It's Zach Smith's job to lose but there's healthy skepticism at QB

While Anu Solomon may wind up under center at some point this year, it’s Zach Smith’s spot to lose.

If the spring game is the litmus test, some would say true freshman Charlie Brewer gives Baylor the best chances to score. Brewer led his offense to two touchdowns including a toss that confirmed Ish Wainright’s potential as red zone target. But Smith’s overall body of work should still have him in the driver’s seat.

You can thank Jarrett Stidham for that.

When Stidham left the quarterback competition with Seth Russell following the fallout from Art Briles’ termination, the team’s hand was forced to leave a redshirt off Smith. On that same note, tight end/quarterback Chris Johnson also transferred out of Waco.

With a Heisman candidacy in sight, Russell had a firm hold on the job but all that stood between Smith and the field was another Russell injury like the one that made Stidham a hot freshman in 2015.

Pain struck Russell again, pushing him to the bench with a dislocated ankle, putting yet another freshman in a green and gold spotlight.

Smith lost his first three starts after filling in for Russell against Oklahoma but still built a solid résumé years before he was supposed to even start filling one out behind Stidham.

Why he can start:

Despite leading just one touchdown drive against the spring game defense, Smith has been an effective navigator. Not only does he have a five-game touchdown streak — throwing 11 TDs in four starts — but those touchdowns showed up as some of the only life in the Bears’ offense to close the season.

If the run game comes to a hault, Smith’s arm has already proven to pick up the slack as was the case against Boise State in the upset Cactus Bowl win. Smith put on a show that was expected of Russell and Stidham, tossing for 375 yards and three touchdowns.

More importantly, it only took him 39 attempts compared to 45 and 46 attempts against Kansas State and Texas Tech respectively when he also had three TDs. He also set a career-high 71.8 percent completion rate, showing he can bounce back from his poor performances like the season finale against West Virginia, completing under 50 percent of his throws.

Why he may not start:

It’s not just competition from a versatile leader like Solomon or a sharpshooter like Brewer that could upend Smith’s early start. There are a few concerns with Smith’s accuracy as well.

Most notably, he has a four game interception streak. He has seven INTs in four starts and was just one of three Big 12 QBs that the pass defense allergic Texas Tech picked off.

When he’s pressured more heavily, he has shown the most struggle. With an offensive line that’s becoming increasingly suspect after Tanner Thrift’s retirement from the sport, Rhule and crew may find more faith in the agile Solomon. Smith finished every game last season with negative rushing yards because of sacks, so the offensive line’s status may have some say in who starts.