Baylor Football Blog
Friday, October 28, 2005
Thoughts about Baylor vs. Tech game.
This game will be our hardest game this year, by far. Tech brings a potent offense and any defense that wants to slow them down will have to be athletic and disciplined. Baylor's defense doesn't have quite the athletes that Texas has, but we have speed on defense and have shown the ability to play very disciplined defense.
That said, the defense will have to play their best game of the year to hold Tech to less than 35 points. And that's the crux of the problem for this game: in order to win, even with the defense's best effort, our anemic offense is going to have to score 30+ points.
Now OUs defense is stronger than Techs, and we put some points on them, so it's possible, but that point total was helped by an OT FG and a special teams touchdown. So, the offense only really scored 20 points in regulation.
Reasons for Doubt:
Tech is going to be focused, because they need to win out to get into a big-name bowl. They also want to prove that they belong among the best in the nation. And the best way to do that is to beat the crap out of someone, which is just what they will try to do tomorrow.
They have incredible receivers and Henderson (RB) is a threat in the running game on draws and in the passing game, finding holes in the zone.
Tech's defense, while not among the nations best, are no pushovers. They can rush the passer, and they have a strong secondary. They struggle against the run, but they can hit, and they've done a good job of ball-hawking this year.
Reasons for Hope:
Will Blaylock will return to the offensive line at center and he brings a more physical presence to the center position. He's the best OL we have, and the running game has definitely felt his absence over the past few weeks.
The emergence of Vann (FB) has allowed the coaches the opportunity to run more out of the I-formation, which will help in all facets of the game, but especially when running in the redzone. The lead blocker will give both our running backs an edge, but in a little different way. With Mosley, Vann will allow him to take his run more quickly to the second level where he is a devastating load to bring down. Even Slay is going to get tired of tackling Mosley running at a full clip. Whitaker will benefit from having a lead blocker by being able to make his first cut a little bit later. He won't have to be juking from the time he gets the ball. Especially on runs around the end, a key block by Vann will allow Whitaker to turn the speed on and get some long gains.
Bell learns to throw the deep ball. Kinda. Sorta. But at least he completed it. If he can complete 3 or 4 of those types of plays, long balls that are placed where the receiver can run after the catch, then Baylor will be able to play with Tech deeper into the game.
Jamal Harper and Colin Allred. They are athletic and experienced. If they can play disciplined football the entire game, they will be able to shut down the short passes before the receiver is able to get extra yards. It would be a bonus if they came up with a few turnovers as well. Additionally, if they are able to punish the receivers after the catch, their footsteps will get louder and louder, perhaps causing the receivers to drop some passes they would otherwise have caught because they were worried about the hit that was coming.
Last year's game in Lubbock. Yeah, the score didn't look great at the end, but in the first half, Baylor was up 10-7 before a BS TD pass that wouldn't have stood up under the new instant replay rules. If Baylor can slow down Tech's offense in the first half and put two or three scores on the board (no more than 1 of which is a FG), then they will be in a great position to steal the game from Tech.
Prediciton:
The problem with Tech is that they are almost NEVER out of a game. Baylor probably won't be able to produce enough offense to pull away from Tech ever, but the defense can play well enough to keep it close, if the offense does its part.
I think the defense will play well, but the offense will not give them enough breaks to get rest and that they run down towards the end of the game.
BAY-----24
TTU-----34
Of course, if the offense can control the clock, not just to keep Tech's offense off the field, but more to give our defense a rest, then I'll be more optomistic. In that case:
BAY-----27
TTU-----24
Why give two predictions? 'Cause I can't stand to pick against my Bears!! Can't wait to get down there. Hope there's a huge crowd and all the Tech fans get lost on the way to the stadium. ¶ 10/28/2005 0 Comments
This game will be our hardest game this year, by far. Tech brings a potent offense and any defense that wants to slow them down will have to be athletic and disciplined. Baylor's defense doesn't have quite the athletes that Texas has, but we have speed on defense and have shown the ability to play very disciplined defense.
That said, the defense will have to play their best game of the year to hold Tech to less than 35 points. And that's the crux of the problem for this game: in order to win, even with the defense's best effort, our anemic offense is going to have to score 30+ points.
Now OUs defense is stronger than Techs, and we put some points on them, so it's possible, but that point total was helped by an OT FG and a special teams touchdown. So, the offense only really scored 20 points in regulation.
Reasons for Doubt:
Tech is going to be focused, because they need to win out to get into a big-name bowl. They also want to prove that they belong among the best in the nation. And the best way to do that is to beat the crap out of someone, which is just what they will try to do tomorrow.
They have incredible receivers and Henderson (RB) is a threat in the running game on draws and in the passing game, finding holes in the zone.
Tech's defense, while not among the nations best, are no pushovers. They can rush the passer, and they have a strong secondary. They struggle against the run, but they can hit, and they've done a good job of ball-hawking this year.
Reasons for Hope:
Will Blaylock will return to the offensive line at center and he brings a more physical presence to the center position. He's the best OL we have, and the running game has definitely felt his absence over the past few weeks.
The emergence of Vann (FB) has allowed the coaches the opportunity to run more out of the I-formation, which will help in all facets of the game, but especially when running in the redzone. The lead blocker will give both our running backs an edge, but in a little different way. With Mosley, Vann will allow him to take his run more quickly to the second level where he is a devastating load to bring down. Even Slay is going to get tired of tackling Mosley running at a full clip. Whitaker will benefit from having a lead blocker by being able to make his first cut a little bit later. He won't have to be juking from the time he gets the ball. Especially on runs around the end, a key block by Vann will allow Whitaker to turn the speed on and get some long gains.
Bell learns to throw the deep ball. Kinda. Sorta. But at least he completed it. If he can complete 3 or 4 of those types of plays, long balls that are placed where the receiver can run after the catch, then Baylor will be able to play with Tech deeper into the game.
Jamal Harper and Colin Allred. They are athletic and experienced. If they can play disciplined football the entire game, they will be able to shut down the short passes before the receiver is able to get extra yards. It would be a bonus if they came up with a few turnovers as well. Additionally, if they are able to punish the receivers after the catch, their footsteps will get louder and louder, perhaps causing the receivers to drop some passes they would otherwise have caught because they were worried about the hit that was coming.
Last year's game in Lubbock. Yeah, the score didn't look great at the end, but in the first half, Baylor was up 10-7 before a BS TD pass that wouldn't have stood up under the new instant replay rules. If Baylor can slow down Tech's offense in the first half and put two or three scores on the board (no more than 1 of which is a FG), then they will be in a great position to steal the game from Tech.
Prediciton:
The problem with Tech is that they are almost NEVER out of a game. Baylor probably won't be able to produce enough offense to pull away from Tech ever, but the defense can play well enough to keep it close, if the offense does its part.
I think the defense will play well, but the offense will not give them enough breaks to get rest and that they run down towards the end of the game.
BAY-----24
TTU-----34
Of course, if the offense can control the clock, not just to keep Tech's offense off the field, but more to give our defense a rest, then I'll be more optomistic. In that case:
BAY-----27
TTU-----24
Why give two predictions? 'Cause I can't stand to pick against my Bears!! Can't wait to get down there. Hope there's a huge crowd and all the Tech fans get lost on the way to the stadium. ¶ 10/28/2005 0 Comments
