The Aggies are getting there, they’re just not there yet.

Texas A&M lost for the fourth time this season, all four against top-10 opponents, including two No. 1 teams. The Aggies’ 19-13 loss to Georgia on Saturday was the latest to be a gauge on where the program stands near the end of Jimbo Fisher’s second season.

There were aspects of Saturday’s game that lent hope to Aggieland that the program is on course. However, there were also parts that still might make you scratch your head. Here are three things I liked about the loss, and another five things that I didn’t like about it.

What I liked

1. Run defense

The Aggies did what they needed to do in bottling up Georgia running back D’Andre Swift, not allowing him to run free, especially between the tackles. A strong defense against the run continued for the most part, and the part of the game plan that called for stopping the run and making Georgia throw when it didn’t want to worked effectively.

The A&M defense did a solid job of containing Georgia running back D’Andre Swift. Photo by: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

2. Pressure defense

The Aggies’ front seven played good defense throughout and was able to pressure quarterback Jake Fromm on passing downs. It was able to hurry and sack him and make him uncomfortable in the pocket.

3. Just no quit

When you’re building a program with the intention of challenging for league and national championships, you have to play for 60 minutes. Regardless of the score, the Aggies continued to fight and play toward that goal. They probably shouldn’t have been in the game once they fell behind 19-6. Though it felt like the game was all but over, the Aggies kept the fight on the field and made it a one-possession game against the No. 4 team in the nation.

What I didn’t like

1. Run blocking

Granted, weather conditions affected both teams’ offenses and made them one-dimensional, as if the Georgia defensive front needed help. But the Aggies’ offensive line was unable to hold off the talented Bulldogs front seven, which put Texas A&M behind the sticks all day.

Isaiah Spiller found little room to run against Georgia’s front seven. Photo by: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

2. Failing to set the edge

This has been a problem all year for the Aggies’ defense. While it held its own in the trenches against the run, it gave up a couple of big plays when Swift was able to get to the edge and turn it up for sizable yardage. Those were the only real gains the Bulldogs were able to garner against the Aggies.

3. Passing game

Yes, the weather had something to do with it. A wet football is difficult to throw accurately, and both quarterbacks were hampered by it. Kellen Mond had some success toward the end of the first half with short, quick passes, and he did have his moments. But for the most part, Mond was inaccurate in situations where the Aggies needed him to come through and make the clutch throws.

4. Fourth-down run up the middle

With the game still in doubt and the Aggies trailing 16-3 in the third quarter, Fisher elected to run up the middle on fourth and 1, right into the teeth of a Bulldogs defense that had stopped the Aggies all day — and has stopped opponents all year. The result of the play was no gain, and the Aggies turned the ball over at the Georgia 26-yard line.

5. Pass defense

The Aggies gave up just too many big plays to Georgia’s passing game. They were gashed enough to keep the Bulldogs on the plus side in the game within the game — field position.