Aug. 11, 2007
Despite missing its top two wide receivers at both the X and Z positions, the Baylor football team completed its 10th workout of fall camp Saturday evening. The Bears started practice on the grass fields and then moved inside Floyd Casey Stadium for the final half of the workout which included a 30-minute scrimmage with local game officials.
"We had some drops and sacks and I didn't like to see that (in the scrimmage)," said Baylor head coach Guy Morriss. "It's just a matter of becoming more consistent. Execution isn't what it needs to be just yet, but we'll keep grinding.
"The timing is off (when so many players are sidelined with injuries)," he added. "The quarterbacks continue to see-saw back and forth. I thought John David (Weed) kind of struggled a bit tonight. Someone has to step up and do it for four, five, six days in a row and start leading this offense."
Part of the offense's problem was lack of depth at the X and Z positions, as juniors Mikail Baker (hamstring) and Thomas White (sore quad), as well as sophomores David Gettis (hamstring) and Ernest Smith (ankle sprain) continue to be held out of the heavy contact team work portion of practice as a precaution. With the shortage of wide outs, redshirt freshman quarterback Tyler Beatty worked some at the position on Saturday evening.
Ernest Smith was the latest Bear added to the injury list as he went down during Friday's practice. In addition to the missing wide receivers, senior defensive end Geoff Nelson (left ankle sprain), sophomore offensive tackle Thad Boatner (right knee strain), freshman linebacker Chris Francis (left knee strain), senior offensive guard Ricky Hasoon (back), sophomore quarterback Blake Szymanski (right ankle sprain) and freshman wide receiver Krys Buerck (hamstring) were all sidelined for Saturday's practice.
The Bears will take Sunday off, then return to work on Monday evening at 6 p.m. Baylor has made two adjustments to its practice schedule next week as it will drill twice (9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.) on both Tuesday (Aug. 14) and Thursday (Aug. 16), moves which ensure the squad will get all of its NCAA-allowable practices in prior to the Sept. 1 season-opener at TCU.
Notes: FSN Southwest will telecast a 30-minute special previewing the 2007 Baylor football season on Sunday, Aug. 19 at 1:30 p.m. CT as part of the network's preseason series that includes season outlook shows for every Big 12 Conference school ... Baylor's annual Meet the Bears Day is scheduled for Aug. 18 at 4 p.m. inside Floyd Casey Stadium.
