Baylor Bears 2011 Team Preview

2010 Season Breakdown

Final record (overall, conference): 7-6, 4-4
Bowl game: Texas Bowl (L, 38-14 vs. Illinois)
Final ranking (AP, Coaches’): NR, NR
Conference finish: 4^th Big 12 South
Offensive rank: 13^th
Defensive rank: 104^th

2010 Individual Statistics Leaders

Rushing: Jay Finley, 1,218 yards, 12 TD
Passing: Robert Griffin III, 3,501 yards, 22 TD, 8 INT
Receiving: Kendall Wright, 952 yards, 7 TD
Tackles: Byron Landor, 127 tackles
Sacks: Tevin Elliott, 5 sacks
Interceptions: Prince Kent, 2 INT

2011 Schedule (all games Saturday unless noted)
*denotes conference game

September 2 (Fri) vs. TCU [8:00 PM ET, ESPN]
September 17 vs. Stephen F. Austin [7:00 PM ET]
September 24 vs. Rice [7:00 PM ET]
October 1 @ Kansas State*
October 8 vs. Iowa State*
October 15 @ Texas A&M* [3:30 PM ET]
October 29 @ Oklahoma State*
November 5 vs. Missouri*
November 12 @ Kansas*
November 19 vs. Oklahoma*
November 26 vs. Texas Tech* [3:30 PM ET]
December 3 vs. Texas [ABC]

Key Matchups

September 2 vs. TCU: This is going to be college football’s first marquee game of the season when the Horned Frogs travel to face the Bears. TCU is going to be favored, but it’s a good opportunity for the Bears to make some kind of statement even if they don’t beat the defending Rose Bowl champs.

October 15 @ Texas A&M: This is the first matchup with the Big 12 elite after the Bears couldn’t hang with the Big 12′s top teams a year ago. We could find out what Baylor’s all about in this one, as well as in the next matchup with Oklahoma State.

December 3 vs. Texas: How great would it be for the Baylor program if it’s able to take down Texas two years in a row?

Key Departed Players

Jay Finley, RB; Josh Gordon, WR; Brad Taylor, TE; Danny Watkins, OT; Phil Taylor, DT; Chris Francis, LB; Antonio Johnson, LB; Mikhail Baker, CB; Tim Atchison, S; Byron Landor, S

Key Returning Players

Robert Griffin III, QB; Kendall Wright, WR; Phillip Blake, C; Tevin Elliott, DE; Elliot Coffey, LB

Offensive Overview

There’s no question that Robert Griffin III is the quarterback of this team, and he’ll get back several talented, experienced receivers that helped make Baylor’s offense last year the 13^th-ranked total offense in the country. Kendall Wright is the star of the receivers corps, while the Bears are counting on junior Terrance Williams as well. Tevin Reese saw action as a true freshman last year and was second on the team with 45 receptions. He should figure to be a big part of the passing game again, while Lanear Simpson will also see plenty of balls thrown his way. Last year’s second-leading receiver, Josh Gordon, was set to return, too, but was indefinitely suspended for a violation of team rules and has since left the program.

The biggest key for the offense is replacing running back Jay Finley, who rushed for over 1,200 yards and had 12 touchdowns as a senior last year. The Bears do have three very capable replacements, though. Jarred Salubi is the speedster of the backfield, while Terrence Gannaway is the battering ram. Glasco Martin is a little bit of both. The three should combine to keep the running game operating with Finley now a Cincinnati Bengal. The Bears also lose tackle Danny Watkins, who was drafted in the first round by the Philadelphia Eagles. Cyril Richardson is moving from guard to tackle to replace Watkins and could be one of the conference’s rising linemen. Phillip Blake is the leader of the bunch from his center spot.

Defensive Overview

This is the key to a more successful season. Phil Taylor is gone on the defensive line and Nicholas Jean-Baptiste moves from tackle to take over at the nose for Taylor. Tracy Robertson, who played tackle and end last year, will take over at tackle next to Jean-Baptiste. At defensive end, look for Terrance Lloyd, who returns from injury this year, Tevin Elliott and Gary Mason to all contribute. The star of the defense could be linebacker Elliot Coffey, who came up with 61 tackles as a junior last year. A senior this season, he’ll join Brody Trahan in the new 4-2-5 alignment. Trahan came on in the spring and will likely split time with former safety Prince Kent.

The pass defense last year ranked 114^th in the country, letting up 265.1 yards per game through the air. That is going to have to change drastically if this team hopes to compete with the Big 12′s better teams, who tend to throw the ball around a little bit. The 4-2-5 will use a hybrid safety/linebacker type and Ahmad Dixon could step in to fill that role. Dixon was one of Baylor’s most prized recruits a couple of years ago and will now have the opportunity to really shine. Sam Holl Mike Hicks are good looking safeties who will step in for the departed starters, while Chance Casey and Tyler Stephenson will man the corner spots as one of the fastest corner duos in the country.

Top Draft Products

Kendall Wright, WR; Phillip Blake, C

Season Prediction

6^th Big 12

Baylor’s a team I’m excited to watch this year. I don’t think they’ll push for the Big 12 Championship in the new round-robin conference format, but I do think they’ll be just as good or better than the squad that last year finished 7-6 but lost its final four games including the bowl game. The running game should keep going in Finley’s absence, while Griffin and the receivers corps should again field one of the game’s top offenses. The key will be defense, as teams averaged 30.5 points per game on the Bears a year ago. If the defense is unable to keep that number down and cannot come up with big plays and turnovers, especially against the Big 12′s better teams, there isn’t going to be any improvement record-wise.

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