By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Baylor exorcised the AT&T Jones Stadium demons that hounded them since 1990.
A wire-to-wire 45-17 victory at Texas Tech kept the Bears (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) in the running for a Big 12 title game appearance. Baylor reached the two-thirds poll of the 2022 season.
In a stretch of playing three out of four away from McLane Stadium, Baylor finishes with 2:00 p.m. kickoff at Oklahoma (5-3, 2-3) next Saturday. The game can be seen on ESPN+.
SicEmSports provides reflections, observations and three Golden Bears from this one.
Upon Reflection
Well, this was the team we thought we were going to see when the season began Sept. 3 against Albany. It just took getting to game No. 8 to get there. The good news is that it isn’t too late in terms of the goals competing for a conference championship and a NY6 game.
With the exception of an Issac Power shanked punt – he was due for a bad one – Baylor was locked in, pretty much eliminated the Jones Stadium crowd from the opening possession, calmly handled the adversity in the third quarter and played complimentary football.
Everyone should feel beyond good how this one went. The execution in all three phases was tremendous. The running game (even though it was 3.9 ypc) was sound.
Most importantly, the Bears won the turnover battle 5-to-1. Is this what we can expect to see moving forward for the final four games? Well, football is a week-to-week game. The opponent always has something to do with it.
However, there is also the element that your team can also control what it can control. Baylor did that.
We’ll find out next week in Norman, OK. What you hope happened in Lubbock is that the light came on.
While all four games against the Sooners, home to Kansas State, home to TCU and at Texas are challenges, they’re also winnable.
Part 1: DL/Secondary marriage
Now, you know why a really good pass rush is a secondary’s best friend. When quarterbacks are constantly under duress, they typically make rushed and bad decisions. That leads to good things for the secondary.
Baylor’s maligned pass rush and secondary play was justified through the first seven games. They weren’t good. The numbers showed that. Baylor was tied for last in the conference with sacks (11), while the secondary only had four INTs. They more than doubled that over the next 60 minutes.
Because of what they did to confuse Tech freshman QB Behren Morton followed by Donovan Smith and Tyler Shough, the Red Raiders could never find an offensive rhythm. They were frustrated all night.
While a lot of the attention will be paid to the five interceptions between Devin Lemear, Mark Milton, AJ McCarty, Tevin Williams and Al Walcott, this crew also had six PBUs where a couple could have been INTs. That’s 11 negative plays.
It’s made possible when the front generates six sacks, three other hurries and just imposes its will against the Tech offensive line. There were times Morton looked lost.
Part 2: Blake Shapen
Best performance of 2022. Not even close to any other. For starters, he took care of the ball. He had six in the last three games. Now, he got credit for the fumble on that toss to Reese. But both of them share the blame on that.
He directed an offense to where it was precise. Shapen knew where he wanted to go with the football. Finished with 211 yards, completed 63 percent of his attempts – 19 completions to nine different receivers - and you can see him and Gavin Holmes have that “it’’ relationship. This is the No. 1 pass-catch combo. Holmes finished with five receptions for 77 yards. Then there was the beauty of a 9-yard TD pass to Hal Presley in the end zone. Perfect ball. That’s why Shapen won this job in the spring.
Shapen then picked the right spots to run and kept himself healthy. Baylor was 12-20 on third down. Also, Shapen was on the field for 40 minutes with his teammates.
Notables
>Baylor penalized just four times for 4-46. It really should have been 2-16 had Christian Morgan not lost his composure on two personal foul penalties. He knows better. Each hit after the play was over was inexcusable.
>You cannot know how good of a play Tevin Williams made in the end zone to take away a TD pass from Red Raider receiver JJ Sparkman. When you watch it in real time, that’s a touchdown and you’re immediately thinking this is 31-24. But as Sparkman is landing, Williams come ups and basically starts to take it away from him. Slow motion is “how did he do that?”. A bold initial ruling by the officials because tie balls go the receiver. Replay confirmed it. Perhaps the play of the game that sealed it before the Pick6.
>Finally got to see the projected starting offensive line with Khalil Keith making his first start. November is money time. Good timing to have him back.
