By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Baylor’s hopes of returning to the Big 12 Championship Game Dec. 3 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington are on life support following Thursday’s heartbreaking 43-40 loss at West Virginia.
The Bears (3-3, 1-2) likely must run the table for the remainder of the season to finish 7-2 and get some help along the way. Not impossible as two-thirds of the conference season lies in front of them. Anything can happen.
Baylor returns to McLane Stadium for Homecoming against Kansas at 11:00 a.m. Saturday.
SicEmSports provides reflections, observations and three Golden Bears.
Upon Reflection
Let’s start with the health of this team. If these apparent concussions to quarterback Blake Shapen and running back Sqwirl Williams are serious enough to where they miss Kansas, the depth at both of those positions thins.
We’ll get an update from Dave Aranda on Monday at his presser. Maybe the two extra days means something.
However, if Kyron Drones starts, he’s the last scholarship QB on the active roster. His backup is probably walk-on Luke Anthony. While Anthony has scholarship experience between Abilene Christian and Louisiana Tech, the one question that would have to be answered should he go out there for an extended period of time is how mobile he is. He suffered a pretty rough ankle injury in the final game of 2020 at TCU and missed all of 2021.
With no Taye McWilliams, possibly no Sqwirl and Josh Fleeks entering the transfer portal, Baylor is down to two healthy backs – Richard Reese and Qualan Jones. After that, the only scholarship back on the roster is Jordan Jenkins who hasn’t played since Albany followed by walk-on Jacoby Clarke.
Even if Sqwirl is cleared to return, I would think the Baylor coaches would be hypercautious with him and use him sparingly if at all. You just don’t mess with head injuries because of a person’s lifelong future.
Moving forward
Perhaps college quarterbacks should be taught not to slide or find a different way to give themselves up if they are running. Shapen and Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel suffered their concussion in the same manner. Gabriel returned Saturday against Kansas.
While most want to tar and feather West Virginia’s Andrew Wilson-Lamp, if you watch the play, he immediately got up and knew he messed up. The other thing is walk a mile in the defender’s shoes. He’s coming 0 to 100 at the QB before Shapen starts to slide. It’s difficult for defenders to slam on the breaks and stop if they have started their motion to make the play. Not impossible because they can somewhat control how they approach the ball carrier.
Cold Fronts
Let’s talk about the offensive and defensive lines. The thing about a team like Baylor is that once you think something has been fixed on one side, then the other springs a leak.
Had absolutely no issues with the offensive line. Thought that unit was good. Even with no Khalil Keith, they were solid against a solid Mountaineer front. Shapen was sacked twice – technically one on the fumble that was returned for a touchdown – but the running game averaged 4.8 yards per carry, a full yard more than what they had done against other P5 teams. You all know how I’ve harped on that. Holes were there all night.
Defensively, this group was a huge disappointment. Zero pressure on West Virginia QB J.T. Daniels. He was pressured once. That’s it. A clean pocket all night. To make it worse, they were getting blown off the line against the Mountaineer’s backup running back Tony Mathis who finished with 163 yards including the 37-yarder that set up the game-winning field goal.
They had been good against the run all year allowing 96 yards per game. But the flaw has been the pass rush. That first half against Texas State was not an anomaly. It’s been a problem. Because of that, they’re not helping an inexperienced secondary that really needs it.
What’s disappointing is that just about everybody is back. Cole Maxwell is back from his injury. They’re just not winning enough at the point of attack. I don’t know you fix it.
Football 101
>Special teams were decent. Issac Power didn’t have a great night, but he was OK. The fatal flaw is the blocked PAT early in the fourth that’s returned for two points. Baylor takes the momentum at 37-31 on Jones’ TD run and then gives it right back at 37-33 on an untimed down. That’s nine points Baylor has allowed in the last two weeks.
