31 Days till Kickoff: Jeff Grimes Offense scored 31.6 points per game in 2021

Under new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, the Baylor Bears offense made a massive leap in production from 2020 to 2021. The green and gold went from scoring 23.3 points per game during the COVID campaign to 31.6 ppg in the Big 12 championship season. That is a jump from 101st in the nation to 40th.

After some tough offseason decisions, Dave Aranda brought in Jeff Grimes and Eric Mateos from BYU. Grimes’ scheme and Mateos’ work with the offensive linemen were two key parts of the huge turnaround.

The Bears went from 90.3 rushing yards and 310.2 total yards per game to 220.4 and 423.5 yards respectively. 

The run-pass balance of the offense was improved, essentially earning those eight extra points per game on the ground and in the trenches. The emergence of Abram Smith should not be glossed over either, but great scheme is more foundational to an offense’s success. 

Can the Bears improve on that 31.6 ppg mark in 2022? With a month to go before kickoff, the hope is yes, but a definitive answer can not be given. 

The coaching staff chose Blake Shapen as the new starting QB after Spring ball meaning they think the offense can be taken in a new direction and, hopefully, to new heights. Returning four of five starting linemen has a great step in that direction as well, but the lack of experience at the skill positions is where the big questions are. 

The best offenses in the country scored about 7-10 points more than the Bears last year. Oklahoma grabbed 39.1 on average and Texas 35.3. Can the Bears close that gap? Will they even need to in order to keep winning at the level they were at last year? With one month to go, you won’t have to wait much longer to start getting answers!

Oh, and in case you are interested, all four incoming members of the Big 12 had better ppg than Baylor. Cincinnati (36.9 ppg, 11th), Houston (35.9 ppg, 15th), BYU (33.1 ppg, 28th), and UCF (31.9 ppg, 38th). Mentally adjust that for competition level however you would like.