Sometimes, you just need to hear it. The RJB knows there can be that one minute of inspiration that changes attitudes from dour to overjoyed.
There’s nothing like hearing the alma mater’s fight song. When the first few bars play, they take you back to that special win or play that turned the game or just good ole nostalgia.
The psychology of a fight school’s fight song and how it can influence people is unsurpassed. You see the team run out of the tunnel amid the white smoke and the cheerleaders tumbling.
You feel 21 again. You always feel 21 for that one minute. It inspires. It motivates. It paints a smile.
Nothing can replace it. Nothing ever will. So as Baylor’s football program is ready to embark on another season this coming Saturday, the RJB is trying to get you going by giving you a little jam in your step. You need it.
YOU NEED IT MORE THAN YOU KNOW!!
****
Note: With COVID-19 safeguards in place, your publisher plans to attend Baylor home games this season starting this coming Saturday against Louisiana Tech. There are four other home games against Kansas, Kansas State, TCU and Oklahoma State that I will have to evaluate.
At first, I thought this was going to be a bit of a stretch to make it work and wasn’t sure if the Baylor press box would be able to accommodate. But it will, and I will hit the road early Saturday morning.
There shouldn’t be a problem with traffic trying to get into the stadium. But you’ll find the coverage shouldn’t change from the way it looked in previous years. I may add something more on Sunday other than Golden Bear performances.
I’m never looking behind and worrying about what happened in previous months because of the pandemic. You can’t change the course of what happened anyway.
My mantra has been day by day. And the attitude should be keep doing what you’re doing until you’re told you can’t do it.
In other words, Baylor is playing football this season. It starts Saturday. If you’re living in fear of what could happen when you don’t know what will happen, you need to ask yourself, WHY?
****
THE BAYLOR 2020 PREVIEW
Here we go. Dave Aranda’s first season as a college head football coach begins at 11:00 a.m. at McLane Stadium against Louisiana Tech.
It’s going to be an unusual start for him. Actually, it already has been. Aranda was announced on Jan. 17 and worked very little with his team before the pandemic struck in mid-March and closed everything down.
The first time Aranda could see his team in pads knocking into each other was about mid-August. Judging by reading what other college coaches said about how they had to deal with contact in practice, they were being extra careful. So maybe their teams weren’t as physical as they needed them to be.
I’m not sure how much you can expect from a physical football team in 2020. Based on the games I have watched it was a little chaotic. They looked like they had not been hitting each other much in practice.
The off week between La Tech and the Big 12 opener against Kansas will be a great time to review, teach and figure out further how to step it up or where to throttle back.
That said, I will let you know that there could be weeks when the starting lineup for either side of the ball could be chaotic because guys could be out for contact tracing or may have contracted the virus. Welcome to 2020 college football.
Quarterback
There really isn’t a question here. Charlie Brewer leads this unit as well as the locker room. He’s worked in the offseason on arm strength so maybe those deep verticals have a little more crispness to them than we have seen in previous years.
It would be big to have it. Then there is Brewer working with new OC Larry Fedora on an offense that’s similar to what he was asked to do at Lake Travis. What Brewer has to do it keep himself upright for all 10 games. Some of his injuries were because of his offensive line. See Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game. Some of it was on him. See Georgia in the Cotton Bowl. Brewer has that winner’s mentality. Look at all the comebacks in 2018 and 2019. Track records mean something.
Now, the race for backup will be known when the 2-deep is released on Monday. Since I don’t make the decisions, I will be shocked if it isn’t Jacob Zeno. He may not be listed that way. However, I just think he’s a better QB than Gerry Bohanon.
Running Back
Baylor may not have a 1,000-yard rusher again this year. But that will be fine as long as the running game is just more consistent. The 2019 edition had a tendency to make the numbers look better than they were. Home run plays helped the average. They’re great to have. However, you can’t count on them. This attack struggled for anything between the tackles.
If the front is better, then the consistency will follow. John Lovett and Trestan Ebner likely will be the major number of carries. I think Lovett will see the most.
I’d watch what Qualan Jones will contribute in this attack. You could see him get a series or two or three. He can be an every down or even a short-yardage if necessary.
What does that mean for 2020 newbie Taye McWilliams? That’s anyone’s guess. I think he could be a part of things. Work in the fall will determine it.
