Last year I had this to say following our disappointing loss in Waco. Baylor gained 683 total yards last year (our worst total of the year) at 9.0 yards per play (our 2nd worst YPP).
The first 10 Baylor drives...
...As I rewatched the game last year I focused on 3 things; defensive alignment, execution, and players. I am certain we are better in all 3 areas on the defensive side of the ball. 1st, the move from a 4-2-5 to a 4-3 was sound and allows us to be in better position to make plays at the snap. So far we have also shown better execution, but in large part thats because we have better players, especially at linebacker and on the defensive line.
That said, it will still be difficult to slow Baylor down, but I see this more as a first to 30 game as opposed to first to 40 like it was last year. I am very confident our front 7 will do a much better job slowing down Baylor's running game, it will really come down to our secondary making plays. I think we will make enough to send the Bears home with a loss.
Cats 38
Bears 34
I saw you guys vs Miami and I think you guys have a better DT and MLB but the rest of the front 7 looks to be pretty much the same caliber overall. Lamur and Childs are a wash, the other ILB played some against us last year, and one of your DE talent looks the same overall as a unit. I don't see some Darren Howard type emerging when I watched the Miami game.
I remember last year the QB read plays really hurt you not only against us and NU but even less pass capable UCLA and UCF offenses. This is one concern I would have if I was a Cat fan as what evidence do you have this weakness has been shored up? Miami didn't use designed QB runs much if at all and the other 2 offenses are ranked worse than 100th in each of the FBS (Kent St) and FCS (EKU). So you may be in better position defensively but have you been tested by the main weaknesses that killed you last year?
I would also worry about how you weren't able to get consistent pressure on Harris. Our OL is very good and kept TCU's DLine and blitzes away from RG3. Yeah you can try to keep him in the pocket but he'll pick you apart if you do as he'll have plenty of time and I don't think your DBs are worlds better than last year or TCU who has a similar setup with a very quick returning CB and a well regarded JUCO opposite him. These 2 factors project favorably for the Baylor offense.
You guys have a very good QB read run game and I am thankful that both TCU and Rice were on our schedule as both TCU's Pachall and Rice's McHargue run the same read option stuff and will have given us some good looks. Stopping that will be tough for us however I do think that TCU was a superior passing team to KSU at this point with better WR like Boyce and Dawson.
Miami was a good win but for all your offensive success against them I wonder 2 things about that defense:
1- They kind of played into your hand by keeping fewer guys in the box usually. Gave favorable numbers to option off of and you made em pay. Good job but I wonder if Bennett is going to give you such favorable fronts.
2- Who else they played. Ohio State's offense is horrendous this year if you can't tell. They scored on CU's D but so did KU last year. They ran up stats on a pathetic Akron team and were held in check for the most part by Toledo of all people. Maryland's offense gutted the Miami D completely and without mercy and MD is ranked 62 total offense and was just dominated by temple. (which I am sure went over well with Coach Golden to see his former team destroy a team that spoiled his UM debut.)
So we have 2 cupcakes for KSU and a Miami team with some good players but honestly a complete failing grade on the one other balanced offense they faced.
The Miami offense is talented but was held relatively well by both OSU D (which is good) and Maryland's #103 total D and then you guys gave up more than both and 7 per play. Not seeing the cause for optimism. The one halfway ok offense KSU has seen put up 411 and 7 per play.
I think what I am trying to say is that there isn't any real big evidence that Miami is that great this year and that is the only real team you played. Are they a really good D with an off day at Maryland or are they a bad D who ran into a horrible OSU offense? I feel it is at best a tossup and if the jersey said NC State or UVA they would not be giving the same opinion of how good the team is.
TCU has not been the team they were last year but for the most part has done well other than our game. 2 problem areas they ran into:
1- Air Force- Untested this year but ran up even more yards & points with largely the same guys in Norman last year. TCU lost Tanner Brock who is a beast at LB and still TCU held them to 19 and won easily on the road. Particularly impressive as mental assignments are key vs AFA's option game. This very well could be a case of AFA's offense simply being good. We won't know until they play another decent team or two.
2- ULM- Took TCU a quarter to wake up and then they dominated. After their first 3 drives ULM got a meager 2.4 per play. TCU was also playing without elite Linebacker Tanner Brock AND his backup which probably caused some issues.
So TCU's defense is still good and we lit them up like the 4th of July.
Offense has not been tested by anyone other than AFA who they lit up and AFA was the #37 defense last year. They lit up ULM every bit as bad as FSU and Iowa did statistically.
I like KSU and I think both teams have some improvement on D but I really don't see much that indicates that your D is worlds better or that our offense is somehow a paper tiger.
Side question- what the heck happened against EKU with your offense?
