Joe and Ganaway: Is the Big 12 beginning to evolve?
In this daily in-season SicEm365 Premium segment, former Bears JJ Joe and Terrance Ganaway answer questions regarding Baylor's upcoming games and performance from the previous week.
Joe, a quarterback for the Bears from 1989-1993, threw for 5,995 yards and 31 touchdowns for the Bears. Ganaway rushed for 2,051 yards and 28 touchdowns for the Bears from 2009-2011, including a senior season where he set Baylor's single-season career record with 1,556 yards and 21 touchdowns.
It seems like the identity of the conference is changing to some degree. You have Iowa State, Baylor, Texas and obviously TCU really trying to make defense their main identity. Do you see the cycle turning where the Big12 becomes known as more of a physical, defensive-minded league as a result?
JJ Joe: I believe that everything eventually comes full cycle. The Big 12 which was a combination of SWC and Big 8 schools originally had teams known for power football and fantastic defense. Then OU hired Mike Leach and they won a national title with not only a solid defense, but a team that was a high powered offensive team as well. Then, Leach goes to Texas Tech and the middle to lower tier schools begin to figure out that the best way to compete was to go get skill guys and turn the game into a high tempo, one on one matchup outside because it was difficult to compete with the big boys for the top Defensive Linemen and Linebackers.
Well, everyone went nuclear and began to play up-tempo, spread football save for Kansas State. Well, in my opinion, after a decade or so, defenses have begun to catch up by recruiting smaller, faster, hybrid guys to neutralize the spread attacks. Now, the league is still an offensive league but we’ve seen defenses begin to play much better with TCU, Texas, and Iowa State showing that you can play defense in this league and win games. In the long run, I still believe this league will be an offensive league. However, we’re just coming back to the mean. Offensive football has come at the expense of defenses and we still have games (i.e. OU and OKST) where defense appears optional. In this part of the country, QBs and WRs are in fantastic supply and kids are throwing the ball and playing 7 on 7 beginning in elementary school. On the other hand, we do not produce as many defensive linemen like they do in the Southeast which is the staple to playing great football. In the SEC, you have a great supply big, athletic, defensive linemen as they are found in plentiful supply in South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Virginia.
That’s my way of saying, I believe we’re getting away from the ‘flag football’ that we’ve been playing the last few years, but this conference will still be an offensive conference with an identity based on QBs, Wideouts and RBs. There are just too many kids in this state with developed, exceptional offensive skill for the tide to swing too far back to the defensive side and I’m ok with that. I’m an offensive guy, I abhor 14 to 7 football games. They may be great games as great defense is beautiful to watch at times, but you know what…there’s nothing wrong with a 28 to 24 or 31 to 28 football game. Playing TCU tomorrow, we may see an old school game, you know, a 21 to 14 or 17 to 10 type game. Hopefully, we will spoil TCU’s season by keeping them out of the Big XII Championship game by playing old school Mike Singletary and Baylor 1980 type defense. That would be just fine with me. SicEm Bears, Beat TCU!
Terranace Ganaway: Defense wins championships but offense sells tickets. It’s a matter of perspective and how the Big 12 plays defense and how Baylor played this year. We are used to seeing it from Baylor’s perspective of scoring a lot of points and running a team off the field. The philosophy changed for Phil Snow's defense and what Matt Rhule ultimately wants to do. The way Big 12 offenses are probably will not create a defensive league but everyone will figure out how to defend it better.
Both Matt Campbell and Paul Rhoads plays deep safety defense and force offenses to be patient or make mistakes by trying to force it. Joel Lanning really helped that defense stop the run and get into place because of his experience at quarterback and behind Montgomery, they were able to control the clock and convert first days. I also think that Heacock one of the best second-half coaches in the country.
Texas has talent and Todd Orlando is really good at getting the best out of his players. I believe Texas’ defense will be better next year and that offense will need a run game to help the quarterback situation. Baylor will need safeties to help grow their defense because Snow’s schemes put stress on that position and that will be an issue in our league with how teams target safeties with one-on-one matchups with slot receivers.
Texas Christian University has one of the greatest defensive minds in college football. He has done extremely well in being able to replace guys year in and year out. He starts with having outstanding linebackers that can cover the field. I am grateful that Baylor has Clay Johnston because he is the type of linebacker I see leading a TCU style defense and being a four-year captain.
Oklahoma and Oklahoma St. both have a good defense but it’s been overshadowed by two Heisman trophy candidates in Mayfield and Rudolph. The offense will be the identity moving forward but it will be different. There will be shootouts in big games and will be great quarterbacks because that’s what high schools are doing. The Big 12 puts athletes in space and until that stops, it will put stress on defensive players to make open field plays. I suggest defenses get better but it will not a big defensive league.