Five Keys to Saturday’s Game
9/10/2021 12:54:00 PM | Football
Bears Hoping to Limit Penalties and Keep Pounding the Rock
BAYLOR vs. TEXAS SOUTHERN:
FIVE KEYS TO SATURDAY'S GAME
1.LOUD CROWD: For the first time since Dave Aranda's arrival in January 2020, Baylor football will have the potential for 100% capacity at McLane Stadium. The last time we saw a full McLane Stadium was Nov. 23, 2019, when 49,109 fans showed up for the Bears' 24-10 win over Texas that clinched a berth in the Big 12 Championship game. This is Texas Southern's first game against a Power-5 team, so a big and loud crowd could be especially intimidating. "I'm excited for that, I think we all are," Aranda said. "We want to be able to see, or really more feel, what it's like."
2.RINSE AND REPEAT: With a start under his belt, you want to see more of the same from junior quarterback Gerry Bohanon, who was 15-of-24 for 148 yards passing in the 29-20 win over Texas Southern. Aranda said the next step would be "completing our shot plays," referring to the deep passes. "Until we can complete balls down the field, (there's) a certain way people are going to play you," he said. "You have to stretch it out."
3.LIMIT THE PENALTIES: That was the biggest negative in the season opener – 11 penalties for 99 yards, including a pair of roughing calls that kept drives alive and led to half of Texas State's 20 points. "We talk about playing with an edge," Aranda said. "When you have 11 penalties, you're going over the edge. For us to play with that type of emotion, toughness and all of it, but to do it in a way that we're not hurting ourselves, would be a real good definition of toughness. And we still have a long way to go there."
4.POUND THE ROCK: In his first game as offensive coordinator at Baylor, Jeff Grimes' run-pass balance was almost 2-to-1 (45 runs, 24 passes), with the Bears rushing for 238 yards and averaging a healthy 5.3 per carry. Expect more of the same this week. The offensive line seems to have a good handle on this wide-zone blocking scheme, creating nice running lanes for Trestan Ebner and Abram Smith.
5.GET TO THE QB: The defense kept Texas State quarterback Brady McBride on the run all night, forcing three picks and several other rushed throws. But, linebacker Terrel Bernard recorded the Bears' only sack with a blitz in the fourth quarter. Jalen Brown, a 6-2, 248-pound redshirt freshman appearing in just his second collegiate game, likely won't have the escapability that McBride displayed. Baylor's three-man front should be able to apply plenty of pressure without a lot of help from the back end of the defense.
FIVE KEYS TO SATURDAY'S GAME
1.LOUD CROWD: For the first time since Dave Aranda's arrival in January 2020, Baylor football will have the potential for 100% capacity at McLane Stadium. The last time we saw a full McLane Stadium was Nov. 23, 2019, when 49,109 fans showed up for the Bears' 24-10 win over Texas that clinched a berth in the Big 12 Championship game. This is Texas Southern's first game against a Power-5 team, so a big and loud crowd could be especially intimidating. "I'm excited for that, I think we all are," Aranda said. "We want to be able to see, or really more feel, what it's like."
2.RINSE AND REPEAT: With a start under his belt, you want to see more of the same from junior quarterback Gerry Bohanon, who was 15-of-24 for 148 yards passing in the 29-20 win over Texas Southern. Aranda said the next step would be "completing our shot plays," referring to the deep passes. "Until we can complete balls down the field, (there's) a certain way people are going to play you," he said. "You have to stretch it out."
3.LIMIT THE PENALTIES: That was the biggest negative in the season opener – 11 penalties for 99 yards, including a pair of roughing calls that kept drives alive and led to half of Texas State's 20 points. "We talk about playing with an edge," Aranda said. "When you have 11 penalties, you're going over the edge. For us to play with that type of emotion, toughness and all of it, but to do it in a way that we're not hurting ourselves, would be a real good definition of toughness. And we still have a long way to go there."
4.POUND THE ROCK: In his first game as offensive coordinator at Baylor, Jeff Grimes' run-pass balance was almost 2-to-1 (45 runs, 24 passes), with the Bears rushing for 238 yards and averaging a healthy 5.3 per carry. Expect more of the same this week. The offensive line seems to have a good handle on this wide-zone blocking scheme, creating nice running lanes for Trestan Ebner and Abram Smith.
5.GET TO THE QB: The defense kept Texas State quarterback Brady McBride on the run all night, forcing three picks and several other rushed throws. But, linebacker Terrel Bernard recorded the Bears' only sack with a blitz in the fourth quarter. Jalen Brown, a 6-2, 248-pound redshirt freshman appearing in just his second collegiate game, likely won't have the escapability that McBride displayed. Baylor's three-man front should be able to apply plenty of pressure without a lot of help from the back end of the defense.
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ FootballJoe Klanderman's Message to the Baylor Family
Saturday, December 13
People is Always the No. 1 Priority - Baylor Defensive Coordinator Joe Klanderman
Saturday, December 13
Baylor Football: Sawyer Robertson William V. Campbell Trophy NFF Interview
Tuesday, December 09
Baylor Football: London Smith (National Signing Day 2026)
Thursday, December 04
