TIME TO SHINE FOR ARANDA
Second-year coach’s game plan involves strong defense and ground-based offense
How will the Bears look with their first new starting QB in four years?
Charlie Brewer has moved on to Utah for his final year of eligibility. Gerry Bohanon won the preseason competion over Jacob Zeno and redshirt freshman Blake Shapen. Bohanon fits best in coach Dave Aranda’s offense, which features plenty of play-action passes. Bohanon, who also throws the best deep ball of the group, has the most experience. He has played in 15 games, including 10 relief appearances in the 2019 season when Brewer was banged up. Zeno was exciting in the 2019 Big 12 title game against Oklahoma when both Brewer and Bohanon were hurt. Shapen is the only one of three recruited by the current staff.
How far has the offense dropped?
When new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes was asked to make a presentation at the annual Texas high school coaches convention, he didn’t have any film from Baylor and the type of offense he wanted to share, so he showed clips from his days at BYU. Grimes, who wants to run a lot of play action and “zonewide” looks, will be tasked with getting the most out of the versatile Trestan Ebner at running back and five freshman receivers along with transfer Hal Presley from Auburn. Ebner, who is also an excellent return man, went from 5.4 yards a rush in 2019 to 2.1 in 2020.
What about the defense?
A star defensive coordinator at LSU, Aranda has had the benefit of a full offseason and has veterans to build with. Linebacker Terrell Bernard had 55 tackles in five games before tearing his labrum and fracturing his shoulder against Iowa State. He’s back along with Jalen Pitre, a fifth-year senior who is listed as a safety but often plays like a linebacker. Defensive tackle Siaki Ika, a transfer from LSU, was recruited to Baton Rouge by Aranda but figures to have an impact in
Waco after arriving via the transfer portal. The Bears return both corners as well — Raleigh Texada and Kalon Barnes.
How does the schedule set up?
After what would appear to be guaranteed wins against Texas State and Texas Southern, the Bears open Big 12 play at Kansas. The Jayhawks are in transition again but Baylor didn’t win a game away from Waco last season. A win at Lawrence would give the Bears a 3-0 start before Iowa State, one the conference favorites, comes to Waco. Baylor finishes against Texas Tech, and the series between the two former Southwest Conference rivals stands at 39-39-1. Bowl eligibility could be on the line for both. Tech won last season’s game 24-23 on a last-second field goal. What’s the bottom line?
As Mack Rhoades, the athletic director, said when the NCAA announced minimal penalties on the school from the sexual assault scandal that hung over Waco for five years, the black cloud that had been hanging around is gone. The 1-11 season in 2017 and last year’s 2-7 both come with big asterisks — 2017 came during a period of transition from the Art Briles era to Matt Rhule and last season was the pandemic. This will be the time for Aranda to show he is the coach to return the Bears to winning although his formula may look a lot different — strong defense and an offense that starts on the ground.