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Baylor Football

Ten Things: Liberty Edition

September 2, 2017
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Here are the ten things which stuck out to me about the game.

  1. The first half was not good, the second half worse.
  2. The talent at CB is all on the sidelines injured
  3. John Lovett is the future at RB
  4. The concern about Chris Platt at WR was misplaced
  5. The OL, a concern going into the game created holes as expected
  6. The DL, which wasn't a concern was disappointing
  7. Where were the tight ends?
  8. True freshmen learned lessons
  9. Tip your hat to Liberty
  10. This should never happen
Discussion from...

Ten Things: Liberty Edition

15,517 Views | 44 Replies | Last: 7 yr ago by TXWayne
bmili34
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How is "Rhule isn't ready to coach in the P-5 not number 1"?
Jpgrocery_bf
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Good assessment of a bad night. I was flabbergasted at how bad we were on defense. They were the stronger, more physical team, I did not expect that!

I'm not ready to throw in the towel but I do think we are starting off in a worse spot than any of us expected.

Btw...I think Buckshot missed two throws all night. I will be watching to see if he continues the success.
Self Made Bear
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I said "Give me Liberty or give me death!" They gave me Liberty and I still died.
Pablo Fanque
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We are not a talented team. Fortunately, we don't have a lot of depth either. I recommend going straight to dark humor. It'll feel a lot better.
The Poster Formerly Known as Maxwell's Silver Hammer
Pale Rider
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Trying to play with freshmen and walk-ons. Liberty is better than anyone expected and we are much worse than expected.
Oldbear83
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Coaches completely unprepared, and made no major adjustments, especially on defense.
That which does not kill me, will try again and get nastier
Pale Rider
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I am ten times more disappointed in the coaches than the players. Make that a 1000 times.
Oldbear83
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Pale Rider said:

I am ten times more disappointed in the coaches than the players. Make that a 1000 times.
Agreed. Frankly, there need to be some firings, based on how unprepared they were, and how few adjustments were made, especially on defense.

Plain fact is that Baylor was able to score deep on Liberty, but not when it mattered. That's 100% on Rhule.

Zack needed to come in several series sooner. Pure arrogance that Rhule refused to make the needed change.
That which does not kill me, will try again and get nastier
Porteroso
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10. Get ready, it might happen a lot.

Did not watch this game, very glad, Will be hard to watch any game this season. The crows will have their feast, as they always do.
katy007
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We didn't convert on 3rd down. If we had, we would have beaten them by at least three touchdowns even if everything remained the same (terrible defense). That's on the coaching staff and their hubris-laden play calling.
Jacques Strap
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I don't expect many close games this year. Teams we hung 70 on are going to be looking for some payback.
Threebears
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Liberty appears to be a very good FCS team with an outstanding quarterback and receivers. I didn't expect us to be that great this year, but our defensive front got man-handled. We had no pressure, couldn't stop the run in the third and fourth quarters, and our defensive backs who were sometimes in good position, got beat for the ball. It's going to be a long season if the defense doesn't come aroun d quick.
Oldbear83
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Jacques Strap said:

I don't expect many close games this year. Teams we hung 70 on are going to be looking for some payback.
Liberty's offense scored eight times on Baylor. Big XII teams will hang 80+ on us if they want it.
That which does not kill me, will try again and get nastier
jumpinjoe
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I don't understand why you keep the quarterback who last performed great in the last played game in an upset bowl win on the bench after going three and out on your first three possessions.

Am I thinking too hard, or dreaming, that Zack has more zip on the ball? I thought the ball was late getting to the receivers all night, so does Solomon have the arm speed needed for this conference?

I thought the passing plays were too slow in developing, but I'm sure that's just my conditioning to the last coach's offense.
jumpinjoe
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jumpinjoe
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Pale Rider said:

Trying to play with freshmen and walk-ons. Liberty is better than anyone expected and we are much worse than expected.


This game just might have exposed how bare the cubboard is for full team talent. I wonder if the results will cause Rhule to rethink his toughness practices, cause if you injure them in practice, they can't play in games.
hodedofome
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Everyone saying Liberty and their QB is really good...Baylor has been making other teams' QB's look good for years now.

We made TCU look like a playoff team last year for pete's sake.
Baylor Convert
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First reactions are not always the best. After calming down with some deep breathing exercises, here are my takes:

  • It's going to take some time for this coaching staff to gel; Didn't see much, if any, adjustment after half;
  • After a real game, coaches may have a better idea of what they actually have and what they can/cant do;
  • Anu missed some wide open receivers; agree with comment below that ball was often late in getting there;
  • Receivers dropped too many decent balls;
  • Very surprised at the way the defense played; Thought they might be a strength;
  • I'm not ready to jump off a bridge yet but the cocktail consumption will certainly go up this year.
chukronos
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#21 - why was the conditioning so bad? The D was gassed by halftime.

TCU, OSU, OU, WVU, and Duke will hang 60 on us.
Pale Rider
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Very true.
CSIBear
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Oldbear83 said:

Pale Rider said:

I am ten times more disappointed in the coaches than the players. Make that a 1000 times.
Agreed. Frankly, there need to be some firings, based on how unprepared they were, and how few adjustments were made, especially on defense.

I totally agree. I was very disappointed last night but awestruck at the total lack of halftime adjustments. At this level of sport there is no excuse for not making a single adjustment - like covering #11 or even attempting to pass rush - you know, surprise me.
Grizz Air
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Pale Rider said:

I am ten times more disappointed in the coaches than the players. Make that a 1000 times.


