By KEVIN LONNQUIST
Publisher
Baylor is now 3-0 following its 70-17 mauling of Rice Saturday at McLane Stadium. Thanks for your patience as family comes first. But it was a successful event with all smiles.
>Does everybody feel better, now? Can we take a deep breath and exhale? Everything just looked like it back in order, didn’t it?
>First of all, this looked like the Baylor team that we have been used to seeing for all of these years. And there’s a very simple reason for that. This program let the running game return as the lead dog. I don’t know if the one-game suspension was a seminal moment for Kendal Briles. What I hope the three weeks between SMU and Rice provided was some perspective that this offense will function at its very best when the running game leads the charge. History tells us that’s the case. The numbers and percentages back it up. I get that Kendal wanted to put his signature on this team with vertical shots and mixing in some running here and there.
>But the running game does so much for this. First, it gets the overall offense into a rhythm. Second, it gets the running backs into a rhythm. Third, it settles the quarterback. First possession of the day was seven plays. There were four rushing attempts. There were four really good running attempts. I’m repeating that because when you drop the first haymaker on your opponent in the form of a running game, it sends a signal that this is the way business is going to be done for the rest of the day. Baylor rushed for 427 yards -- led by Shock Linwood’s 158 – and out muscled an undersized Rice defensive line. Then again, it should do that. And I’m not worried about what this group can do in the Big 12 because this running game but beating opposing Big 12 defenses consistently over the years. The fourth TD scoring drive was eight plays, seven rushing attempts. Baylor football.
>As much as chicks dig the deep ball, the game of successful offensive football still comes down to running the football. What Art Briles did was incorporate a vertical passing attack that compliments it. I can’t give you all of the X’s and O’s in how it all fits. What I can tell you is that the Baylor head coach understands what it takes to win. I think he and Kendal probably had some sessions to reflect on this and found a way to get back to what works. I do not believe this will be a one-game scenario. I have every reason to believe this will continue next week against Texas Tech.
>I’m also going to go on record that Shock Linwood is going to get a real shot at breaking Walter Abercrombie’s all-time school record. He’s 363 for the year. He began the season needing 1,533 yards to break it. He now needs 1,170. So that would mean he would have to average 130 yards in the final nine games in order to do it. I know that Baylor prides itself on distributing the wealth. But perhaps this staff realized that it may not be a bad idea to make Linwood the primary ball carrier. You know what they say: Let your best players be your best players. Linwood is Baylor’s best running back. And it’s not even close.
>So let’s talk about the quarterback – Seth Russell. He was 12-16 for 277 yards and six touchdowns. Because the running game took control, Russell turned into the passenger who sits in the back seat of the car that Briles always referenced. For the first time in his three games, I thought this was the best the mid-range ball looked. I would argue that the slant ball to Jay Lee and turned into a 57-yard score was probably the best ball I’ve seen from him to this point. It was tight. It was through a narrow window. It zipped past the Rice defender by the length of a thimble. The play was as good as it gets. Now, will it work that way against a Big 12 safety? We’ll just have to see. But this was big for his confidence. He needed this to feel like he has control. There was the one series where two throws were “What was that?” But if he continues to play like this, then Baylor’s offense will continue to move in the right direction.
>With this receiving corps, Corey Coleman (6-100, 3 TD, 3-28 rushing -- keep doing that) is Russell’s most trusted ally. And Russell and Jay Lee are forming a pretty solid combination. What I don’t know is what the deal is with KD Cannon. I could have missed something. But after his nice 26-yard TD grab in the first quarter, where was he? In the last two games, Cannon is 3-43. I said a couple of weeks ago before I pronounce anything something odd is developing, But this is not what you want to see from your No. 2 receiver.
>Defensively, this thing looked really wobbly at first. But once the Bears realized that Rice QB Driphus Jackson wasn’t accurate with the deep ball and that his only true receiving target was Dennis Parks, Baylor could lock down and go after him. The forced and recovered fumble by Travon Blanchard (seven tackles) was a pretty darn amazing play because he did it in one motion. Best game he’s played. Baylor finished with five sacks and really shut down a pretty decent Rice offense to 246 yards. The defensive front pushed the pocket around. Shawn Oakman was pretty good. Andrew Billings was amazing. As for Byron Bonds’ broken hand, it doesn’t sound like it’s a big deal. We’ve seen it before when a pin is inserted (I’m assuming that’s what will happen here) and then he plays with a cast.
>I’m going to tell you that I want to see the LaQuan McGowan TE experiment come to an end and that Gus Penning should run with this thing full time. Where McGowan shouldn’t be is with the special teams. I’m not ripping McGowan. His story of coming out of Amarillo Boys Ranch and making something out of his life is something to be admired. His teammates love him. I’m just not sure what McGowan is going to add that will make a difference.
>Steady work by the backups again. Good reps for Jarrett Stidham. Terence Williams delivered another intriguing performance. While we blast Baylor for this schedule (and some of it is deserved), the benefit is that youngsters see some quality playing time so if they’re needed in October or November, they can handle it.
>Best stat for me was Baylor on third down: 8-11. Says it all.
>Time to get ready to get back up to DFW for what should be another interesting battle with Texas Tech. I’m sure the Red Raiders are crushed after letting that game against TCU get away. But college football is so week to week. With the unbridled raw emotion, that’s why it makes for a great game.
