The bye week has come and gone for head coach Dave Aranda’s Bears. Still, there’s optimism that it came at the perfect time to get healthy and clean up some of the major internal issues — missed assignments, penalties, self-inflicted wounds — that Baylor has struggled with on both sides of the ball to start the season.
“We did a lot of self-scout,” Aranda told the media on Monday. “We had our defensive staff do it for our offense and vice versa, and our special teams did it for special teams. We spent the majority of the week on that. These are the tells that were given up. Here's all the weaknesses. Here's the strengths. Here's some possible places to go with what you've shown on tape. Here's a way to complement that look, or to remedy the problem. We spent a lot of time on that.”
Aranda added, “Then the drill work last week corresponded with it. Here's the issue. Here's the problem. Here's the solution. Here's how we're going to do it. Let's go rep it. The majority of last week was all about us. Transitioning now to this week, it's kind of, ‘Hey, this is how it fits into what they do. This is where we can live in this area or in this phase of the game.’ We're trying to connect it now.”
Last season, the Bears hit their stride after the bye week, reeling off six straight wins to close the regular season. While the circumstances are different this fall, Aranda sees how this bye week could shape up similarly to last year in terms of desire to improve.
“What’s similar to is that guys are hungry,” Aranda said. “Last year was us against the world. It’s maybe that way still, but I think guys are hungry and guys want to improve. They’re looking for ways and want to be coached. They want more. They want better. When it’s like that, it drives you as a coach to give it to them.”
But for the Bears to have a similar stretch to end this year, they have to figure out a way to put together four quality quarters of football. Aranda’s squad has yet to play complementary football for long stretches and continues to struggle with slow starts, an issue emphasized during the bye week and as they approach the back half of the schedule.
“We talked about that a lot, and talked about it again today,” Aranda said. “We make a point of starting practice with some type of competition, or good versus good. It's a mindset that you've got to carry to start fast. When you run out to a game and there's smoke, you have to run through the smoke, but you don't know what's on the other side of the smoke. Starting fast is running through the smoke.”
He later added, “Just really feeling confident in what the schemes are and what their job responsibilities are, no matter what comes or whatever game plan thing comes our way, we're able to play through it. That's been the emphasis. We're going to continue to try to get that done.”
This Saturday, the Bears will face the TCU Horned Frogs in the 121st meeting between the two rivals; three of the last four games have been decided by three points or less. There’s no love lost between the two programs, with Aranda understanding the importance of getting a win in this matchup.
“It’s a big recruiting rivalry,” Aranda said of Baylor-TCU. “We have a bunch of former players that this means a lot to. A lot of guys on our team now remember last year. We have a fair amount of guys who remember a couple of years ago when it was a field goal the other way. A lot of really tight and competitive games. It’s tough to play there. They’re fired up for this one.”
As for what to expect from the 4-2 Horned Frogs, Aranda talked extensively about their high-flying offense under third-year offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, as well as TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, who is second in the nation behind Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson in passing yards (1,893) and touchdowns (18).
“They are explosive on offense; when they don’t turn the ball over, they are really effective at making explosive plays,” Aranda said. “They’ve got receivers that can make contested catches, make a guy miss and go the distance. The quarterback is really calm and poised; he can beat you with his feet. The O-Line is improving. The running backs — they have a committee — but they're all really good players. Defensively, they pressure you. There’s a game plan of the week that they’ve got. It’s going to be a challenge for us to run the ball versus all the movement they have.”
With a game against a rival, naturally, there comes extra focus, and Aranda said he could feel that added intensity throughout the practice facility on Monday morning.
“When it’s boiling underneath the surface, it’s a good feeling because you know it’s there, and you know it’s pushing people,” Aranda said of the added motivation. “I very much feel that way, and I’m sure over there, they feel the same way. This is a big one coming up.”
If the Bears hope to come out on top this weekend, they'll need a standout performance from Robertson, who currently leads the nation with 2,058 passing yards and 19 touchdown passes. He's already engineered several 14-point comebacks in the fourth quarter this season, an extremely impressive feat, according to his head coach.
“He’s going to continue to win,” Aranda said of Robertson. “He’s going to continue to be in moments where he’s going to shine. I don’t think there’s going to be a moment that’s too big for him. I think this team is going to fight for him, and they’re not going to let him down. If you put him in a situation with a chance to win it, he’s going to win it.”
When asked to compare Robertson’s performance this season to that of Joe Burrow, the national championship-winning quarterback, Aranda — who served as defensive coordinator for the 2019 LSU Tigers — pointed out both the similarities and key differences between the two standout signal-callers.
“When Joe was your quarterback, you always felt you were in it,” Aranda said. “You always felt like, ‘Hey. Give him a chance.’ Joe had really good weapons — we do too. Joe’s a bit of a different guy. Everyone loves Joe. Sawyer and Joe’s personalities are different ends of the spectrum, but in terms of competitor, in terms of being up here all the time watching tape and putting time in and in terms of having weapons and being able to get the ball to them and using them the right way, those things are right on.”
Elsewhere during the bye week, the Bears also had a big opportunity to get healthy. Against Kansas State, right guard Omar Aigbedion (Sr.) did not play due to injury, and star running back Bryson Washington (RSo.), who has been banged up all season, carried the ball just nine times for 65 yards. Aranda provided positive updates on both, while revealing that safety Carl Williams IV (Jr.), who has played less than 15 snaps this year, isn’t any closer to a return.
“Omar was back with us, doing everything that he’s supposed to be doing; B-Wash is doing everything he’s supposed to be doing,” Aranda said. “I did not see Carl. We’ll have to wait and see with him.”
Aranda and the Bears will travel up Interstate-35 to face rival TCU (4-2, 1-2) at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