This is a good group. Ebner is the best pass catcher out of the four. We really don’t know what the others will do.
Wide Receiver
To be honest, Wide Receiver U has some serious talent with this group. What it lacks is an alpha. That’s a must for every unit.
In Friday’s blitz, I rolled out what should be your top five pass catchers between Tyquan Thornton, R.J. Sneed, Jared Atkinson, Gavin Holmes and Josh Fleeks.
If you’re asking me the order of importance, this is way I see it:
1) Thornton
2) Sneed
3) Holmes
4) Fleeks
5) Atkinson
Thornton has the most consistent track record of anyone. He’s probably the most talented. He’s the vertical threat. What he needs to develop is being a chain mover.
Sneed probably could develop into that chain moving receiver. He’s consistent. On 3rd and 6, he’s the one likely to catch that slant that goes for nine yards.
I’m going with my gut and from what I’ve heard about Holmes. The way he has responded in the offseason and fall camp following two torn ACLs is a credit to his desire to be a better player and to work for something.
If Holmes is all the way back, he makes this group really intriguing. I really don’t know how to identify him as a burner or a chain mover or anything in between until I see him Saturday. And it may take until Kansas to really know.
Fleeks has the potential to be a game changer. This is probably a year of decision for him. Atkinson has been a catch here, catch there type of player. Perhaps the urgency of a career winding down (2021 notwithstanding) could be a valued part of this group.
Offensive Line/Tight End
Despite the total optimism coming from the Simpson building, your publisher will remind you of the following: track records mean something.
Since 2016, the offensive line has been the worst unit on this team. It has stifled the running game and it hasn’t protected quarterbacks very well either. You know that in 2019, Baylor quarterbacks were sacked or hurried 72 times. That’s way too many.
Perhaps a veteran coach like Joe Wickline will make a difference. We’re going to find out quickly.
So if the left tackle is Connor Galvin, the left guard is Casey Phillips, center is Xavier Newman-Johnson, right guard is Mose Jeffery and right tackle is Blake Bedier, you could live with that.
It’s not an earth moving unit. I would call Galvin and Newman-Johnson the most credible of the five. Phillips still has a learning curve. Bedier is in the middle of major learning curve. Jeffery was brought here to produce immediately. He needs to depth.
Depth is a concern after those five. Obviously, UCLA transfer Jake Burton helps there. The sooner he can contribute, the better off things will be.
When it comes to tight end, you almost feel like you won’t see it until you believe it. Christoph Henle, Ben Sims are the top two choices at this point. But until you see Fedora really work them into the attack, you have to assume things will change little.
Defensive Line
So 2020 success hinges on this group. It lost so much with James Lynch, Bravvion Roy and James Lockhart departing.
Your possible starters in this 3-man front with TJ Franklin and Gabe Hall at the ends and Chidi Ogbonnaya at the nose.
There’s not a lot of experience there. But there is some experience. Ogbonnaya is probably the one who has seen most real time action.
Then it becomes a case where some little used or never used bodies like Josh Landry, Rob Saulin, Cole Maxwell and Ryan Miller. Obviously, Dennis Johnson, Aranda and Ron Roberts have looked at rotations to see when to substitute and when there could be projected drop off or perhaps a burst. When a unit like this doesn’t have any knowns to it, it doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt.
If you remember Miller, he was the starting center for Matt Rhule’s first two games. He then eventually switched sides. Maxwell has played in only two games over the last two years because of knee injuries. Saulin has gone back and forth at tight end. He started the last four games of 2019 at TE.
Then there’s the idea of keeping those people healthy….
Linebacker
In four months, this group went from being the second biggest question mark on this team to becoming settled.
Arkansas State grad transfer William Bradley-King serves a dual role of playing the second line and acting as a rush defensive end because he was a dominant DE during his time with the Red Wolves.
Iowa transfer Dillon Doyle is immediately eligible and will patrol the middle. He saw enough action with the Hawkeyes in 2019 to feel comfortable with the speed at the first line.
Terrel Bernard, who is fast becoming one of the leaders of the locker room, flips to the outside at the will spot. But he can also be used as a rusher as well.
Now, depth is a bit of concern as well because there is not a lot of seasoning accompanying Ashton Logan, Bryson Jackson, Matt Jones, Hakeem Vance and maybe Tyrone Brown.