>Obviously, this defense has a tackling problem. Beyond the fundamentals, that’s an effort thing. Either you want to do it, or you don’t. We’re at a point in the season where that should not have to be addressed. Unfortunately, Baylor’s defensive staff is going to have to spend some time doing that when it could be using other time to prepare for Kansas and other schematic ideas.
>Baylor is now -2 in the turnover ratio this year with the three it committed Thursday. To show you what a wild card the turnover ratio is – and it’s like this every year – Baylor was +12 in 2021. West Virginia scored 14 points off the two lost fumbles.
>Anyone enjoy the déjà vu moment with about nine minutes remaining in the third quarter in a 24-24 tie when Aranda went for it on 4th-and-1 on the Baylor 35? We just saw this movie against Oklahoma State. Well, they converted on a Reese two-yard run and eventually scored to take a 31-24 lead. I’m a punt/field position guy there. But I guess I’m as stubborn about punting there as Aranda is as stubborn about going for it there.
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 43-40 loss at West Virginia.
Gavin Holmes, WR, 6th: A veteran knows how to put things in perspective and have a short memory. After a brutal performance against Oklahoma State, Holmes bounced right back with a career night and one of the best performances by a Baylor WR in school history. His 56-yard catch-and-run TD was one of prettiest plays of the season.
Notable – Receiving: 7-210 1TD
John Mayers, PK, 5th: The blocked PAT was not his fault. Someone blew an assignment. For as much as he has struggled from 40+ plus in his career (4-9 lifetime before this game), he was nails Thursday converting both attempts from 40+ including the game-tying 44 yarder with 1:40 to play.
Notable – FGA: 2-2 (40, 44); PAT 4-5 (blocked)
Drake Dabney, TE, Jr.: He’s really becoming a featured part of this passing attack. It’s almost like Ben Sims and him are 1 and 1A. Dabney is physical where he is a matchup problem, and his hands are soft and sure. Nice luxury to have. He’ll be the No. 1 tight end when Sims’ career ends. Dabney was the second leading pass catcher Thursday.
Notable – Receiving: 5-66 (13.2 ypc, 24 YAC)
Publisher
Baylor’s hopes of returning to the Big 12 Championship Game Dec. 3 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington are on life support following Thursday’s heartbreaking 43-40 loss at West Virginia.
The Bears (3-3, 1-2) likely must run the table for the remainder of the season to finish 7-2 and get some help along the way. Not impossible as two-thirds of the conference season lies in front of them. Anything can happen.
Baylor returns to McLane Stadium for Homecoming against Kansas at 11:00 a.m. Saturday.
SicEmSports provides reflections, observations and three Golden Bears.
Upon Reflection
Let’s start with the health of this team. If these apparent concussions to quarterback Blake Shapen and running back Sqwirl Williams are serious enough to where they miss Kansas, the depth at both of those positions thins.
We’ll get an update from Dave Aranda on Monday at his presser. Maybe the two extra days means something.
However, if Kyron Drones starts, he’s the last scholarship QB on the active roster. His backup is probably walk-on Luke Anthony. While Anthony has scholarship experience between Abilene Christian and Louisiana Tech, the one question that would have to be answered should he go out there for an extended period of time is how mobile he is. He suffered a pretty rough ankle injury in the final game of 2020 at TCU and missed all of 2021.
With no Taye McWilliams, possibly no Sqwirl and Josh Fleeks entering the transfer portal, Baylor is down to two healthy backs – Richard Reese and Qualan Jones. After that, the only scholarship back on the roster is Jordan Jenkins who hasn’t played since Albany followed by walk-on Jacoby Clarke.
Even if Sqwirl is cleared to return, I would think the Baylor coaches would be hypercautious with him and use him sparingly if at all. You just don’t mess with head injuries because of a person’s lifelong future.
Moving forward
Perhaps college quarterbacks should be taught not to slide or find a different way to give themselves up if they are running. Shapen and Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel suffered their concussion in the same manner. Gabriel returned Saturday against Kansas.