>Injury update situation. Maybe the Bears will get running back Sqwirl Williams (concussion) and wide receiver Monaray Baldwin (leg) back for next week at Oklahoma. There’s optimism running back Taye McWilliams (concussion) can return for the first time in nearly two months. Wait and see on him. With tight end Drake Dabney (possible ACL) probably done for the season, that might mean we see more burn with Kelsey Johnson.
>One thing I found curious was how Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire used his QBs. As much as Morton struggled in the first half, I thought McGuire was going to and should have made a change to Donovan Smith for the second half. Let Morton clear his mind. But then Morton takes a sack on the first play and then throws a pick on the second play.
What also was bizarre is how McGuire would insert Smith into the middle of drives. That’s a tough ask for a QB. It showed on his INT. I kind of understood the use of Tyler Shough when he did. It was 31-17 and Tech started a possession inside its 10. Red Raiders were not going to rally. Of course, he turns out the lights on the Pick6 to McCarty.
>Third down defense still not great. The Red Raiders were 8-of-15.
Golden Bears
The yearly tradition returns where SicEmSports highlights the three players who stood out in their performance on a weekly basis. Win or lose, they deserve the recognition.
The following are from Baylor’s 45-17 victory at Texas Tech.
Richard Reese, RB, Fr.: He’s back in this category for the second consecutive week. He’s running with a confidence. Had a career-high in carries and TDs. Aranda said after the game, Reese came up to him and said he wanted more.
Notable – Rushing: 36-148 (4.1 ypc) 3TD; Receiving: 3-12
Devin Lemear, S, RFr.: Lemear has been pretty good all year. But he took it up a notch in this one. His interception – Baylor’s first – when Tech was deep in Baylor territory was important because it changed the momentum in the early stages of the game.
Notable – 4 solo tackles, 2 PBU, 1 INT (21 yards)
Gabe Hall, DT, Sr.: His best game of the year. Hall got after Morton and was also very good against the Red Raider running game. The internet legend continues to grow.
Notable – 3 solo tackles – all sacks/TFL for 24 yards in losses
Honorable Mention: Blake Shapen
Publisher
Baylor exorcised the AT&T Jones Stadium demons that hounded them since 1990.
A wire-to-wire 45-17 victory at Texas Tech kept the Bears (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) in the running for a Big 12 title game appearance. Baylor reached the two-thirds poll of the 2022 season.
In a stretch of playing three out of four away from McLane Stadium, Baylor finishes with 2:00 p.m. kickoff at Oklahoma (5-3, 2-3) next Saturday. The game can be seen on ESPN+.
SicEmSports provides reflections, observations and three Golden Bears from this one.
Upon Reflection
Well, this was the team we thought we were going to see when the season began Sept. 3 against Albany. It just took getting to game No. 8 to get there. The good news is that it isn’t too late in terms of the goals competing for a conference championship and a NY6 game.
With the exception of an Issac Power shanked punt – he was due for a bad one – Baylor was locked in, pretty much eliminated the Jones Stadium crowd from the opening possession, calmly handled the adversity in the third quarter and played complimentary football.
Everyone should feel beyond good how this one went. The execution in all three phases was tremendous. The running game (even though it was 3.9 ypc) was sound.
Most importantly, the Bears won the turnover battle 5-to-1. Is this what we can expect to see moving forward for the final four games? Well, football is a week-to-week game. The opponent always has something to do with it.
However, there is also the element that your team can also control what it can control. Baylor did that.
We’ll find out next week in Norman, OK. What you hope happened in Lubbock is that the light came on.
While all four games against the Sooners, home to Kansas State, home to TCU and at Texas are challenges, they’re also winnable.
Part 1: DL/Secondary marriage
Now, you know why a really good pass rush is a secondary’s best friend. When quarterbacks are constantly under duress, they typically make rushed and bad decisions. That leads to good things for the secondary.
Baylor’s maligned pass rush and secondary play was justified through the first seven games. They weren’t good. The numbers showed that. Baylor was tied for last in the conference with sacks (11), while the secondary only had four INTs. They more than doubled that over the next 60 minutes.
