Rhule concerned with lack of intensity and edge after hot start

A two-score lead was rare enough in 2017 that about the time Baylor jumped out to a 17-0 lead the first 10 minutes of the game against Abilene Christian, everyone in McLane Stadium dropped their guard and began to relax. That included the team.

Jim Black

Redshirt freshman linebacker Terrel Bernard celebrates the first interception of his career.

The start wasn't the issue, obviously. The Bears offense cranked out 144 yards in their first four possessions and the defense snagged an interception while holding ACU 33 yards.

The finish wasn't an issue either as the Bears didn't allow a point and limited the Wildcats to 23 yards in the fourth quarter, one of the goals preached daily inside the Baylor locker room. 

It was the second and early portion of the third quarter that has been noted as the concern. According to Matt Rhule, there was a noticeable drop off in intensity on the sideline and ACU responded with 20 points in their final five possessions of the first half, leaving the Bears with a 38-20 heading into the locker room.

"We were up 17-0 and 24-7," Rhule said. "We allowed them to make it a game going into halftime.

"That’s not what we want. I didn’t feel the edge on the sideline when we were up early. We were excited and celebrating and a lot of guys laughing and talking. That’s not football. We needed to put those guys away. That’s the edge we need to have moving forward."

It's part of learning to win again. Giving up 20 points to end the first half proved to be no big deal against ACU. Doing that in Big 12 play as the competition ramps up will almost definitely be a problem.

As the Bears prepare for the second game of the season, the proof is now in the pudding. Watching film wasn't much fun according to junior defensive end James Lockhart, the transfer from Texas A&M who collected the only sack for the Bears on Saturday. 

Rhule says he believes that the defense will do their best to improve and potentially match the intensity shown by an offense that scored 55 points on 13 non-half ending drives.

"A bunch of guys now have a chance to look at the film and evaluate themselves, coaches included" Rhule said.  "I expect us to make significant improvement from week one to week two."

Getting beat by a good play is one thing. Missing tackles because of lack of focus or intensity is another. Both scenarios played out on Saturday. 

"Not enough guys trying to be physical and tough," Rhule said. "ACU ran for 220 yards against us. That is completely unacceptable. UTSA did that against us last year.  We have got to get our defense together. That comes down to toughness, physicality and better angles. 

"I know Phil (Snow) and the coaches are working on it."

Anytime he is asked, Rhule has always stated that a preseason game would work in the favor of all teams for preparing for the season. Without one, however, learning lessons come with game one. Now his defense will return to practice to clean up the issues that were identified on Sunday and Monday.

"I'm fully confident, I know our guys will," Rhule said. "You've got to get out there and play and see it. Hopefully this week in practice we'll see a little bit more edge from defense in terms of angles and getting guys down."