Baylor Bears: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats
Baylor Bears: Key To The 2022 Offense
Get steadier play out of the passing game
Enter Blake Shapen, who might not have the bulk of former starter Gerry Bohanon, and he’s not going to bring any power when he runs, but he’s a stronger pure passer.
Baylor didn’t get the passing attack going against Oklahoma State, struggled to do anything right in the Sugar Bowl win over Ole Miss, and it was too often along for the ride while the running game did its thing.
It was a small sample size, but Shapen was brilliant in the Big 12 Championship win over Oklahoma State and hit 72% of his passes on the season. He’s fine, and the O line will give him time, but the passing game has to be better with a new group of receivers taking over.
Baylor Bears: Key To The 2022 Defense
Keep the takeaways coming
In Dave Aranda’s two seasons, Baylor came up with 44 takeaways. That’s not going to stop.
Owning the turnover margin didn’t always mean everything to the Bears – they lost to Oklahoma State the first time around despite being a +3 – but all the big plays kept the offense from having to take a whole lot of chances.
Rely on the defense to take the ball away, work with the great running game, don’t turn the ball over, and keep it all going.
The defensive front will provide the pressure, but the secondary has to be as productive as the amazing 2021 version that picked off 19 passes and was in on 27 takeaways.
Baylor Bears: Key Player To The 2022 Season
WR Gavin Holmes, Jr.
Baylor has good young talents in the wide receiver mix to work with, but Holmes is the veteran who can step on the field right away and be a reliable target for new starting quarterback Blake Shapen.
He might not be the main for the attack, and he might not be the most explosive option, but he’s experienced. He made 33 catches in nine games in 2020 as a short-range target, but he’s had injury issues and was out all of last year.
Baylor Bears: Key Transfer
DT Jaxon Player, Sr.
Former LSU LB Josh White will be a factor, too, but the short, squatty Player is a much-needed veteran option to work in the rotation on the inside.
He made 138 tackles with eight sacks and 31 tackles for loss in four years at Tulsa, and now he’ll likely spell Siaki Ika on the nose from time to time.
Baylor Key Game To The 2022 Season
at Iowa State, Sept. 24
Start with the belief that Baylor needs to own Waco. Oklahoma State and Kansas State are key games at home, and those are a must.
The Big 12 opener is in Ames against Iowa State. There’s still plenty of time to bounce back if there’s a loss, but the Bears have five conference road games going to Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, and West Virginia.
Lose to Iowa State, and it’s going to take a whole lot of work to get back to the Big 12 Championship.
Baylor Bears: 2021 Fun Stats
– Sacks: Baylor 34 for 231 yards – Opponents 18 for 133 yards
– Average Yards Per Carry: Baylor 5.3 – Opponents 3.4
– 4th Down Conversions: Baylor 22-of-33 (67%) – Opponents 12-of-21 (57%)
O, D Breakdown | Season Prediction, What Will Happen
Baylor Top 10 Players | Schedule & Analysis