Baylor Bear Insider
After months of preparation, going back to the Zoom meetings in the spring, first-year Baylor head coach Dave Aranda still had to wonder how his team would respond to a little adversity going into Saturday's season opener against Kansas.
Wonder no more.
After giving up a 79-yard scoring drive on the first series of the game, and twice getting flagged for targeting in the first quarter – one was reversed – a young Baylor defense grew up in a hurry to help the Bears dominate the Jayhawks, 47-14, in Aranda's head coaching debut.
Even after that early surge, Kansas (0-2, 0-1) had just 174 yards total offense on 48 plays (3.6-yard average) until putting together a pair of late drives against the Baylor backups.
"Really, it was just working on our communication," senior linebacker Terrel Bernard said. "Everybody was a little rusty getting out there. They went in some different (personnel groupings) that we weren't ready for, and they went a little tempo on us. After that, I think we kind of settled in and got to playing."
Remember, this was a defense that returned just two starters and lost starting safety Christian Morgan in the first quarter. Of the 12 players that saw their first game in a Baylor uniform, seven were on the defense.
After losing All-American James Lynch and the other two starters up front, TJ Franklin, Cole Maxwell and Josh Landry all made their first career starts, along with JACK linebacker Ashton Logan.
"I thought in the interior run, there were a lot of good things," Aranda said. Of the defensive line. "There was disruption, we had penetration on the other side of the line of scrimmage. I thought for the majority of the game, there were good pass-rush lines. . . . I think we can get better there and continue to develop depth. We were able to get some guys in there late in the game, and we can probably play better in some spots."
Kansas freshman quarterback Jalon Daniels, making his first start, was 3-for-3 on the opening drive, but was sacked four times and averaged less than five yards per pass attempt. All told, the Baylor defense had 10 tackles for loss.
"That's something we talked about in the summer and fall camp was our ability to force negative plays and kind of stall out the offense," said Bernard, who had a fourth-quarter sack for a safety and finished with eight tackles, 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss. "I think the offense only scores 20 percent of the time when you have some type of TFL or sack. That's a big thing for us, sacks and turnovers."
Bernard said defensive coordinator Ron Roberts' scheme and philosophy are "allowing us to play like that" and cut loose.
"With this scheme, we're pressuring a lot more and we have the freedom to add on and really try to get to the backfield and make those negative plays," he said.
After 13 years as a defensive coordinator, including the previous four at LSU, this was the first time since 2006 that Aranda had not called plays in a game. In 2007, he was the coordinator at Delta State under Roberts.
"I've got so much respect for Ron," Aranda said. "I think there were a couple of times where I'd be thinking this, and (Roberts) would call the same thing and get on the same page. There's a lot that I've learned from Ron. Just to be in that position, I think we're going to all be better for it."
Following the game, Aranda was presented the game ball from Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades. He is the first full-time head coach to win his Baylor debut since Chuck Reedy opened with a 42-39 win over Fresno State in 1993.
"He doesn't really show too much emotion, high or low, so seeing how happy he was after the game was really a big thing," Bernard said. "Just taking it all in and realizing the moment and having fun with it, it was fun to see."
Aranda said, "To be part of the team, I just feel like I belong here. I feel like just a really strong brotherhood here. There are people that care pass the player or coach part to the person part. To be a part of that is special. "
Baylor (1-0, 1-0) goes on the road next to face West Virginia (1-1, 0-1) at 11 a.m. Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, W. Va., in a game that will be broadcast by ABC. The Mountaineers opened conference play with a 27-13 road loss at No. 15 Oklahoma State.
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September 28, 2020 at 07:45AM
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DEFENSE GREW UP IN A HURRY - BaylorBears.com
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