Previewing the Schedule: What Is Baylor Going to Look Like in 2017?

During Mason Rudolph’s career, one Big 12 team has eluded him. That team will make a trip to Stillwater this fall but with a new look and under a completely new regime. Art Briles is gone. Kendal Briles is gone. Phil Bennett. Everyone who wore a stain from the rash of scandals that dominated Big 12 and college football headlines has moved on.

First-year head coach Matt Rhule looks to revive the program from its season-long purgatory where the Bears went 3-6 in conference play and 7-6 for the season. His track record is solid. Rhule churned out back-to-back 10-win seasons in years three and four at historically pitiful Temple. But it won’t happen overnight.

Will Mason Rudolph add that final Big 12 feather to his cap?

Particulars

When: Saturday, October 14, 2017 at TBD

Where: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, Oklahoma

TV: TBD

Last Meeting: The Cowboys stumbled on the road in their Big 12 opener last year with a crucial goal-line fumble by Justice Hill and some big plays given up by their secondary. Baylor wouldn’t do the Cowboys any favors in perception, losing six of its next eight.

Offense

Rhule’s coaching chops will be put to the test this fall. He inherits a roster built for a high-tempo offense and a defense meant to try and keep up — basically the prototypical Big 12 team. Rhule has never coached that way.

This isn’t a Temple preview but the tables below will be showing both the type of tempo and offense/defense Rhule and his staff are used to producing and matching up against.

Here are the offensive numbers for Matt Rhule’s four years at Temple.

The biggest question for most will be what type of offense Rhule runs at Baylor with the leftovers from Briles’ system. Apparently, it’s going to be a conglomeration of the two styles. Briles’ spread up-tempo and Rhule’s power run-first offense.

At quarterback, the Bears return Zach Smith who was Seth Russell’s backup a year ago and took over the last four games of the season when Russell went out with injury, before going out himself. Smith is healthy and is expected to start. The Bears also welcome Arizona grad transfer Anu Solomon who will compete as well as true freshman Charlie Brewer.

The Bears still have a few skill players like Pooh Stricklin, Chris Platt, Blake Lynch and Denzel Mims at wideout. Leading rusher, Terence Williams comes off of a 1,000-plus yard, 11-touchdown sophomore year and will be backed up by JaMycal Hasty who racked up 623 yards as a freshman last year.

Baylor has depth concerns along an offensive line that returns four players with experience and not much after that. Rhule even said during Big 12 Media Days that they’ve moved two tight ends to the line. Shades of Oklahoma State in 2014.

“That’s one of the story lines this year,” said Rhule. “Really no one can get hurt on the offensive line. They’re just not allowed to. But we have young players. We recruited them for a reason. They saw an opportunity to come here, and they have to be ready to play.”

Defense

Rhule brings in Phil Snow, his defensive coordinator at Temple. Snow is a longtime defensive coach with both college and NFL experience. He came to Temple with Rhule back in 2013 and quickly turned them into one of the highest-rated scoring defenses in the country.

Here’s a look at Snow’s system and its immediate impact at Temple.

This will not be a mashup of defensive styles. Snow and Rhule plan to keep the same system they bring from Temple in tact, which included lots of checks and reads according to the first-year head coach. How quickly can the team make the transition? The Big 12 will be a transition in itself where instead of playing Memphis and Tulane every year, Snow will face a dynamic offense at least every other week.

Key Matchup

The Bears’ weakness on defense appears to be in the secondary where they are young and thin. Oklahoma State’s high-powered passing attack should be able to beat up on them a bit.

Conclusion

It’s clear that Baylor’s administration is going to be patient with Rhule, who they signed to a seven-year contract. This is a rebuild and its going to take some time, especially when you’re installing a new offensive and defensive systems. I foresee some growing pains for the Bears in 2017.

Summer Prediction

Mason crosses his final Big 12 team off with a 45-24 win.