the Aggies will likely participate in either the AutoZone Liberty or the local Texas Bowl.
*Section Photo credit to Grant Halverson, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Soobum Im, USA Today Sports.
