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Baylor Football

Gameday Thread: Baylor (0-3) vs. #3 Oklahoma (3-0)

September 23, 2017
159,922

BAYLOR (0-3) vs #3 Oklahoma (3-0)

McLane Stadium | 5:30 P.m. CT | FS1

Depth Chart | Class Breakdown | Schedule | Big 12 Standings | Baylor Staff | Baylor Roster


BEARS STILL SEARCHING FOR FIRST WIN OF 2017

With Baylor's non-conference slate now complete, the Bears move into Big 12 play and are set to face the highest-ranked team they will see all season in No. 3 Oklahoma. Opposite of the first three games of the season for Matt Rhule's squad, the Sooners are coming off an impressive non-conference run, including a win over top-five Ohio State on the road.

The Bears, who wrapped up their three-game stretch outside of conference against Duke on Saturday, have seen noticeable progress on the defensive side of the ball, specifically in their ability to generate a pass rush and disruptive plays around the scrimmage. Sophomore linebackers Clay Johnston and Eric Ogor spearheaded the improvement, combining for 17 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and three quarterback hurries.

But if the Bears are to have a chance against the Sooners, it will be the offense that needs to take a massive leap forward after scoring an average of 15.0 points against their last two opponents. Quarterback Zach Smith and receivers Chris Platt and Denzel Mims showed their big play ability throughout the day, but consistency was not present as the offense only found one third-down conversion throughout the entirety of the game. 

Baylor receives a boost in the form of junior running back Terence Williams, Baylor's lead rusher from a year ago. Williams missed the first three games of the season after offseason shoulder surgery.


SIDENOTE STORYLINE

Baylor sees return of four more starters

For the third week in a row, Baylor will see the return of multiple starters to both the offense and defense. Joining Terence Williams on the offensive side of the ball, senior tight end Jordan Feuerbacher, a crucial piece in the blocking scheme and passing game for Baylor's offense, will return to the lineup after suffering a broken bone in his hand against Liberty in week one. 

On defense, Baylor sees the return of sophomore cornerback Grayland Arnold and senior safety Taion Sells. Arnold, who broke a bone in his wrist the week prior to Baylor's season opener, is considered the top corner on the team and arguably the best overall defender. Sells missed the first three games of Baylor's season due to suspension.


MATT RHULE QUOTE OF THE WEEK

On the leadership that he has seen during the course of a tough stretch...

“The level of accountability, leadership, and discipline on our team has just gone like this every week. It’s unbelievable. I like to watch parts of the game as a team afterward so everyone can see. What happens is, you start to lose and guys start saying, ‘you should get the ball to me more.’ On any team really. I like to watch it as a team, so we can say, ‘this is what we did right. This is what we did wrong.’ The whole team can be together. You see guys like Taylor Young, Davion Hall, Greg Roberts, Ira Lewis, all these guys on defense. Then on offense, you see guys like Chris Platt, guys like Mo Porter, Blake Blackmar, Zach Smith starting to emerge as leaders. Being a leader doesn’t mean that you’re perfect. Being a leader doesn’t mean you even played well. It just means that you hold yourself to a higher standard and you’re demanding the same standard from everyone else around you. That has not happened in the previous however many months I’ve been here, and it happened for the first time after this game, really at a high, high level. To me that’s really the most important thing to building a great program is developing player accountability and player discipline, and they are holding each other accountable. That was really nice to see for me.”


PLAYERS TO WATCH

 
Jim Black
RB, Terence Williams

A 1,000-yard rusher as a sophomore in 2016, Williams returns to the field for the Bears for the first time in his junior year. The first test will be his toughest, but if Williams can find success against the Sooners, it could be a good sign for the remainder of the season.

 
SicEm365
CB, Grayland Arnold

Arnold is one of four starters returning for Baylor against Oklahoma and, similar to Williams on offense, is one of the most important pieces for Baylor to take the next step as a defense. Arnold was called Baylor's best defensive player by Matt Rhule earlier in the week.

 
Jim Black
C, Sam Tecklenburg

If Baylor's offense wants to make the needed strides, Tecklenburg's progress as the starting center is crucial to their future success. With the return of Williams, some pressure will be relieved off the unit as a whole, but it's a must for the interior of the line to hold up.

 
Jim Black
LB, Eric Ogor

Baker Mayfield isn't going to break off many long runs as he is looking to get the ball down field on most occasions. That means a player like Ogor needs to be prepared to make a play on him without over pursuing. Ogor can get in the backfield, but making the play will be key.

 

Discussion from...

Gameday Thread: Baylor (0-3) vs. #3 Oklahoma (3-0)

119,480 Views | 792 Replies | Last: 7 yr ago by MilliVanilli
chukronos
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MilliVanilli said:

chukronos said:

We need a momentum swing.
Gonna take a near miracle.