Because of what they did to confuse Tech freshman QB Behren Morton followed by Donovan Smith and Tyler Shough, the Red Raiders could never find an offensive rhythm. They were frustrated all night.
While a lot of the attention will be paid to the five interceptions between Devin Lemear, Mark Milton, AJ McCarty, Tevin Williams and Al Walcott, this crew also had six PBUs where a couple could have been INTs. That’s 11 negative plays.
It’s made possible when the front generates six sacks, three other hurries and just imposes its will against the Tech offensive line. There were times Morton looked lost.
Part 2: Blake Shapen
Best performance of 2022. Not even close to any other. For starters, he took care of the ball. He had six in the last three games. Now, he got credit for the fumble on that toss to Reese. But both of them share the blame on that.
He directed an offense to where it was precise. Shapen knew where he wanted to go with the football. Finished with 211 yards, completed 63 percent of his attempts – 19 completions to nine different receivers - and you can see him and Gavin Holmes have that “it’’ relationship. This is the No. 1 pass-catch combo. Holmes finished with five receptions for 77 yards. Then there was the beauty of a 9-yard TD pass to Hal Presley in the end zone. Perfect ball. That’s why Shapen won this job in the spring.
Shapen then picked the right spots to run and kept himself healthy. Baylor was 12-20 on third down. Also, Shapen was on the field for 40 minutes with his teammates.
Notables
>Baylor penalized just four times for 4-46. It really should have been 2-16 had Christian Morgan not lost his composure on two personal foul penalties. He knows better. Each hit after the play was over was inexcusable.
>You cannot know how good of a play Tevin Williams made in the end zone to take away a TD pass from Red Raider receiver JJ Sparkman. When you watch it in real time, that’s a touchdown and you’re immediately thinking this is 31-24. But as Sparkman is landing, Williams come ups and basically starts to take it away from him. Slow motion is “how did he do that?”. A bold initial ruling by the officials because tie balls go the receiver. Replay confirmed it. Perhaps the play of the game that sealed it before the Pick6.
>Finally got to see the projected starting offensive line with Khalil Keith making his first start. November is money time. Good timing to have him back.
>Injury update situation. Maybe the Bears will get running back Sqwirl Williams (concussion) and wide receiver Monaray Baldwin (leg) back for next week at Oklahoma. There’s optimism running back Taye McWilliams (concussion) can return for the first time in nearly two months. Wait and see on him. With tight end Drake Dabney (possible ACL) probably done for the season, that might mean we see more burn with Kelsey Johnson.
>One thing I found curious was how Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire used his QBs. As much as Morton struggled in the first half, I thought McGuire was going to and should have made a change to Donovan Smith for the second half. Let Morton clear his mind. But then Morton takes a sack on the first play and then throws a pick on the second play.
What also was bizarre is how McGuire would insert Smith into the middle of drives. That’s a tough ask for a QB. It showed on his INT. I kind of understood the use of Tyler Shough when he did. It was 31-17 and Tech started a possession inside its 10. Red Raiders were not going to rally. Of course, he turns out the lights on the Pick6 to McCarty.
>Third down defense still not great. The Red Raiders were 8-of-15.
Golden Bears
The yearly tradition returns where SicEmSports highlights the three players who stood out in their performance on a weekly basis. Win or lose, they deserve the recognition.
The following are from Baylor’s 45-17 victory at Texas Tech.
Richard Reese, RB, Fr.: He’s back in this category for the second consecutive week. He’s running with a confidence. Had a career-high in carries and TDs. Aranda said after the game, Reese came up to him and said he wanted more.
Notable – Rushing: 36-148 (4.1 ypc) 3TD; Receiving: 3-12
Devin Lemear, S, RFr.: Lemear has been pretty good all year. But he took it up a notch in this one. His interception – Baylor’s first – when Tech was deep in Baylor territory was important because it changed the momentum in the early stages of the game.
Notable – 4 solo tackles, 2 PBU, 1 INT (21 yards)
Gabe Hall, DT, Sr.: His best game of the year. Hall got after Morton and was also very good against the Red Raider running game. The internet legend continues to grow.
Notable – 3 solo tackles – all sacks/TFL for 24 yards in losses
Honorable Mention: Blake Shapen