You just get the sense that Roberts could be blitzing more this year to help the front.
Secondary
Excluding quarterback, this position group ranks third behind running back and wide receiver in terms of depth and confidence.
There are good corners led by Raleigh Texada and Kalon Barnes. The safeties could be as good as this team has had between Jalen Pitre, who will be at the star position, JT Woods and Christian Morgan. Add in JUCO transfer Al Walcott and things look even better.
Baylor’s pass defense allowed just 15 touchdown passes in 2019. It collected 17 interceptions. Obviously, a good front can help for those numbers. It’s going to be up to this unit to carry the torch early as the defensive line finds some consistency and rotation that warrants confidence.
Special Teams
Baylor should be fine with its specialists with John Mayers at PK, Issac Power at punter and Noah Rauschenberg as the kickoff specialist.
The coverage teams have been solid. The return game has not been anything to get excited about either. Now, if special teams coordinator Matt Powledge wants to try Lovett and Ebner back there, it couldn’t hurt.
This is a unit that traditionally hasn’t cost Baylor a game. But there have been moments were its saved games between the blocked kicks that saved games against West Virginia and Iowa State and then the field goals that won games against Iowa State and TCU.
Intangibles
Depth is going to be really tested with this team. It concentrates on both fronts and linebacker. There’s also a question of who is ready to handle the offense should the Bears lose Charlie Brewer. I made this comment in last year’s preview that they were a Brewer injury away from having their season go upside down. That hasn’t changed for 2020…one thing to watch is penalties. Baylor was whistled 91 times in 14 games. That’s 6.5 per game. That wasn’t a bad number. If the Bears can keep that there in 2019 that will help in what is considered a transition season….Baylor corrected the problem with the turnover ratio and finished +11. Time will tell if another season like that could repeat itself. But anything around +4 would be a good season…pay attention to the yards per rush this season. But also do your own math when you take away the home run plays (40 yards or more) and see where it stands. If it’s still more than 4.5 per carry, then Baylor is doing a good job running the ball.
The 2020 Schedule
Not much has changed from Baylor’s Big 12 schedule. It still has the road games at Texas, at Oklahoma, at West Virginia, at Texas Tech and at Iowa State. The home games are Kansas, Kansas State, TCU and Oklahoma State. Of course, the lone non-conference game is Saturday against Louisiana Tech. There are three bye weeks: Sept. 19, Oct. 10 and Nov. 21. That allows for flexibility for any games that could get postponed. There’s also the chance that a game could get played on Dec. 12, the week after the Dec. 5 in Norman. The advantage for the schedule is that it rotates home and away. The consecutive road trips are Nov. 7 at Iowa State and Nov. 14 at Texas Tech. Another advantage is that West Virginia is early Oct. 3 where the weather should be reasonable. Baylor has never won in Morgantown. Baylor makes its first trip to Lubbock since 2008.
The Prediction
Baylor is predicted fifth in the Big 12 by the media. I figured the Bears would be there. I picked them fourth. But as we know, slots 4-7 are pretty interchangeable. I think the road win possibilities are in Lubbock and Morgantown. I don’t feel good about their chances in Norman, Austin and Ames, IA. All of the home games are winnable. Oklahoma State is the wild card because the Cowboys could be really dangerous this fall. Then, there’s annual rivalry meeting with TCU. Rivalry games can go anywhere as we’ve seen the last two years when each won in the other’s building.
I’m good with the skill positions on this team. I would feel better if Zeno is actually the backup behind Brewer. I don’t make that decision so Aranda and Fedora don’t care what I think. Still, see above about what I said about a Brewer devastating injury.
My major concerns are the defensive line and defensive lines. I think the offensive line can be OK as long as there are not injury issues there. I have no idea what to think of the defensive front. I’m really worried about it. Football is about the trenches. If you can’t consistently push the other guy back, it’s going to catch up to you.
I don’t foresee a return trip to the Big 12 Championship game unless you get the string of things that fell right for this team last year. However, you make your own breaks.
Plus, there is the oddity of games and lineups looking weird because of COVID-19. Expect it to happen. Feel blessed if it doesn’t. So far, Baylor has done a really good job there. Yet it changes daily.
