SEC Spring Practice: Biggest Question for Every Team in the Conference

Dec 29, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Texas A&M Aggies linebacker Shaan Washington (33) attempts to tackle West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Kevin White (11) during the game in the 2014 Liberty Bowl at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Texas A&M Aggies beat West Virginia Mountaineers 45 – 37. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Texas A&M Aggies

Biggest Question: Can the defense pick up all of new coordinator John Chavis’s blitz packages?

The cutting edge defensive coordinator who changed defenses in the 1990s, particularly in the SEC, with a 4-3 based zone blitz revolving around speed is coming to Texas A&M. The Chief, John Chavis, has been tasked with shoring up Kevin Sumlin’s defense.

And after a long tenure at Tennessee and a good bit of time at LSU, this is his most difficult job yet. Chavis has got to be able to get his players to understand all of his blitz packages, and there are lots of them, to be able to get the defense working his first year.

He also has to work with them since Sumlin’s high-powered offense that scores so quickly keeps the defense on the field a lot. All of this is important to address in Spring Practice, as well as Chavis’s ability to call plays to get his unit off the field on third downs, something he has always failed to do.

But, his blitzes can be hell for other offenses when done right, and this Spring, the Texas A&M defenders need to learn those blitzes like the back of their hand. Chavis is taking the speed kills approach with smart X’s and O’s. To do that, he needs the spring to get the players ready.

Next: Vanderbilt Commodores