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Saturday's clash against Texas A&M provided ample opportunity for questions on both sides of the ball. The defensive unit, led by Defensive Coordinator Lance Guidry, played their part in a major way. In Monday's press conference, Guidry elaborated on the various facets that contributed to the win.
Cornerbacks Shine Bright
Arguably, the standout performances came from the cornerbacks, specifically Jayden Davis and Daryl Porter. "Davis was lights out. He played corner, played nickel, did a lot of different things," Guidry gushed. "He blitzed a lot, got a PBU, a tackle for the loss, and had a big caused fumble. He played with a lot of energy and was physical."Daryl Porter, too, held his own against a Texas A&M offense that has often left defenses scattered. "Porter held up; I think he only gave up one key pass. Both guys were instrumental because we played against some really good receivers and a really talented quarterback," Guidry added.
Sustained Pressure
The defensive strategy largely revolved around applying persistent pressure on the Texas A&M quarterback. According to Guidry, they managed to disrupt nearly 60% of the Aggies' drop-back passes. "Out of 50 drop-back passes, something like 30 times we pressured. We made him hurry or feel the pressure 28 times," he explained.When asked about how they managed to be so effective, Guidry pointed to the scheme. "We were doing things to try to skim the front, move the front, and try to mess up their blocking schemes by getting guys free," he elaborated. The strategy was particularly effective in the second half, where the defensive unit showed adaptability.
Navigating Through Adaptations
Guidry did concede that the second half looked different, attributing it to Texas A&M’s halftime adjustments. "They got a lot of yards in the second half. They started going into formations on the boundary, changed some personnels. But we ended up stalling them out," he said, emphasizing the significance of limiting the Aggies to field goals and making crucial stops when it mattered most.On how the injuries to Akheem Mesidor and Branson Deen affected the defense:
"Thank God we had a plan that we were going to pressure and move the front and allowed the guys that came in that were a little smaller and inexperienced to be able to get after it a little bit and play a little reckless and carefree."
“I thought (Rueben) Bain played really good – he got held probably two or three times that he would have gotten sacks and we didn’t get the call.”