If we just go on player talent alone, we would easily be in the top half of the big 12. Maybe even top 2 or 3. Instead, with this coaching, we will be very lucky if we finish 9th. We will be duking it out with kansas, and they will probably clobber us.
Jacques Strap
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Threebears said:

Liberty appears to be a very good FCS team with an outstanding quarterback and receivers. I didn't expect us to be that great this year, but our defensive front got man-handled. We had no pressure, couldn't stop the run in the third and fourth quarters, and our defensive backs who were sometimes in good position, got beat for the ball. It's going to be a long season if the defense doesn't come aroun d quick.
Libert was 6-5 in FCS last year and the year before. Their recruiting history is below.

Liberty Recruiting Ranking
2017 - 171
2016 - 180
2015 - 142
2014 - 224 (no tyop...224)
2013 - N/A
http://liberty.247sports.com/Season/2016-Football/Commits

By far the worst roster we will face this year.
Pale Rider
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That's mind blowing.
Oso Pardo
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I'm not sure what to think right now. I really thought that these coaches would find a way to adjust on both sides of the ball and win some games, but if last night was any indication of how they coach then we are in trouble. I want to believe, but last night looked like a JV game. Liberty literally ran the same plays over and over again and we couldn't find a way to stop them. DL, which I thought would be a strength, couldn't get any penetration and were tied up to the point that they couldn't stop the run. Our LB's were slow to react and our CB's never turned their heads to find the ball all night. CB's playing with way too much cushion on the line and basically just giving their WR's the first down. No double coverage on #11 all night and he was beating us consistently. Those are coaching problems, not player issues. This team looked completely unprepared, to the point that I'm not sure they ever watched any film on Liberty. We are not in good enough shape to compete with XII teams, also a coaching problem. Offensively we were about as vanilla as I have ever seen. Anu did finally start making something happen with his feet but it was too late to matter. Blake Lynch never played offense, and Pooh had limited reps. Those two should/could have been big contributors. Our D was so gassed that we couldn't stop them in the fourth and get the lead back. Maybe the coaches thought we were ready....who knows. Maybe this opened their eyes and they realize that this isn't the AAC. They will have to be much better prepared for our level of football. Strength and conditioning was a total failure, Snow's defense may have to be tweaked and Rhule may have to swallow his pride and run the schemes that will win games even if it isn't the kind of game that he likes to play. We should never drop games like this.

I have had my green and gold glasses on all year, believing that Rhule and company were smart enough to figure out how to win. But last night....sitting in McLane watching our Bears get manhandled by Liberty....I finally took them off and realized that I have been living in a fantasy land. These coaches were unwilling to make adjustments when needed and our players seem confused and tired. I was saying all summer that we had a chance for the upset of OU and would win 8 this year. Now, I will actually be happy if we just beat ISU and Kansas. I'm still going to support this team and will be at every game cheering, but my expectations have been adjusted to the proper levels now. Maybe this was the best thing that could've happened, it brought me back to the reality.

Sic'Em.....forever
Pale Rider
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Best post Pardo.
katy007
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Pardo nailed it...
Oldbear83
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Pardo is exactly right. If only "Coach" Rhule got a copy of his post, and seriously considered it ...
That which does not kill me, will try again and get nastier
BaylorOkie
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Good post, pardo.

And you're right, it wasn't the AAC. It was FCS.
Jacques Strap
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Oso Pardo said:

Maybe the coaches thought we were ready....who knows. Maybe this opened their eyes and they realize that this isn't the AAC. They will have to be much better prepared for our level of football.

Sic'Em.....forever
Good post overall but last night wasn't the AAC, it was FCS level football. Every team in the American Conference would beat Liberty @home.
william
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well - it's all upside from here.

- KKM

and RIP Walter Becker - the only truly sad note from the weekend.
pro ecclesia, pro javelina
Darth Melon
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The loss was shocking, but it is WAY too early to jump ship on this coaching staff. the schemes on both sides of the ball are very different from the previous years, and I'm sure the technique they are practicing is much different as well. Couple that with the lack of depth, Harvey, the pile of injuries we have had at OL, RB, and the secondary, and Calvert playing out of his mind, and it is not a recipe for a good game.

All I'm saying is lets see how this team and coaching staff responds to this embarrassment in the weeks to come before we jump ship. Herman and Rhule both lost unexpectedly, but they have the jobs they do because they are proven coaches. Next week will tell us a lot about the team's character and the coaching staffs ability to rebound from a loss.

Sic'Em
Oso Pardo
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Jacques Strap said:

Oso Pardo said:

Maybe the coaches thought we were ready....who knows. Maybe this opened their eyes and they realize that this isn't the AAC. They will have to be much better prepared for our level of football.

Sic'Em.....forever
Good post overall but last night wasn't the AAC, it was FCS level football. Every team in the American Conference would beat Liberty @home.
I know it wasn't AAC last night, I was making reference to the conference where CMR and company came from. Perhaps I should have said "Maybe this has opened their eyes and they realize that they aren't in the AAC anymore". Would've better conveyed what I was trying to say. Actually, I would much prefer a loss to an AAC team....

Edit:
I just realized that you were perhaps being facetious. If so, then I get it.
Oso Pardo
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I agree, to a certain degree. I'm not going to jump ship on this staff unless last night becomes the norm. I understand that every now and then an FCS team reaches out and slaps a team that they shouldn't and I'm not talking about that. What I was really speaking to was the perceived lack of preparation, conditioning and unwillingness to make adjustments. I think we would all agree that all three of those issues reared their ugly head last night. Like I said, I will still be there cheering and supporting the Bears every week. I just pray that last night was an eye opening experience that won't be repeated. I'm okay with losing to a better team, as long as we look like we came in prepared and ready to play. IMHO, that didn't happen last night.
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