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Texas A&M has been known for its high-powered offenses under Kevin Sumlin, but its defense showed up when it mattered most against UCLA.
Second-year defensive coordinator John Chavis has plenty of talent, including star pass rusher Myles Garrett and defensive back Justin Evans, who helped force talented Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen into several mistakes.
Rosen, considered one of college football’s top young quarterbacks, threw for 343 yards and a touchdown but also made some poor decisions under pressure that resulted in 3 interceptions.
Pro Football Focus broke down how the Aggies made Rosen’s life difficult in Saturday’s overtime win.
According to PFF, the Aggies brought additional pressure on 27 of the Bruins’ 55 offensive snaps. When blitzing, Texas A&M recorded three sacks on Rosen and managed to bring him down twice without blitzing. The blitz also impacted Rosen’s decision making, forcing him to make mistakes.
Not your finest decision, Josh Rosen pic.twitter.com/jkvQu2RYnB
— Steve Palazzolo (@PFF_Steve) September 4, 2016
When he wasn’t blitzed, Rosen recorded an NFL QB rating of 97.9. Under pressure, however, that rating plummeted to 21.9. The Aggies might not have the offensive firepower fans are used to seeing, but they finally have an SEC-caliber defense in 2016.
