Five Keys to Saturday's Game
9/5/2025 11:34:00 PM | Football
Baylor defense has to try to keep SMU quarterback bottled up
BAYLOR @ No. 17/16 SMU
- DON'T BEAT YOURSELF: While the Bears didn't turn it over in last Friday's 38-24 loss to Auburn, they did beat themselves in other ways – penalties at critical times, giving up a 98-yard kickoff return and way too many missed tackles. "I think some of the guys that were on the field (on the kickoff return)were on the field with some of the rushing yards and everything else," Baylor coach Dave Aranda said. "We've got to be able to clean up their eyes and where they fit and everything. I have to coach that better. We're just focusing on getting better and getting back out there."
- BOTTLE HIM UP: SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings is not likely to tuck it and run as much as Auburn's Jackson Arnold, who rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries (8.6-yard net). But Aranda compares Jennings to former Iowa State and current San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy, who has a knack for scrambling to buy some time. "The defender would see Purdy run his way, and he would come up," Aranda said. "The defender would come up and leave his scrimmage, the receiver would go vertical, ad it would be kind of a pop shot. There's a bunch a lot of that on film with (Jennings). There has to be use of spies and three-man rushes. We've got to try to flush him certain ways. They've done a great job coaching him, because he's impressive to watch."
- BE CREATIVE: If senior defensive end Jackie Marshall isn't able to come back from the high-ankle injury he suffered in the second series of the game, Aranda said the Bears are "going to have to be creative. . . . There are a couple things that we're looking at, based upon personnel groupings and things. But we have to get much better there. I think that's really big. Of all the disappointments, that's probably the biggest one."
- ACTIONS, NOT WORDS: Rather than talking a good game about bouncing back from that season-opening loss, the Bears have to show it with their actions. "We've got the right words to say," said senior safety Kendrick Simpkins, "but actions, putting it on tape, who's staying after practice, who's out here early before practice, who's getting more film in, stuff like that. Actions is the way that we will be moving forward."
- SPREAD THE WEALTH: Of Sawyer Robertson's 48 passes against Auburn, 34 of them were targeted to receivers Kole Wilson and Ashtyn Hawkins and tight end Michael Trigg. Josh Cameron was targeted four times, but didn't catch a pass until the fourth quarter. Additionally, running back Bryson Washington struggled to get going and finished with just 56 yards on 16 touches. "Offensively, I think there were a lot of positives from this last game," Aranda said, "and there are still things we could play cleaner. I think there's a lot of weapons on that side of the ball, and the expectations there are really high."
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