This will be a good debut season for Aranda. Baylor will return to the postseason.
Record: 6-4
There’s nothing like hearing the alma mater’s fight song. When the first few bars play, they take you back to that special win or play that turned the game or just good ole nostalgia.
The psychology of a fight school’s fight song and how it can influence people is unsurpassed. You see the team run out of the tunnel amid the white smoke and the cheerleaders tumbling.
You feel 21 again. You always feel 21 for that one minute. It inspires. It motivates. It paints a smile.
Nothing can replace it. Nothing ever will. So as Baylor’s football program is ready to embark on another season this coming Saturday, the RJB is trying to get you going by giving you a little jam in your step. You need it.
YOU NEED IT MORE THAN YOU KNOW!!
****
Note: With COVID-19 safeguards in place, your publisher plans to attend Baylor home games this season starting this coming Saturday against Louisiana Tech. There are four other home games against Kansas, Kansas State, TCU and Oklahoma State that I will have to evaluate.
At first, I thought this was going to be a bit of a stretch to make it work and wasn’t sure if the Baylor press box would be able to accommodate. But it will, and I will hit the road early Saturday morning.
There shouldn’t be a problem with traffic trying to get into the stadium. But you’ll find the coverage shouldn’t change from the way it looked in previous years. I may add something more on Sunday other than Golden Bear performances.
I’m never looking behind and worrying about what happened in previous months because of the pandemic. You can’t change the course of what happened anyway.
My mantra has been day by day. And the attitude should be keep doing what you’re doing until you’re told you can’t do it.
In other words, Baylor is playing football this season. It starts Saturday. If you’re living in fear of what could happen when you don’t know what will happen, you need to ask yourself, WHY?
****
THE BAYLOR 2020 PREVIEW
Here we go. Dave Aranda’s first season as a college head football coach begins at 11:00 a.m. at McLane Stadium against Louisiana Tech.
It’s going to be an unusual start for him. Actually, it already has been. Aranda was announced on Jan. 17 and worked very little with his team before the pandemic struck in mid-March and closed everything down.
The first time Aranda could see his team in pads knocking into each other was about mid-August. Judging by reading what other college coaches said about how they had to deal with contact in practice, they were being extra careful. So maybe their teams weren’t as physical as they needed them to be.
I’m not sure how much you can expect from a physical football team in 2020. Based on the games I have watched it was a little chaotic. They looked like they had not been hitting each other much in practice.
The off week between La Tech and the Big 12 opener against Kansas will be a great time to review, teach and figure out further how to step it up or where to throttle back.
That said, I will let you know that there could be weeks when the starting lineup for either side of the ball could be chaotic because guys could be out for contact tracing or may have contracted the virus. Welcome to 2020 college football.
Quarterback
There really isn’t a question here. Charlie Brewer leads this unit as well as the locker room. He’s worked in the offseason on arm strength so maybe those deep verticals have a little more crispness to them than we have seen in previous years.
It would be big to have it. Then there is Brewer working with new OC Larry Fedora on an offense that’s similar to what he was asked to do at Lake Travis. What Brewer has to do it keep himself upright for all 10 games. Some of his injuries were because of his offensive line. See Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game. Some of it was on him. See Georgia in the Cotton Bowl. Brewer has that winner’s mentality. Look at all the comebacks in 2018 and 2019. Track records mean something.
Now, the race for backup will be known when the 2-deep is released on Monday. Since I don’t make the decisions, I will be shocked if it isn’t Jacob Zeno. He may not be listed that way. However, I just think he’s a better QB than Gerry Bohanon.
Running Back
Baylor may not have a 1,000-yard rusher again this year. But that will be fine as long as the running game is just more consistent. The 2019 edition had a tendency to make the numbers look better than they were. Home run plays helped the average. They’re great to have. However, you can’t count on them. This attack struggled for anything between the tackles.
If the front is better, then the consistency will follow. John Lovett and Trestan Ebner likely will be the major number of carries. I think Lovett will see the most.
I’d watch what Qualan Jones will contribute in this attack. You could see him get a series or two or three. He can be an every down or even a short-yardage if necessary.
What does that mean for 2020 newbie Taye McWilliams? That’s anyone’s guess. I think he could be a part of things. Work in the fall will determine it.
