According to junior safety, Texas A&M's secondary is 'speaking the same language'
Texas A&M's 2025 secondary will feature several new veterans from the transfer portal, while the safety rotation will be led by Dalton Brooks and Marcus Ratcliffe, who are slated to make a significant jump due to their combined athleticism, size, and defensive instincts.
However, missed tackles and broken plays during the latter half of the 2024 season resulted in head coach Mike Elko taking over as the defensive play caller, combined with the hiring of new defensive assistant Lyle Hemphill. This offseason, Ratcliffe has put in the work in the weight room, working with S&C coach Tommy Moffitt to add more size and strength to his athletic profile.
On Wednesday, just minutes after Texas A&M's first preseason practice, Ratcliffe spoke to the media, stating that his squat is now in the upper 400s (pounds). At the same time, his bench press personal record has also improved. However, it was Ratcliffe's confidence in the defense and the team as a whole that stood out the most.
'I personally, and I know some of my teammates, a lot of them, feel so much more confident, feel like we can play faster, communicate with each other better and we're all speaking the same language.'
Allowing big plays in the passing game was an issue that should be fixed with better communication on the field, while Elko's background as one of the better secondary coaches should tighten things up. At cornerback and safety, the desirable traits are not an issue compared to years past, so it is undoubtedly a positive step forward that the secondary is now "speaking the same language" to avoid the similar problems we saw last season.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
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