By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
No. 10 Baylor began the season in a very dominant fashion against an opponent in Albany that was never going to be any challenge.
The Bears scored 10 touchdowns, created huge offensive plays and defensively was stout in blowing out the Great Danes, 69-10.
Now, Baylor travels to the Wasatch Mountains next Saturday to take on No. 25 BYU in Provo (ESPN, 9:15 p.m.)
SicEmSports provides reflections, observations and three Golden Bears.
By design
If you picked up on the fact that Baylor concentrated its efforts on the passing game in the first half and then the running game in the second half, your assessment was correct.
Baylor head coach Dave Aranda acknowledged that was the plan going into this game. Albany served as the kind of opponent to where that could be done. In fact, it was important because there is so much youth and inexperience with the skill positions that everybody needed to just get started.
It worked out pretty well.
New receivers Monray Baldwin (4-84 TD), Hal Presley (3-56 TD), Seth Jones (2-25), Josh Cameron and Armani Winfield each caught a pass.
New running backs Taye McWilliams (12-45 rushing, 4-20 receiving), Richard Reese (9-62), Jordan Jenkins (3-8).
Experimenting
No 1 - Baylor’s decision to go for it at its 34 late in the first quarter imploded when Taye McWilliams was stuffed on both 3rd and 4th down – breakdowns in the Baylor OL were the main culprit – and it led to Albany’s only touchdown.
No. 2 – Shapen’s spectacular race to the pylon on the final play of the first half for a touchdown.
Against a better opponent with better players – especially faster players – maybe Aranda punts and elects to kick the chip shot field goal. In the case of the latter, game situation and opponent will lead to going for it. At the very least, OC Jeff Grimes probably uses a different play.
If the Bears don’t go for it at their 34 and punt, Albany is not scoring a TD in this game.
Great shot by our Stephen Cook on the Shapen TD on the final play of the first half.
Clear cut on Shapen
If there was still any hmmm from anyone about Shapen becoming the starting QB, that was put the rest Saturday.
What you should see from this passing game throughout the season is what you should see throughout. Baylor is going to take more vertical shots downfield with Shapen because he’s got the arm to do it. He’s got the strength and zip and that little extra to fit into windows.
With Gerry Bohanon, Baylor had to pick its spots. With Shapen, Grimes can be more aggressive.
Secondary still WIP
For the most part, they were OK but really weren’t tested. AJ McCarty made a nice play on play down the Albany sideline. Snaxx Johnson got turned around and flat out got beat on Albany’s 17-yard touchdown pass.
Obviously, they’re going to get a far better test next week from BYU’s Jaren Hall with a night crowd in Provo.
Quick hits
>Reese’s team-leading rushing performance tells you how quick he’s moved up the depth chart and should be a factor in this running game.
>Provided that he remains the No. 1 back, McWilliams is going to be a nice receiving threat. His hands are soft and true.
>Several members of the 2022 class saw immediate action: Reese, Alfonzo Allen, Jordan Nabors, Carmello Jones, Kyler Jordan, Reggie Bush, Devyn Bobby, Timothy Dawn, George Maile, Cody Mladenka, Kelsey Johnson and Tre Emory.
Baylor played 89 players in this game. And with the new redshirt rule (play up to 4 games to keep your eligibility) this was the right time to break them in. The possible impact freshmen could/should include Winfield, Johnson and Allen.
>The perfect way to get backup QB Kyron Drones into action. If there was one thing that Baylor really needed to get done in this game was for Drones to play a lot. Thought he was pretty decent. His first pass to Jones wasn’t that great. Tough through to the other side of the field, but he needed a little zip on it. But His 50-yard seed to Jaylen Ellis was a great ball.
Drones finished 5-7-0 for 100 yards and rushed just the one time for the 9-yard TD run. He will take some confidence from this.
Golden Bears
The yearly tradition returns. No matter the outcome, we select the three who had the most impact on the Bears’ performance. The following are from Baylor’s 69-10 victory over Albany.
Gavin Holmes, WR, 6th: Baylor needs a presence in the return game. Holmes’ 72-yard punt return was almost like a rebirth considering everything that he has been through in his career with several knee injuries. As Aranda said, “I would hope that my son and my daughters kind of have the heart that he has.’’
Notable: Punt Return – 3-96, 72TD
Monaray Baldwin, WR, So.: You might consider starting to call him Big Play Monaray. He’s got the speed, the twitch, the work ethic and work habits. His performance proved that the 47-yard end around against Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl wasn’t a one off. He caught a 47-yard TD pass and had another end around TD run that covered 50 yards.
Notable: Receiving - 4-84 (4 targets) 1TD; Rushing – 2-46 1TD
Blake Shapen, QB, So.: Not that the Baylor coaching staff needed validation in its decision to make him the starter. It will get tougher from here. But with his skill set, Baylor’s offense can be more explosive in 2022 than it was in 2021.
