I'm adding observations soon. Wanted you all to see what was said.
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Before we get into this, let's keep everything in context. This was a scrimmage that was missing several key players in QB Seth Russell, DT Byron Bonds and RB Shock Linwood. Plus, it really wasn't a full-fledged scrimmage. It was scrimmagish.
As you read from Art Briles, Russell has been dealing with a pectoral issue. It sounded like this was more precautionary. And as is Briles' philosophy, there's not going to be a lot in the playbook shown. There shouldn't be. It's a scrimmage. Be good at the simple stuff first.
Baylor really has to be good at the simple stuff. This is a team that may struggle imposing its will. It will be a good team. Can it contend for the Big 12? There's a lot of work in front of it before that kind of talk surfaces from the Simpson Athletic Center.
Observations:
>Some of this is going to depend on what happens when Bonds returns healthy in the fall, Kilgore College DT DeQuinton Osborn arrives and if signee DT Bravvion Roy arrives, but the defensive front was pretty much a 3-man look. On the first team, you had Jeremy Faulk in the middle flanked by Brian Nance and K.J. Smith.
It had some good qualities too it. As we mentioned when Baylor first started, this is probably going to be used about 25 percent of the time. But that's always subject to change. Travon Blanchard and Taylor Young on the edge. Those two can move very well off the edge. If Baylor doesn't get the consistency in the DT (we're leading with our chin here a little bit), then you could see the defense use that front more.
>Found it interesting Brian Nance was in a four-point stance. He can be effective as long as he's not an every down type of player. I'm sure the staff knows that.
>Blanchard dropped an easy Pick 6. He's the best player on this defense.
>Safety work between Orion Stewart and Chance Waz was solid. Davion Hall isn't ready to challenge either for a starting role yet. But I do expect him to make the 2-deep with Jourdan Blake.
>Just an OK performance from the offensive line. There is still a lot of work to do with this group. Baylor started the scrimmage with a five LT Dom Desouza, LG, BJ Autry, C Kyle Fuller, RG Rami Hammad and RT Patrick Lawrence.
I would anticipate that this is just a starting point. The 2-deep you see at the end of spring may look a lot different Sept. 3 against Northwestern State. Plus, 2016 signees Patrick Hudson and J.P. Urquidez arrive in June. And it's already a possibility those two could figure into things.
>A lot of good reps for Zach Smith and Jarrett Stidham. There were some good balls and not so good. You'll read that Stidham believes he's competing for the starting job. Time will tell.
>Here's why I like WR Chris Platt: He has no fear going across the middle. He understands that he will take contact and will still fight for yardage. Very dependable hands. Great speed. Tough kid.
>KD Cannon had a nice 30-yard grab from Stidham. Well placed ball right over Ryan Reid. Usually, he's pretty emotional out there. But I didn't see that. Kept everything in perspective. Kept working. Maybe he understands the expectations?
>JaMycal Hasty took advantage of Devin Chafin (suspension) and Linwood (knee) being out of the lineup. His usage is really up in the air. But he's such a threat when QBs are throwing to him. He just has that skill.
>The PK game will feature Drew Galitz as the long FG kicker and Chris Callahan handling mostly everything inside of 40 yards. Callahan looked bad on a 52-yard attempt. But he drilled a 42-yard effort. Galitz missed a 52-yard attempt but he had plenty of leg on it. Remember, he's a nationally recognized punter and kicker. Galitz will handle kickoffs.
>The return game should be fine with all of the options available.
Bottom line: Don't get too excited or too concerned about what Baylor did and did not accomplish from this spring season that officially ends Tuesday. The 2014 and 2015 teams were pretty veteran groups that understood what had to be done.
With the 2016 there's a little more of a learning curve. I think this team needs to find a personality. Briles spoke to the players wanting to play hungry like they did in the 2010-12 years. He wants that edge.
There's a lot of quality players on the roster. They're just pretty young and experienced. In some cases, this team is going to learn the hard way. But it will turn around and dazzle.
