Will Boles drops 10 things from Baylor’s 42-7 win over Samford!
1. Bryson Washington is still a beast.
After starting slow against Auburn, Bryson Washington rebounded with strong numbers against SMU and carried that momentum into today. Versus Samford, he looked unstoppable. The defense couldn’t bring him down as he finished with 135 yards and two touchdowns.
2. Sawyer Robertson did not look like himself.
Sawyer Robertson struggled throughout the game, missing reads and throwing two interceptions. It was uncharacteristic of what we’ve seen from him this season, so it feels more like an off-day than a long-term concern.
3. Palmer Williams keeps booming punts.
Palmer Williams continues to shine, hitting three punts of 50-plus yards, including one downed inside the 10. His consistency has been a weapon for Baylor.
4. Third down struggles.
The Bears went just 4-for-13 on third down. That conversion rate won’t cut it in Big 12 play, and improvement here is a must.
5. Defensive penetration was solid.
Baylor’s defensive front dominated a weak Samford offensive line, recording six tackles-for-loss and a sack. The disruption was constant in both the run and pass game.
6. Lots of interceptions!
There were five interceptions in the game: two thrown by Robertson and three hauled in by Baylor’s defense. Levar Thornton, Kaleb Burns and Micah Gifford each grabbed one, showing the secondary’s ability to make plays.
7. Attendance was bad…
An 11 a.m. kickoff against Samford didn’t help, but the stands were rough today. The student section was nearly empty in the second half. Understandable, but disappointing.
8. Younger players got some run.
Several fresh faces made an impact. Micah Gifford and Kaleb Burns each snagged interceptions, Michael Turner Jr. had a couple of strong runs, and Jacorey Watson chipped in a few catches. Great to see the depth getting involved.
9. Samford and their never-ending injuries
It felt like every other play, a Samford player was down. Whether it was cramps or something else, they couldn’t stay off the ground.
10. Baylor needs to start fast next week.
Arizona State is winnable, and I still believe that Baylor is the better team. But the Bears must come out sharp, set the tone early, and put this Samford performance behind them.