Notable: Passing – 17-20-0 214 2TD; Rushing 4-11 1TD
Publisher
No. 10 Baylor began the season in a very dominant fashion against an opponent in Albany that was never going to be any challenge.
The Bears scored 10 touchdowns, created huge offensive plays and defensively was stout in blowing out the Great Danes, 69-10.
Now, Baylor travels to the Wasatch Mountains next Saturday to take on No. 25 BYU in Provo (ESPN, 9:15 p.m.)
SicEmSports provides reflections, observations and three Golden Bears.
By design
If you picked up on the fact that Baylor concentrated its efforts on the passing game in the first half and then the running game in the second half, your assessment was correct.
Baylor head coach Dave Aranda acknowledged that was the plan going into this game. Albany served as the kind of opponent to where that could be done. In fact, it was important because there is so much youth and inexperience with the skill positions that everybody needed to just get started.
It worked out pretty well.
New receivers Monray Baldwin (4-84 TD), Hal Presley (3-56 TD), Seth Jones (2-25), Josh Cameron and Armani Winfield each caught a pass.
New running backs Taye McWilliams (12-45 rushing, 4-20 receiving), Richard Reese (9-62), Jordan Jenkins (3-8).
Experimenting
No 1 - Baylor’s decision to go for it at its 34 late in the first quarter imploded when Taye McWilliams was stuffed on both 3rd and 4th down – breakdowns in the Baylor OL were the main culprit – and it led to Albany’s only touchdown.
No. 2 – Shapen’s spectacular race to the pylon on the final play of the first half for a touchdown.
Against a better opponent with better players – especially faster players – maybe Aranda punts and elects to kick the chip shot field goal. In the case of the latter, game situation and opponent will lead to going for it. At the very least, OC Jeff Grimes probably uses a different play.
If the Bears don’t go for it at their 34 and punt, Albany is not scoring a TD in this game.
Great shot by our Stephen Cook on the Shapen TD on the final play of the first half.
Clear cut on Shapen
If there was still any hmmm from anyone about Shapen becoming the starting QB, that was put the rest Saturday.
What you should see from this passing game throughout the season is what you should see throughout. Baylor is going to take more vertical shots downfield with Shapen because he’s got the arm to do it. He’s got the strength and zip and that little extra to fit into windows.
With Gerry Bohanon, Baylor had to pick its spots. With Shapen, Grimes can be more aggressive.
Secondary still WIP
For the most part, they were OK but really weren’t tested. AJ McCarty made a nice play on play down the Albany sideline. Snaxx Johnson got turned around and flat out got beat on Albany’s 17-yard touchdown pass.
Obviously, they’re going to get a far better test next week from BYU’s Jaren Hall with a night crowd in Provo.
Quick hits
>Reese’s team-leading rushing performance tells you how quick he’s moved up the depth chart and should be a factor in this running game.
>Provided that he remains the No. 1 back, McWilliams is going to be a nice receiving threat. His hands are soft and true.
>Several members of the 2022 class saw immediate action: Reese, Alfonzo Allen, Jordan Nabors, Carmello Jones, Kyler Jordan, Reggie Bush, Devyn Bobby, Timothy Dawn, George Maile, Cody Mladenka, Kelsey Johnson and Tre Emory.
Baylor played 89 players in this game. And with the new redshirt rule (play up to 4 games to keep your eligibility) this was the right time to break them in. The possible impact freshmen could/should include Winfield, Johnson and Allen.
>The perfect way to get backup QB Kyron Drones into action. If there was one thing that Baylor really needed to get done in this game was for Drones to play a lot. Thought he was pretty decent. His first pass to Jones wasn’t that great. Tough through to the other side of the field, but he needed a little zip on it. But His 50-yard seed to Jaylen Ellis was a great ball.
Drones finished 5-7-0 for 100 yards and rushed just the one time for the 9-yard TD run. He will take some confidence from this.
Golden Bears
The yearly tradition returns. No matter the outcome, we select the three who had the most impact on the Bears’ performance. The following are from Baylor’s 69-10 victory over Albany.
Gavin Holmes, WR, 6th: Baylor needs a presence in the return game. Holmes’ 72-yard punt return was almost like a rebirth considering everything that he has been through in his career with several knee injuries. As Aranda said, “I would hope that my son and my daughters kind of have the heart that he has.’’
Notable: Punt Return – 3-96, 72TD
Monaray Baldwin, WR, So.: You might consider starting to call him Big Play Monaray. He’s got the speed, the twitch, the work ethic and work habits. His performance proved that the 47-yard end around against Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl wasn’t a one off. He caught a 47-yard TD pass and had another end around TD run that covered 50 yards.
Notable: Receiving - 4-84 (4 targets) 1TD; Rushing – 2-46 1TD
Blake Shapen, QB, So.: Not that the Baylor coaching staff needed validation in its decision to make him the starter. It will get tougher from here. But with his skill set, Baylor’s offense can be more explosive in 2022 than it was in 2021.
Notable: Passing – 17-20-0 214 2TD; Rushing 4-11 1TD