This is a good group. Ebner is the best pass catcher out of the four. We really don’t know what the others will do.
Wide Receiver
To be honest, Wide Receiver U has some serious talent with this group. What it lacks is an alpha. That’s a must for every unit.
In Friday’s blitz, I rolled out what should be your top five pass catchers between Tyquan Thornton, R.J. Sneed, Jared Atkinson, Gavin Holmes and Josh Fleeks.
If you’re asking me the order of importance, this is way I see it:
1) Thornton
2) Sneed
3) Holmes
4) Fleeks
5) Atkinson
Thornton has the most consistent track record of anyone. He’s probably the most talented. He’s the vertical threat. What he needs to develop is being a chain mover.
Sneed probably could develop into that chain moving receiver. He’s consistent. On 3rd and 6, he’s the one likely to catch that slant that goes for nine yards.
I’m going with my gut and from what I’ve heard about Holmes. The way he has responded in the offseason and fall camp following two torn ACLs is a credit to his desire to be a better player and to work for something.
If Holmes is all the way back, he makes this group really intriguing. I really don’t know how to identify him as a burner or a chain mover or anything in between until I see him Saturday. And it may take until Kansas to really know.
Fleeks has the potential to be a game changer. This is probably a year of decision for him. Atkinson has been a catch here, catch there type of player. Perhaps the urgency of a career winding down (2021 notwithstanding) could be a valued part of this group.
Offensive Line/Tight End
Despite the total optimism coming from the Simpson building, your publisher will remind you of the following: track records mean something.
Since 2016, the offensive line has been the worst unit on this team. It has stifled the running game and it hasn’t protected quarterbacks very well either. You know that in 2019, Baylor quarterbacks were sacked or hurried 72 times. That’s way too many.
Perhaps a veteran coach like Joe Wickline will make a difference. We’re going to find out quickly.
So if the left tackle is Connor Galvin, the left guard is Casey Phillips, center is Xavier Newman-Johnson, right guard is Mose Jeffery and right tackle is Blake Bedier, you could live with that.
It’s not an earth moving unit. I would call Galvin and Newman-Johnson the most credible of the five. Phillips still has a learning curve. Bedier is in the middle of major learning curve. Jeffery was brought here to produce immediately. He needs to depth.
Depth is a concern after those five. Obviously, UCLA transfer Jake Burton helps there. The sooner he can contribute, the better off things will be.
When it comes to tight end, you almost feel like you won’t see it until you believe it. Christoph Henle, Ben Sims are the top two choices at this point. But until you see Fedora really work them into the attack, you have to assume things will change little.
Defensive Line
So 2020 success hinges on this group. It lost so much with James Lynch, Bravvion Roy and James Lockhart departing.
Your possible starters in this 3-man front with TJ Franklin and Gabe Hall at the ends and Chidi Ogbonnaya at the nose.
There’s not a lot of experience there. But there is some experience. Ogbonnaya is probably the one who has seen most real time action.
Then it becomes a case where some little used or never used bodies like Josh Landry, Rob Saulin, Cole Maxwell and Ryan Miller. Obviously, Dennis Johnson, Aranda and Ron Roberts have looked at rotations to see when to substitute and when there could be projected drop off or perhaps a burst. When a unit like this doesn’t have any knowns to it, it doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt.
If you remember Miller, he was the starting center for Matt Rhule’s first two games. He then eventually switched sides. Maxwell has played in only two games over the last two years because of knee injuries. Saulin has gone back and forth at tight end. He started the last four games of 2019 at TE.
Then there’s the idea of keeping those people healthy….
Linebacker
In four months, this group went from being the second biggest question mark on this team to becoming settled.
Arkansas State grad transfer William Bradley-King serves a dual role of playing the second line and acting as a rush defensive end because he was a dominant DE during his time with the Red Wolves.
Iowa transfer Dillon Doyle is immediately eligible and will patrol the middle. He saw enough action with the Hawkeyes in 2019 to feel comfortable with the speed at the first line.
Terrel Bernard, who is fast becoming one of the leaders of the locker room, flips to the outside at the will spot. But he can also be used as a rusher as well.
Now, depth is a bit of concern as well because there is not a lot of seasoning accompanying Ashton Logan, Bryson Jackson, Matt Jones, Hakeem Vance and maybe Tyrone Brown.