Publisher
Baylor is now 3-0 following its 70-17 mauling of Rice Saturday at McLane Stadium. Thanks for your patience as family comes first. But it was a successful event with all smiles.
>Does everybody feel better, now? Can we take a deep breath and exhale? Everything just looked like it back in order, didn’t it?
>First of all, this looked like the Baylor team that we have been used to seeing for all of these years. And there’s a very simple reason for that. This program let the running game return as the lead dog. I don’t know if the one-game suspension was a seminal moment for Kendal Briles. What I hope the three weeks between SMU and Rice provided was some perspective that this offense will function at its very best when the running game leads the charge. History tells us that’s the case. The numbers and percentages back it up. I get that Kendal wanted to put his signature on this team with vertical shots and mixing in some running here and there.
>But the running game does so much for this. First, it gets the overall offense into a rhythm. Second, it gets the running backs into a rhythm. Third, it settles the quarterback. First possession of the day was seven plays. There were four rushing attempts. There were four really good running attempts. I’m repeating that because when you drop the first haymaker on your opponent in the form of a running game, it sends a signal that this is the way business is going to be done for the rest of the day. Baylor rushed for 427 yards -- led by Shock Linwood’s 158 – and out muscled an undersized Rice defensive line. Then again, it should do that. And I’m not worried about what this group can do in the Big 12 because this running game but beating opposing Big 12 defenses consistently over the years. The fourth TD scoring drive was eight plays, seven rushing attempts. Baylor football.
>As much as chicks dig the deep ball, the game of successful offensive football still comes down to running the football. What Art Briles did was incorporate a vertical passing attack that compliments it. I can’t give you all of the X’s and O’s in how it all fits. What I can tell you is that the Baylor head coach understands what it takes to win. I think he and Kendal probably had some sessions to reflect on this and found a way to get back to what works. I do not believe this will be a one-game scenario. I have every reason to believe this will continue next week against Texas Tech.
>I’m also going to go on record that Shock Linwood is going to get a real shot at breaking Walter Abercrombie’s all-time school record. He’s 363 for the year. He began the season needing 1,533 yards to break it. He now needs 1,170. So that would mean he would have to average 130 yards in the final nine games in order to do it. I know that Baylor prides itself on distributing the wealth. But perhaps this staff realized that it may not be a bad idea to make Linwood the primary ball carrier. You know what they say: Let your best players be your best players. Linwood is Baylor’s best running back. And it’s not even close.
>So let’s talk about the quarterback – Seth Russell. He was 12-16 for 277 yards and six touchdowns. Because the running game took control, Russell turned into the passenger who sits in the back seat of the car that Briles always referenced. For the first time in his three games, I thought this was the best the mid-range ball looked. I would argue that the slant ball to Jay Lee and turned into a 57-yard score was probably the best ball I’ve seen from him to this point. It was tight. It was through a narrow window. It zipped past the Rice defender by the length of a thimble. The play was as good as it gets. Now, will it work that way against a Big 12 safety? We’ll just have to see. But this was big for his confidence. He needed this to feel like he has control. There was the one series where two throws were “What was that?” But if he continues to play like this, then Baylor’s offense will continue to move in the right direction.
>With this receiving corps, Corey Coleman (6-100, 3 TD, 3-28 rushing -- keep doing that) is Russell’s most trusted ally. And Russell and Jay Lee are forming a pretty solid combination. What I don’t know is what the deal is with KD Cannon. I could have missed something. But after his nice 26-yard TD grab in the first quarter, where was he? In the last two games, Cannon is 3-43. I said a couple of weeks ago before I pronounce anything something odd is developing, But this is not what you want to see from your No. 2 receiver.
>Defensively, this thing looked really wobbly at first. But once the Bears realized that Rice QB Driphus Jackson wasn’t accurate with the deep ball and that his only true receiving target was Dennis Parks, Baylor could lock down and go after him. The forced and recovered fumble by Travon Blanchard (seven tackles) was a pretty darn amazing play because he did it in one motion. Best game he’s played. Baylor finished with five sacks and really shut down a pretty decent Rice offense to 246 yards. The defensive front pushed the pocket around. Shawn Oakman was pretty good. Andrew Billings was amazing. As for Byron Bonds’ broken hand, it doesn’t sound like it’s a big deal. We’ve seen it before when a pin is inserted (I’m assuming that’s what will happen here) and then he plays with a cast.
>I’m going to tell you that I want to see the LaQuan McGowan TE experiment come to an end and that Gus Penning should run with this thing full time. Where McGowan shouldn’t be is with the special teams. I’m not ripping McGowan. His story of coming out of Amarillo Boys Ranch and making something out of his life is something to be admired. His teammates love him. I’m just not sure what McGowan is going to add that will make a difference.
>Steady work by the backups again. Good reps for Jarrett Stidham. Terence Williams delivered another intriguing performance. While we blast Baylor for this schedule (and some of it is deserved), the benefit is that youngsters see some quality playing time so if they’re needed in October or November, they can handle it.
>Best stat for me was Baylor on third down: 8-11. Says it all.
>Time to get ready to get back up to DFW for what should be another interesting battle with Texas Tech. I’m sure the Red Raiders are crushed after letting that game against TCU get away. But college football is so week to week. With the unbridled raw emotion, that’s why it makes for a great game.
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