SicEm365 Staff Roundtable: Baylor Football's Biggest Questions Heading into the Season

As fall camp approaches, the SicEm365 staff will address the most pressing questions about the football team. This week, the staff already gave varying opinions on who they believe will be Baylor’s breakout players. Today, the staff will ask their biggest questions about the Bears going into the fall.

Colt Barber – Can Baylor Stop the Run?

Baylor gave up a whopping 5.04 yards per carry in 2023. That number was the worst of the Dave Aranda era by a large margin. Baylor gave up 3.89 yards per carry in 2022, 3.32 in 2021, and 4.44 in 2020. It was the worst mark for a Baylor team since the 2018 team gave up 5.42 yards per carry. Some of that had to do with poor linebacker play, and some of that had to do with a poor defensive line effort. The good news is Baylor added a multitude of bodies from the portal and junior college ranks to help address the issue – five to be exact. 

Grayson Grundhoefer – Can the Offensive Line Become an Average Unit?

This is the low-hanging fruit, but it is the ultimate question that will determine the floor and ceiling of this football team. If they can get to average, so a top 60-70 offensive line in the country, then I believe they will make a bowl game. If not, then things could go completely off the rails. If they are better than that, then there is a chance for a major bounce-back season. This question is the key to the whole season for Baylor heading into fall camp.

Travis Roeder – Can Baylor Establish a Consistent Base-Down Passing Game?

Grayson’s answer is correct, but I’ll give another answer to provide some variety. I think this season really hinges on Baylor’s offense; I think they need to be a top 40 unit to get back to a bowl, and maybe even a top 30 unit. Most important to that is Baylor’s passing game, as I expect the run game to be so-so. In Spavital’s scheme, it’s important that the offense can execute basic short/medium throws on 1st and 10. Between wide receivers like Monaray Baldwin and Ashtyn Hawkins, I think Baylor will hit plenty of big plays. However, consistently gaining yardage on early downs will decide their success.

Craig Smoak – Does Experience Matter? 

1A) OL play. 1B) How much does this team’s 2023 youth movement build upon and improve from last year’s experiences? Many notable contributors saw real action for the first time, which was a significant factor in numerous tribulations. But we also saw enough occasional triumphs for Dave Aranda to sell his vision of a bright future worth preserving. A future in which the program then financially recommitted to heavily this offseason. Well, that future is now. Whether looking individually at the likes of Jenkins, Williams IV, Wilson, Pendergrass, and Robertson, to name a few, or collectively with the OL, DL, TE, LB, and DB rooms. How do these more seasoned Bears stand to complement and benefit from getting their noses bloodied and egos bruised a year ago?