Baylor Bears
Overall Rank: #41
#7 Big 12
Baylor Team Page
2010 Record: (7-6, 4-4)
2010 Bowl: Texas Bowl vs. Illinois (L 14-38)
Coach: Art Briles (15-22 at Baylor, 49-50 overall)
Offensive Coordinator: Randy Clements and Phil Montgomery
Defensive Coordinator: Phil Bennett
Returning Leaders:
Rushing: Robert Griffin III, QB, 635 yards
Passing: Robert Griffin III, QB, 3,501 yards
Receiving: Kendall Wright, WR, 952 yards
Tackles: Elliot Coffey, LB, 61
Sacks: Tevin Elliot, DE, 5.0
Interceptions: Chance Casey, CB, 1; Elliot Coffey, LB, 1; Mike Hicks, S, 1; Gary Mason, DE, 1
Other Key Returnees: C Philip Blake, WR Josh Gordon, G Robert T. Griffin, DT Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, G Cameron Kaufhold, WR Lanear Sampson, OT Ivory Wade, WR Terrance Williams
Key Losses: S Tim Atchison, S Mikail Baker, RB Jay Finley, LB Chris Francis, LB Antonio Johnson, S Byron Landor, TE Brad Taylor, DT Phil Taylor, OT Danny Watkins
It is not easy being Baylor. Yet, Coach Art Briles has done a superb job bringing in solid talent and turning the Bears into a winning program. Last season Baylor reached a bowl game for the first time since 1994. This year they should make it back. The defense has a lot of rebuilding to do, but Coach Briles’ high flying offense should keep them in most games.
Strengths:
Robert Griffin III earned second team all-Big 12 accolades last season. In a conference that boasted plenty of talented quarterbacks, that is quite an accomplishment for a sophomore. As an upperclassman, Griffin III is expected to build off of his success. After throwing for 3,501 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushing 635 yards and eight more scores, Griffin should be in for a huge year. With the return of the team’s top four receivers, pending the current suspension of Josh Gordon, Baylor will have one of the most potent passing offenses in the nation. Kendall Wright is the star receiver of the team and he should eclipse the 1,000 yard receiving mark this year. With Lanear Sampson and tight end Kendall Wright, Griffin III has a slew of weapons. The running back situation is a little more muddled. Jay Finley is gone after rushing for 1,218 yards and a dozen touchdowns in 2010. Jarred Salubi and Terrance Ganaway should be able to fill the void, especially with four starters returning to the offensive line.
Weaknesses:
The defense ranked towards the bottom of the Big 12 in just about every major statistical category, but new defensive coordinator Phil Bennett hopes to change that. The talent level is there for improvement, but this group lacks experience. The front four has the most experience and potential. Sophomore end Tevin Elliott tallied 5.0 sacks as a freshman and Gary Mason, Jr. should benefit from Elliott’s production. The middle of the line boasts two experienced seniors in Tracy Robertson and Nicolas Jean-Baptiste. The linebackers could be a strong suit for the defense with the return of Elliot Coffey and the emergence of sophomore Brody Trahan. The secondary is full of youth. Chance Casey is really the only experienced player. The Bears hope cornerback Tyler Stephenson, safety Sam Holl and nickel-back Ahmad Dixon can improve as sophomores and have productive seasons.
The Bottom Line:
Baylor can reach another bowl game this year, but the defense has to at least be as good as it was in 2010…which is not saying too much. The addition of Coach Bennett alone should make the defense better, but the inexperienced players need to live up to their potential. The schedule is not easy and there is not much of a margin for error. The Bears may have to pull off an upset or two against some former Big 12 South rivals to reach a bowl game, but they can outscore anybody on any given Saturday.
Projected Bowl: Texas Bowl
2010 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 194.62 (24th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Passing Offense: 280.69 (19, 4)
Total Offense: 475.31 (13, 3)
Scoring Offense: 31.15 (36, 6)
Rushing Defense: 170.31 (79, 9)
Pass Defense: 265.08 (114, 10)
Total Defense: 435.38 (104, 10)
Scoring Defense: 30.46 (89, 9)
Turnover Margin: .00 (55, 6)
Sacks: 1.54 (90, 9)
Sacks Allowed: 1.54 (38, 4)
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