Gameday Thread: Baylor (2-0) takes on Duke (2-0) at McLane Stadium

BAYLOR (2-0) vs. DUKE (2-0)

McLane Stadium | 2:30 p.m CT | FS1

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Storylines of the Week

Is Charlie Brewer the man?

Brewer had the most efficient game of his career on the road at UTSA last Saturday. He finished 23-for-34 passing with 328 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 22 yards rushing and a 36-yard reception. He led scoring drives on seven of the eight drives he was the quarterback. His mobility in the pocket is what separates him. He was able to avoid sacks and throw accurately on the run. Brewer got his two top targets involved early and often. Jalen Hurd and Denzel Mims combined for 16 receptions, 269 yards, and two touchdowns. 

Brewer will try to make sure the starting job is his this week but it won't come easy as the Bears face the best defense they have seen through three games and he Bears will need more of the same from Brewer as they did a week ago. The run game will struggle, there will be pressure that he will have to avoid, and he is going to have to be accurate with the football. If he has the game he had last weekend Baylor will remain unbeaten but if he struggles it will be tough for the Bears to defeat Duke. Can Charlie put together two elite performances in a row? We will find out on Saturday.

Can the Baylor defense stop the run game?

Baylor is giving up 6.0 yards per carry so far this season against very mediocre competition. The big plays in the run game have been the issue and has inflated the number. The good news is that Duke has struggled to run the ball as they are averaging just 3.8 yards per carry. 

So it is an underperforming run defense vs. a run game that has stalled. Something has to give this Saturday. Giving up big plays in the run game this week is a recipe for disaster because Duke is starting a second-string quarterback and Baylor needs to force him to make throws. The Bears need to take away the run game and force long third-down conversions, that is the way they will be able to take control of this game. We all will find out on Saturday just how big of a stride the Baylor defense has taken since last year.

Quote of the Week

"Defensively, I know we’re working hard to correct some of those big plays that popped the other day. We’re getting better, we just need a little bit more in terms of discipline and gap-integrity and making sure that we don’t come out of our gap. As we move forward, offensively, defensively and special teams, we’ve been able to overcome a lot of self-inflicted mistakes. You certainly can’t do that against Duke. We can’t drop kickoffs, we can’t have crucial penalties on fourth-and-one. We’ve got to grow up as a football team, and they’re working hard to do that. I’m proud of our players. They’re learning as the games go, but this will be quite a test." - Matt Rhule

Statistic of the Week

Explosive plays are the largest reason of concern for the Bears as they head into their contest with the ACC program. The issues resulting from missed assignments are the same that riddled Baylor's defense early in 2017. 

Take away four of the 53 total runs from the first two contests of the season, 75 and 47 yard by ACU and 36 and 27 by UTSA, and the 6.0 yards per carry by Baylor opponents turns into 2.7 yards per carry.

On a trip to Duke last fall, the Bears had similar issues. In that contest, Duke scored three of their four touchdowns on runs of 34, 50 and 65 yards. Their fourth and final touchdown came on pick six by linebacker Ben Humphries in the fourth quater. Outside of the those three carries for 149 yards and three scores Baylor's defense played very well as they limited the Blue Devils to 97 yards on 48 carries, a 2.0 yard per carry average.

It wasn't until the final six games that the defense began to limit those plays more frequently. If the Bears expect to win on Saturday in McLane, those big plays will need to be limited starting from the first possession. 

Jim Black Linebackers Baylor's defensive line should be able to hold up well against a Duke offensive line that has been average in two games this season, but stopping the big play means the linebackers will need to play well for the Bears. Clay Johnston, Terrel Bernard, Jordan Williams and even SLB Henry Black will need to clamp down on the run.

Jim Black Offensive Line On offense Baylor shouldn't expect to have much room to run, but the offensive line will need to protect well enough to keep Charlie Brewer and/or Jalan McClendon upright long enough to get the ball to the edge of the defense. Duke's defensive line will be as tough of a challenge as the Bears will see in 2018.

© Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports JaMycal Hasty Baylor will need to have some form of a threat out of the backfield and JaMycal Hasty is proving he can carry the load between the tackles and also catch the ball consistently out of the backfield. He's scored a total of four touchdowns in two games in 2018. If he can keep that average going, that's a terrific indication on the outcome of the game.