I believe in those. So, this is about to get good!
MilliVanilli
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Applemac_G4 said:

Back to reality.

The second and third quarters were great though. Like the good old days.

A clear moral victory.
Don't you have a #CAB t-shirt to fap into tonight? You should get started.
BaylorProud77
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Malbec said:

Lin said:

Anyone remember when Grant Teaff came & ended the Bears' traditional (or should I say persistent) 4th quarter collapse?
"The lightening flashed, and the fourth quarter thunder rolled!" - Dave Campbell
I like that.
Oldbear83
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Applemac_G4 said:

Back to reality.

The second and third quarters were great though. Like the good old days.

A clear moral victory.
Thank you Coach Beall
That which does not kill me, will try again and get nastier
EGOTbear
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this game is gonna fizzle out
Mitch Henessey
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Well, it was fun to feel what it was like to be in a big-time football game there again for a bit. We took some serious steps forward tonight, but a long way to go yet.
Doc Holliday
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Can anyone tell me how many freshman are starting?
chukronos
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It's not over, yet
MilliVanilli
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That last Smith pass looked like Solomon...
4th and Inches
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We are struggling at run defense as well as pass defense, getting better at run defense would keep us in the game.
Adopt-a-Bear 2024

#90 COOPER LANZ ( DL )
CLASS Junior
HT/WT 6' 3", 288 lbs


#50 KAIAN ROBERTS-DAY ( DL )
CLASS Sophomore
HT/WT 6' 3", 273 lbs
Bear8084
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Applemac_G4 said:

Back to reality.

The second and third quarters were great though. Like the good old days.

A clear moral victory.


There's other schools for you to follow.
MilliVanilli
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BEAR RAMMAGE said:

Can anyone tell me how many freshman are starting?
I thin k17 are in the lineup, not sure about starting.
EGOTbear
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offense just turned into a disaster
whitetrash
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MilliVanilli said:

That last Smith pass looked like Solomon...
As did the 3rd down one.
chukronos
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Looks like smith and the receivers aren't on the same page.
MilliVanilli
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Gruvin said:

We are struggling at run defense as well as pass defense, getting better at run defense would keep us in the game.
That and refs calling holds.
hodedofome
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chukronos said:

It's not over, yet


It's not over but we don't have the depth to last 4 quarters in a game like this.
Oldbear83
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Mitch Henessey said:

Well, it was fun to feel what it was like to be in a big-time football game there again for a bit. We took some serious steps forward tonight, but a long way to go yet.
Yeah,now it's becoming a game of "try to stay close"
That which does not kill me, will try again and get nastier
MilliVanilli
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chukronos said:

Looks like smith and the receivers aren't on the same page.
I don't get it, how do you tear it up for two quarters and then fizzle out.
BearInBigD
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Last chance coming up here.
BaylorProud77
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hodedofome said:

chukronos said:

It's not over, yet


It's not over but we don't have the depth to last 4 quarters in a game like this.
yep, we are beginning to dwindle
RioRata
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Applemac_G4 said:

Back to reality.

The second and third quarters were great though. Like the good old days.

A clear moral victory.

Did you miss the internal improvements?

Lin
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The big guys wore them out and beat them up.
OsoVerde
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MilliVanilli said:

chukronos said:

Looks like smith and the receivers aren't on the same page.
I don't get it, how do you tear it up for two quarters and then fizzle out.
We haven't looked strong in a fourth quarter this year. I wonder about our strength and conditioning program.
80sBEAR
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EGOTbear said:

this game is gonna fizzle out
That is not the result you want? I am shocked.
Bear8084
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RioRata said:

Applemac_G4 said:

Back to reality.

The second and third quarters were great though. Like the good old days.

A clear moral victory.

Did you miss the internal improvements?




There are clear improvements in this game when almost all of you thought it wouldn't even be a game.
tpj1991
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Coaching adjustments. They have made much better offensive improvements than we have defensive.
EGOTbear
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this sermon dude is destroying us
Oldbear83
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I like that penalty, better than just giving up the TD
That which does not kill me, will try again and get nastier
gsgriffin
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That wasnt a horsecollar!!!! What bull****!
MilliVanilli
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tpj1991 said:

Coaching adjustments. They have made much better offensive improvements than we have defensive.
I'm more concerned with the dropped balls, and bad passes, bad snaps and wrong routes.

Without those they could've overcome being worn out by the OU 0-line.
RioRata
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chukronos said:

It's not over, yet

Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

Just gotta overcome coaching.
BearInBigD
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Umm, yes it was
tpj1991
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They are running all over us. A true freshman is running all over us.
EGOTbear
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they won't overturn it
 
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