By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider

WACO, Texas – Through the first two weeks of the season, the Baylor defense had exactly one takeaway in 135 snaps– safety Jacob Redding's interception in the end zone in last week's 48-45, double-overtime road win over SMU.

Baylor head coach Dave Aranda said his "voice and my excitement level" were not getting the message across about creating turnovers, "so we've got to find some other ways to get guys excited."

Of all things, the answer came from strength coach Vic Viloria's closet, a "bear coat" that defenders get to don every time the defense comes up with a takeaway. Baylor got four takeaways (three interceptions and a fumble recovery) in a dominant 42-7 win over FCS-level Samford Saturday afternoon at McLane Stadium.

"One of the guys mentioned, 'Well, Vic's got this bear coat, and we could take pictures with it,''' Aranda said. "That just doesn't make any sense to me, but apparently, they really like it. So, we'll try to continue that."

After Sawyer Robertson threw his first pick of the season, the Baylor defense got it back just four plays later. Jaden Gibson caught a short pass in the flat, but safety DJ Coleman forced a fumble that linebacker Kyland Reed recovered mid-air at the Bears' 18-yard line for a red-zone stop and the first of four Baylor takeaways.

"I think the takeaways is something that went well for us," said Reed, who added a tackle for loss and another solo tackle. "As a defense, we just have to continue to strive to get better every day. That's something Coach Aranda has instilled in us, not letting up. We gave up seven points, we should have given up zero points."

After Reed struggled in the Bears' season-opening 38-24 loss to Auburn, Aranda said he was "proud of the way he responded. I thought he played well, came away with a big play."

Coleman, making his third-consecutive start at the "nickel" position, was disruptive from the start. On top of the forced fumble, he batted down a pass on the Bulldogs' second offensive play and added a tackle for loss and a QB hurry.

"When he started his career, he was at safety, and he really struggled to make plays," Aranda said of Coleman. "He had a really tough spring when he first got here. He was competing, but it just wasn't falling into place for him. . . . To climb your way out of it, that says a lot about him and his family and all the support he has. Onward and upward with him. I feel confident that he can be a big playmaker for us."

Baylor's parade of turnovers continued on Samford's next series, when cornerback LeVar Thornton picked off a Quincy Crittendon pass intended for Gibson in the left flat for his second-career interception.

"LeVar is another one who last week had a tough game from the start to the finish, and responded with a pick today," Aranda said of Thornton, who gave up a 75-yard TD pass on the first play against SMU and got scored on again in the first overtime.So, there are guys who can make plays. When they make it, there's confidence that they can do it, and they can go out now expecting to make a play. It's a big difference."

In the second half, when the Bulldogs netted just 68 total yards on 24 plays (2.8-yard average), Baylor got two more takeaways on first-career interceptions by freshman linebacker Kaleb Burns and sophomore safety Micah Gifford, who converted from receiver during bowl prep last year.

"Since December, when I made that move, it's been getting with (defensive coordinator Matt Powledge), getting with the other safeties, just putting in the work, pounding the rock every day," Gifford said. "And I was finally able to put it on the stat sheet."

Aranda said Gifford "made a great break on the ball, made a great play," while Barnes "is going to be an unbelievable player for us. He's very talented, very instinctual."

The defense has certainly made strides over the last two weeks, but Aranda said it isn't enough going into next Saturday's 6:30 p.m. Big 12 opener at home against defending league champion Arizona State (1-1). The Sun Devils, bounced back from a 24-20 loss at Mississippi State to defeat Texas State, 34-15, Saturday night.

"I'm going to be hard on them, because we're talented there," Aranda said of the defense. "We have the ability to do it, and we have the coaches to do it. Guys have to demand more. I think coaches have to coach harder, I think players have to demand more of themselves. It's not going to be easy. There are no layups, especially when we start our league play."