'We Just Play Our Game' Fadil Diggs Reveals How Texas A&M Aggies Lead Nation in Sacks
Despite the disappointing loss to No. 11 Alabama on Saturday, there were still some positives for the Texas A&M Aggies to take away.
One of those positives is the six sacks the Aggie defense was able to come up with against a strong Crimson Tide offensive line. The six sacks added to Texas A&M's nation-leading sack total, which now sits at 26 through six games.
Two of the six sacks against Alabama came from the Aggies' junior defensive lineman, Fadil Diggs, who was questioned about the defensive line's performance against the Crimson Tide.
"We don't really look at stats that much, we just play our game," said Diggs. "We make sure that we have all our attention to detail right, and then we do what we have to do. It just so happens that we lead the nation in sacks."
Fadil Diggs (10) celebrates with McKinnley Jackson (3).
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
As the Aggies move on from the Alabama loss, they shift their focus to another ranked SEC opponent in Tennessee. The home-field advantage that the Volunteers possess when playing at Neyland Stadium is one of the few that rivals the 12th Man at Kyle Field.
However, Diggs feels that no matter where they play, the defense has to have the same mindset and approach.
"It's always gonna be a tough crowd, we just have to play as a team and make sure we're all on the same page," said Diggs. "We can't let the road affect us because it's just another game."
Just another game or not, the Aggie defense still has to line up against a Vols ground attack that ranks seventh in the country in rushing yards per game. As a team that struggled against the run last year, this should be a good indicator for Texas A&M that their run defense has improved.
Diggs addressed the tempo of the Vols offense and how that plays into the deadliness of their run game.
"They run a lot of tempo, so they're gonna try to catch us off guard," said Diggs. "We're just gonna play our game like we have for the last couple of weeks. We play physical up front, and we're just going to continue to do that for the rest of the year."
But Tennessee also presents another problem - quarterback, Joe Milton.
Milton may be the best quarterback the Aggies have faced so far, as he possesses elite arm talent and athleticism.
"He can run very well, we take into consideration that he's a mobile quarterback," said Diggs. "We have to keep him caged in the pocket and do our best to keep him from running, while also affecting him in the pocket."
Texas A&M's ability to contain the Vols offense will without a doubt be a key factor in the outcome. Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel has proven that his team can put up points in a hurry, and it will be up to D.J. Durkin and the Aggie defense to stop them.
This showdown between Texas A&M and Tennessee takes place next Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in Knoxville.
