WACO, Tex. — The list of things opposing defensive coordinators have to worry about when they get ready to play the No. 2-ranked Baylor Bears keeps growing.
As Halloween approaches, Baylor is creating its own brand of horror story. This week the Bears (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) will try and haunt Iowa State’s defensive unit.
Baylor has long-since established itself as a prolific offense, supposedly based around a pass-heavy spread scheme. But for years now the Bears have been just as dangerous on the ground as through the air.
This season, Baylor’s go-to running back Shock Linwood has rushed for 100-plus yards in four of six games. On Saturday, though, quarterback Seth Russell subbed in as the ground-gainer and went for 160.
Baylor coach Art Briles said he likes seeing Russell run, as long as the QB protects himself.
“(Russell is) a good enough athlete that, if he’s out in space and sees somebody, he can protect his body,” Briles said. “I thought he did a really good job of doing that the other day.”
Baylor also has a decent change-of-pace running back in Johnny Jefferson and the Bears are expecting another experienced rusher, Devin Chafin, to come back from a hamstring injury any week now.
But slowing down Baylor’s rushing attack isn’t something opponents can devote too much attention to, since the Bears can still burn just about any defense over the top.
Last Saturday, Baylor wide receiver Corey Coleman kept up his video-game-like touchdown pace, scoring three times to bring his TD total to 16 for the season. By the end of the day, he had 10 catches for 199 yards to go along with the three scores.
“I’ve been saying it for two years, at least, that it’s his passion, his energy, his toughness, and his skill level that allow him to separate himself from other people,” Briles said of Coleman. “He’s got all that with talent, and that’s what allows him to separate and be different.”
Even if a viewer knew nothing about Coleman’s single-season-record-setting TD stats, one play in the second half versus West Virginia would be convincing enough.
Coleman caught a slant pass from the left side, about eight yards into the secondary. Instead of carrying out the play through the middle, Coleman stopped on a dime, causing the Mountaineers best corner, Rick Rumph, to fall down. With his defender on the ground, Coleman reversed field and raced to a 33-yard touchdown.
That’s a nightmare in a nutshell.
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH
–WR Corey Coleman has been unbelievable so far this season. On Saturday, Coleman caught three touchdown passes to re-establish Baylor’s single-season record for receiving touchdowns with 16. Coleman passed former Bear Kendall Wright, who caught 14 touchdown passes in 2011. And Coleman still has half a season in front of him.
–QB Seth Russell becomes more of a dual threat with each passing week. Russell passed for 380 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 160 yards and a score with a long run of 46 yards against West Virginia. If Russell keeps up that kind of production, listen for his name in Heisman discussions before long.
–LB Taylor Young posted seven solo stops, including two tackles for loss against West Virginia. He’s become a key cog in the Baylor defense over the last two seasons. Despite missing two games this season, he has compiled 17 tackles, including 12 solo stops and 3.5 tackles for losses. He’ll likely keep moving up Baylor’s team tackle chart as the season continues.
SERIES HISTORY: Baylor leads Iowa State, 7-6.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I think we just try to be intelligent with (QB Seth Russell running). We realize it’s a position that if you want to see grandma, while she’s knitting, get up and scream, it’s usually when they’re tackling the quarterback. We understand that.” — Baylor coach Art Briles on whether or not it makes him nervous to have Russell running as much as he did on Saturday versus West Virginia.