While most want to tar and feather West Virginia’s Andrew Wilson-Lamp, if you watch the play, he immediately got up and knew he messed up. The other thing is walk a mile in the defender’s shoes. He’s coming 0 to 100 at the QB before Shapen starts to slide. It’s difficult for defenders to slam on the breaks and stop if they have started their motion to make the play. Not impossible because they can somewhat control how they approach the ball carrier.
Cold Fronts
Let’s talk about the offensive and defensive lines. The thing about a team like Baylor is that once you think something has been fixed on one side, then the other springs a leak.
Had absolutely no issues with the offensive line. Thought that unit was good. Even with no Khalil Keith, they were solid against a solid Mountaineer front. Shapen was sacked twice – technically one on the fumble that was returned for a touchdown – but the running game averaged 4.8 yards per carry, a full yard more than what they had done against other P5 teams. You all know how I’ve harped on that. Holes were there all night.
Defensively, this group was a huge disappointment. Zero pressure on West Virginia QB J.T. Daniels. He was pressured once. That’s it. A clean pocket all night. To make it worse, they were getting blown off the line against the Mountaineer’s backup running back Tony Mathis who finished with 163 yards including the 37-yarder that set up the game-winning field goal.
They had been good against the run all year allowing 96 yards per game. But the flaw has been the pass rush. That first half against Texas State was not an anomaly. It’s been a problem. Because of that, they’re not helping an inexperienced secondary that really needs it.
What’s disappointing is that just about everybody is back. Cole Maxwell is back from his injury. They’re just not winning enough at the point of attack. I don’t know you fix it.
Football 101
>Special teams were decent. Issac Power didn’t have a great night, but he was OK. The fatal flaw is the blocked PAT early in the fourth that’s returned for two points. Baylor takes the momentum at 37-31 on Jones’ TD run and then gives it right back at 37-33 on an untimed down. That’s nine points Baylor has allowed in the last two weeks.
>Obviously, this defense has a tackling problem. Beyond the fundamentals, that’s an effort thing. Either you want to do it, or you don’t. We’re at a point in the season where that should not have to be addressed. Unfortunately, Baylor’s defensive staff is going to have to spend some time doing that when it could be using other time to prepare for Kansas and other schematic ideas.
>Baylor is now -2 in the turnover ratio this year with the three it committed Thursday. To show you what a wild card the turnover ratio is – and it’s like this every year – Baylor was +12 in 2021. West Virginia scored 14 points off the two lost fumbles.
>Anyone enjoy the déjà vu moment with about nine minutes remaining in the third quarter in a 24-24 tie when Aranda went for it on 4th-and-1 on the Baylor 35? We just saw this movie against Oklahoma State. Well, they converted on a Reese two-yard run and eventually scored to take a 31-24 lead. I’m a punt/field position guy there. But I guess I’m as stubborn about punting there as Aranda is as stubborn about going for it there.
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 43-40 loss at West Virginia.
Gavin Holmes, WR, 6th: A veteran knows how to put things in perspective and have a short memory. After a brutal performance against Oklahoma State, Holmes bounced right back with a career night and one of the best performances by a Baylor WR in school history. His 56-yard catch-and-run TD was one of prettiest plays of the season.
Notable – Receiving: 7-210 1TD
John Mayers, PK, 5th: The blocked PAT was not his fault. Someone blew an assignment. For as much as he has struggled from 40+ plus in his career (4-9 lifetime before this game), he was nails Thursday converting both attempts from 40+ including the game-tying 44 yarder with 1:40 to play.
Notable – FGA: 2-2 (40, 44); PAT 4-5 (blocked)
Drake Dabney, TE, Jr.: He’s really becoming a featured part of this passing attack. It’s almost like Ben Sims and him are 1 and 1A. Dabney is physical where he is a matchup problem, and his hands are soft and sure. Nice luxury to have. He’ll be the No. 1 tight end when Sims’ career ends. Dabney was the second leading pass catcher Thursday.
Notable – Receiving: 5-66 (13.2 ypc, 24 YAC)