You just get the sense that Roberts could be blitzing more this year to help the front.
Secondary
Excluding quarterback, this position group ranks third behind running back and wide receiver in terms of depth and confidence.
There are good corners led by Raleigh Texada and Kalon Barnes. The safeties could be as good as this team has had between Jalen Pitre, who will be at the star position, JT Woods and Christian Morgan. Add in JUCO transfer Al Walcott and things look even better.
Baylor’s pass defense allowed just 15 touchdown passes in 2019. It collected 17 interceptions. Obviously, a good front can help for those numbers. It’s going to be up to this unit to carry the torch early as the defensive line finds some consistency and rotation that warrants confidence.
Special Teams
Baylor should be fine with its specialists with John Mayers at PK, Issac Power at punter and Noah Rauschenberg as the kickoff specialist.
The coverage teams have been solid. The return game has not been anything to get excited about either. Now, if special teams coordinator Matt Powledge wants to try Lovett and Ebner back there, it couldn’t hurt.
This is a unit that traditionally hasn’t cost Baylor a game. But there have been moments were its saved games between the blocked kicks that saved games against West Virginia and Iowa State and then the field goals that won games against Iowa State and TCU.
Intangibles
Depth is going to be really tested with this team. It concentrates on both fronts and linebacker. There’s also a question of who is ready to handle the offense should the Bears lose Charlie Brewer. I made this comment in last year’s preview that they were a Brewer injury away from having their season go upside down. That hasn’t changed for 2020…one thing to watch is penalties. Baylor was whistled 91 times in 14 games. That’s 6.5 per game. That wasn’t a bad number. If the Bears can keep that there in 2019 that will help in what is considered a transition season….Baylor corrected the problem with the turnover ratio and finished +11. Time will tell if another season like that could repeat itself. But anything around +4 would be a good season…pay attention to the yards per rush this season. But also do your own math when you take away the home run plays (40 yards or more) and see where it stands. If it’s still more than 4.5 per carry, then Baylor is doing a good job running the ball.
The 2020 Schedule
Not much has changed from Baylor’s Big 12 schedule. It still has the road games at Texas, at Oklahoma, at West Virginia, at Texas Tech and at Iowa State. The home games are Kansas, Kansas State, TCU and Oklahoma State. Of course, the lone non-conference game is Saturday against Louisiana Tech. There are three bye weeks: Sept. 19, Oct. 10 and Nov. 21. That allows for flexibility for any games that could get postponed. There’s also the chance that a game could get played on Dec. 12, the week after the Dec. 5 in Norman. The advantage for the schedule is that it rotates home and away. The consecutive road trips are Nov. 7 at Iowa State and Nov. 14 at Texas Tech. Another advantage is that West Virginia is early Oct. 3 where the weather should be reasonable. Baylor has never won in Morgantown. Baylor makes its first trip to Lubbock since 2008.
The Prediction
Baylor is predicted fifth in the Big 12 by the media. I figured the Bears would be there. I picked them fourth. But as we know, slots 4-7 are pretty interchangeable. I think the road win possibilities are in Lubbock and Morgantown. I don’t feel good about their chances in Norman, Austin and Ames, IA. All of the home games are winnable. Oklahoma State is the wild card because the Cowboys could be really dangerous this fall. Then, there’s annual rivalry meeting with TCU. Rivalry games can go anywhere as we’ve seen the last two years when each won in the other’s building.
I’m good with the skill positions on this team. I would feel better if Zeno is actually the backup behind Brewer. I don’t make that decision so Aranda and Fedora don’t care what I think. Still, see above about what I said about a Brewer devastating injury.
My major concerns are the defensive line and defensive lines. I think the offensive line can be OK as long as there are not injury issues there. I have no idea what to think of the defensive front. I’m really worried about it. Football is about the trenches. If you can’t consistently push the other guy back, it’s going to catch up to you.
I don’t foresee a return trip to the Big 12 Championship game unless you get the string of things that fell right for this team last year. However, you make your own breaks.
Plus, there is the oddity of games and lineups looking weird because of COVID-19. Expect it to happen. Feel blessed if it doesn’t. So far, Baylor has done a really good job there. Yet it changes daily.
This will be a good debut season for Aranda. Baylor will return to the postseason.
Record: 6-4
