Know Your Enemy: Keys to the Baylor Bears

It’s fair to say we’ve focused enough on last week’s loss to Oklahoma, right? After one of the most frustrating performances ever in the Red River Rivalry, beating the Baylor Bears at home may help heal some of the wounds. It’s a legitimate possibility for Texas, considering Baylor just lost to TCU at home, 49-21. That’s right, they lost by 28 at home to TCU in spite of the fact the Horned Frogs were without their starting quarterback, Casey Pachall. Oklahoma, this team is not.

Both teams are playing for pride and Baylor is looking for its first win in Big 12 play on the season. With that in mind, let’s shake off the pains of the past week and buckle down for some knowledge about our Big 12 brothers from Waco. It’s time to “Know Your Enemy.”

Making a Point…or 47

Baylor’s offense, which averages…[s2If current_user_is(s2member_level1) OR current_user_is(s2member_level2) OR current_user_is(s2member_level3) OR current_user_is(s2member_level5) OR current_user_is(s2member_level6)] 47.6 points a game, isn’t going to make anyone feel easier about the Texas defense going into Saturday’s match-up. In fact, yours truly might have uttered a few expletives while watching game tape of the Baylor offense in preparation for this article. Here’s a few names to look for on offense for Baylor.

RG…Who?

Okay, to say Baylor or any college football fan has forgotten Robert Griffin III is a bit of an exaggeration, but senior Nick Florence has been a fine replacement for RGIII. Florence is the FBS’ top dog in total offense as a quarterback. (404.40 yards per game)and third overall in passing yardage (374.80 yards per game). You could argue that he’s a product of head coach Art Briles’ system but you can’t argue with his numbers. While all the buzz was about Geno Smith in West Virginia’s 70-63 win over Baylor, it’s important to remember Florence threw for 581 yards and five touchdowns.

Florence did throw 4 interceptions last week and has given up nine picks on the season, so there is hope that the Longhorns’ pass rush can force him into some mistakes. Reggie Wilson will be playing in place of Jackson Jeffcoat, so this is a great chance for him to make an impact. As Horns Illustrated contributor Trey Scott noted, Texas’ Alex Okafor thinks Wilson is the best backup defensive end in the country. Dear God, let’s hope so. I may ride Bevo into the locker room if Texas gives up over forty points for the third week in a row.

The Trend Follower

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. A Baylor receiver has a breakout year and skyrockets up NFL draft boards. Kendall Wright did it last season, landing at the twentieth spot in the first round for Tennessee, and he has been the best rookie receiver in the league. Now it looks like Terrance Williams is set to continue at least the first half of that trend.

Williams’ combination of size and speed have helped him on his way to leading the nation in receiving yards (166 per game) and settting the Big 12 record for receiving yards in a single game. It’s easy to underestimate his burst off the line, but Williams is the definition of a vertical threat with a YAC average of 22.43 yards. NFL scouts will get a true sense of what Williams is made of when Carrington Byndom lines up across from him. A word of advice to UT; bring some help over the top, please.

Bad News, Bears

Texas fans are currently looking for any good news, so here it is; the Baylor defense is the worst thing I’ve laid my eyes on since the last film M. Night Shyamalan made. The D gives up nearly 42 points a game, third worst in the nation. That’s right. We’re not talking about the Big 12 or practice. The nation, people. So, while their offense is putting up 47.6 points a game, that output is pretty much a necessity given the overall weakness of the team’s defense.

There are a few exceptions, however, so let’s take a minute to examine them.

Et Tu, Bryce Hager?

Sophomore linebacker Bryce Hager is making a name for himself out in Waco, but he’s already a known commodity for many Austinites. He played ball at Austin Westlake High and Bryce’s father, Britt, played linebacker and set the all-time school record for tackles (499) at UT before enjoying a lengthy NFL career. It sure would have been nice to have him on the Forty Acres. He’s a sure tackler, which we can;t get enough of, and currently third in the FBS with 12 tackles a game. Imagine how good he will be in two years. It’s just another case of looking at a stud for Baylor who passed up UT and saying, “what could have been.” Still, UT gets their fair share of Texas-born talent so I think we’ll be okay.

Junior strong safety Ahmad Dixon also has some history with the Longhorns, originally committing to Texas as the No. 15 prospect in ESPNU’s national rankings before backing out in favor of Baylor. Like Hager, Dixon is a sure tackler with the potential to play at a professional level, and is averaging 9.6 tackles a game. The bad news for Baylor is that if a strong safety is putting up those stats, your opponent is getting to the last line of defense often. Let’s hope the Longhorns leave Dixon out of the equation and just pass right by him.

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