Spring offered just some ideas. A long journey remains.
Story link
Before we get into this, let's keep everything in context. This was a scrimmage that was missing several key players in QB Seth Russell, DT Byron Bonds and RB Shock Linwood. Plus, it really wasn't a full-fledged scrimmage. It was scrimmagish.
As you read from Art Briles, Russell has been dealing with a pectoral issue. It sounded like this was more precautionary. And as is Briles' philosophy, there's not going to be a lot in the playbook shown. There shouldn't be. It's a scrimmage. Be good at the simple stuff first.
Baylor really has to be good at the simple stuff. This is a team that may struggle imposing its will. It will be a good team. Can it contend for the Big 12? There's a lot of work in front of it before that kind of talk surfaces from the Simpson Athletic Center.
Observations:
>Some of this is going to depend on what happens when Bonds returns healthy in the fall, Kilgore College DT DeQuinton Osborn arrives and if signee DT Bravvion Roy arrives, but the defensive front was pretty much a 3-man look. On the first team, you had Jeremy Faulk in the middle flanked by Brian Nance and K.J. Smith.
It had some good qualities too it. As we mentioned when Baylor first started, this is probably going to be used about 25 percent of the time. But that's always subject to change. Travon Blanchard and Taylor Young on the edge. Those two can move very well off the edge. If Baylor doesn't get the consistency in the DT (we're leading with our chin here a little bit), then you could see the defense use that front more.
>Found it interesting Brian Nance was in a four-point stance. He can be effective as long as he's not an every down type of player. I'm sure the staff knows that.
>Blanchard dropped an easy Pick 6. He's the best player on this defense.
>Safety work between Orion Stewart and Chance Waz was solid. Davion Hall isn't ready to challenge either for a starting role yet. But I do expect him to make the 2-deep with Jourdan Blake.
>Just an OK performance from the offensive line. There is still a lot of work to do with this group. Baylor started the scrimmage with a five LT Dom Desouza, LG, BJ Autry, C Kyle Fuller, RG Rami Hammad and RT Patrick Lawrence.
I would anticipate that this is just a starting point. The 2-deep you see at the end of spring may look a lot different Sept. 3 against Northwestern State. Plus, 2016 signees Patrick Hudson and J.P. Urquidez arrive in June. And it's already a possibility those two could figure into things.
>A lot of good reps for Zach Smith and Jarrett Stidham. There were some good balls and not so good. You'll read that Stidham believes he's competing for the starting job. Time will tell.
>Here's why I like WR Chris Platt: He has no fear going across the middle. He understands that he will take contact and will still fight for yardage. Very dependable hands. Great speed. Tough kid.
>KD Cannon had a nice 30-yard grab from Stidham. Well placed ball right over Ryan Reid. Usually, he's pretty emotional out there. But I didn't see that. Kept everything in perspective. Kept working. Maybe he understands the expectations?
>JaMycal Hasty took advantage of Devin Chafin (suspension) and Linwood (knee) being out of the lineup. His usage is really up in the air. But he's such a threat when QBs are throwing to him. He just has that skill.
>The PK game will feature Drew Galitz as the long FG kicker and Chris Callahan handling mostly everything inside of 40 yards. Callahan looked bad on a 52-yard attempt. But he drilled a 42-yard effort. Galitz missed a 52-yard attempt but he had plenty of leg on it. Remember, he's a nationally recognized punter and kicker. Galitz will handle kickoffs.
>The return game should be fine with all of the options available.
Bottom line: Don't get too excited or too concerned about what Baylor did and did not accomplish from this spring season that officially ends Tuesday. The 2014 and 2015 teams were pretty veteran groups that understood what had to be done.
With the 2016 there's a little more of a learning curve. I think this team needs to find a personality. Briles spoke to the players wanting to play hungry like they did in the 2010-12 years. He wants that edge.
There's a lot of quality players on the roster. They're just pretty young and experienced. In some cases, this team is going to learn the hard way. But it will turn around and dazzle.
Spring offered just some ideas. A long journey remains.
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