What To Watch For This Weekend: Baylor Bears

This week the Cowboys head down I-35 for the conference opener in Waco against the No. 16 Baylor Bears. There have been plenty of similarities between the two programs over the last few years as conference-contending, non-traditional powers with sparkling new stadiums, high flying offenses and slick uniforms, but let’s dig in and see what the Cowboys can expect when they arrive on the Brazos this weekend.

Overview

When you think about Baylor, you (schematically) think of high flying, spread offenses and a solid rushing attack, and things don’t appear to have changed much thus far. While Baylor was in the news for all the wrong reasons with the sexual assault scandal and the release of head coach Art Briles, interim coach Jim Grobe is in place not looking to rock the boat, both coordinators were retained and Gundy commented on the apparent continuity that “when you watch them on tape, they look the exact same as they did the last few years”.

Baylor is the prototype Big 12 offense as they spread the ball around with a tremendously skilled quarterback in senior Seth Russell who looked to have Baylor primed for a conference title run until a neck injury in late October put him down for the year. Russell will miss throwing to Bear-turned Cleveland Brown receiver Corey Coleman, but all-Big 12 receiver KD Cannon returns for his junior season and looks great after recovering from a minor knee injury in fall camp.

Behind Cannon, the unit is talented but unproven. Ish Zamora returns from suspension this week, while Chris Platt and Blake Lynch tend to see lots of passes.

Run or Pass?

One of the biggest misconceptions about Baylor according to Coach Gundy is that “a lot of people across the country think it’s a passing offense. It is a rushing offense… Running the football is their strength.”

The three-headed backfield is led by the school’s all-time leading rusher, senior Shock Linwood who rushed for 1,329 yards last season. Linwood, the all-around back is in a true time share of carries with the bruiser Terrance Williams, who Coach Grobe refers to as the “big, north-south kind of guy” as well as the shifty, speedy sophomore back Ja’mychal Hasty who led the team in rushing against Rice (and was named Big 12 newcomer of the week for his efforts).

The O-line lost four starters but returns all-conference center in Kyle Fuller, one of the best linemen in the conference. Juco left tackle Dom Desouza is projected as an all-conference talent to replace stalwart Spencer Drango at left tackle, but the verdict is out on the other replacements.

Defensive Side

On the defensive side of the ball, the Bears are off to an incredible start only allowing 10 points per game (note: having played against an FCS program, SMU and Rice). The staunch pass defense has only given up one touchdown thus far and will surely provide a good challenge for Rudolph and company. The Bears replaced their entire defensive line from last season and after losing some recruits (one to the good guys), the result could be a vulnerable run defense.

Veteran coordinator Phil Bennett made the change to a 3-4 defensive front, and leans on No. 56 junior end K.J. Smith who brings back the most experience up front and has three tackles for loss. The linebacker core has more proven playmakers and look out for no. 1, junior Taylor Young who leads the team with five tackles for loss this season. Pat Levels will be on the field after filling in well for now returned no. 48 Travon Blanchard who recorded 83 tackles last season and is back after having surgery in August.

The defensive backfield looks to be one of the conference’s best with team leaders’ Orion Stewart and Ryan Reid standing guard. Safety Chance Waz brings experience and Davion Hall, the wide out turned DB, brings athleticism. Redshirt freshman Jameson Houston is considered the best of the younger crop of talent.