re: It's officially official: John Chavis is the next DC at Texas A&M

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What are A&M's during those same years?

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For Sumlin's years, the TOP - Tot Def - Scoring Def:

2014 - 122 - 102 - 77
2013 - 115 - 109 - 95
2012 - 96 - 57 - 26

I'm sure that having your offense keep the ball for long stretches of time helps out a defense, but in the end it comes down to a question of whether your defense can get itself off the field or not.

For example, in the ND/LSU game, the first drive of the Irish was a 15 play march 66 yards for a TD. Their next three drives covered 58, 75, and 59 yards on 6, 11, and 10 plays. That's 4 possessions covering 258 yards on 42 plays.

In the second half, they defended 6 possessions and only gave up 176 yards.

If the theory of good TOP helping keep a defense from getting tired is so critical to Chavis' defenses, why did they suck to begin the game, then tighten up in the second half, when they were presumably more worn down?

In general, a defense performs well or poorly on it's own merits. It CAN be helped by an offense that keeps the ball, or doesn't turn it over deep in their own territory, but that help is only at the margins.