Leave No Doubt Tour 2009--Preview of the Tackling Baptists-Offense

 

Da Bears!

Texas walks into Waco as arguably the top team in the nation to take on the Cubs of Waco, and as the season started, we all thought this to be a trap game.  But down goes Robert Griffin early in the season, and now us horns see this a mere stepping stone as we punch our tickets to Dallas and Pasa-Get-Down-Dena.  Baylor switched defensively with with their new DC Brian Norwood from a base 4-3 to the 4-2-5 nickel package and it has certainly showed in its productivity. Not that they have a lights out defense, but at least they can dim the scoreboard from time to time.  Lets take a look at their squad.

OFFENSE:
-QB: Nick Florence: Fr. 6-1. 180 lbs.  Nick is the replacement QB for the injured Robert Griffin and has actually done decent to keep some fans in the stands.  He's not a big guy, and really not elusive, but he has a good arm and is a very smart kid.  He is a freshman and he makes freshman mistakes, but he has done alot more than what BU fans expected after Griffin went down. He's got 5 TDs to 4 INTs while completing 61% of his passes, and will be a durable backup next year when Griffin is healthy. Had a great game against Mizzourah.


--Back-up QB: Blake Syzmanski: 8th year Sr. 6-4. 205 lbs. Blake has been with the program since 2001 and will never leave Waco.  He has a good arm and fairly mobile for his size.  QB grade: C-

-RB: Terrance Ganaway: So. 6-0. 220 lbs.  Houston transfer, big power runner in the mold of Cedric Benson.  Has the ability to be workhorse, but will mostly play the Thunder to Salubi's Lightning and split carries. Got 35 yards on 14 carries in a Cody Johnson-like output against Missouri last week.

-Back-up RB: Jarred Salubi: Fr. 5-10. 190 lbs.  Speedy back in the mold of a Ramonce Taylor.  Was a high school champion sprinter and can add to a change of pace for Baylor's running game.  Can be used out of the backfield to catch passes as well. Expected to split carries with Ganaway.

-Another RB: Jay Findley: Jr. 5-11. 205 lbs.  Jay was the starter heading into this season but injuries in the early part of the season has kept him on the sidelines for much of the past few week.  Findley is a multi-skilled back in the mold of Vondrell, as he can pound it inside and has some speed to take an edge or two.  RB Grade: C

-WR: Kendall Wright: So. 5-11. 180 lbs.  Dude burned our secondary on a play last year.  Kendall has excellent speed and is Baylor's best deep threat this year. 


-WR: David Gettis: Sr. 6-4. 210 lbs. Great size and athleticism, finally erupted and played to his potential last game against Missouri, going for over 100 yards receiving. GEttis also has very deceptive speed for his size and could possibly play on Sundays next year. 

-WR: Lanear Sampson: Fr. 6-0. 200 lbs.  Decent speed and wonderful hands, Sampson is more of a possession type receiver in the mold of a Jordan Shipley plus 10 lbs.  He had a breakout game against Missouri, but then again I could have had a breakout game against the Zoo.

--Back-up WR: They have a plethora of WRs in their stable at Baylor, and they tend to rotate alot of fresh legs to keep DBs on their toes.  This is probably Baylor's best core group--personel wise. WR grade: B-

-OL: LT: Danny Watkins: Jr. 6-4. 310 lbs.  The ex-hockey player is the guy who is supposed to replace the top O-Lineman in the draft last year.  I'm cool with that.  Watkins is very inexperienced, but he has a good motor and drives off the lines very well. 

-OL: LG: Ivory Wade: Fr. 6-5. 315 lbs.  Wade is also very inexperienced and wasnt planned to start at the beginning of the season, but he took over due to injuries.  He's got a good motor and a big upside.

-OL: C: JD Walton: Sr. 6-3. 305 lbs.  JD is a great center with a possible future in the NFL.  He is the force and brains on the line and he is a very consistent blocker. 

-OL: RG: James Barnard: Sr. 6-4. 295 lbs. James is a pure run blocker, but is very susceptable in pass protection.  He doesnt have good feet unless he's moving foward.  He can handle double teams as good as Paris Hilton, but has trouble handling faster DT's.  Lamar Houston will have a dominate day against him.

-OL: RT: Phillip Blake: So. 6-3. 275 lbs.  Very undersized for a RT, Blake used his feet very well on opposing DEs.  He is inexperienced and gets beat from time to time by stronger ends, but has the tools to develop into a decent O-Lineman.  He would be better suited as a guard.  He's also Canadian. eh?

OL Grade: Inexperienced and undersized.  C-


Grade: A+  Top level talent!

---Without Griffin, this Offense was destined to fail; however, Nick Florence has provided a spark for Art Briles and he is excelling every expectation that all 12 of Baylors' fans had had for the guy.  I dont expect Baylor to score alot of points because they havent faced a defense quite like ours, and you can add the aggression from last year's voting mihap by Briles....we can expect a beatdown.  Defensive preview soon to follow.  Also, you can check out our own Dimecoverage's interview with the Waco Tribune-Herald right here. 

I'm going to leave y'all with this gem:

 

 Hide your women!!