3 reasons why Texas football could cook Baylor on Black Friday

Baylor’s overreliance on Monaray Baldwin is a major detriment

One of the more interesting trends that surfaced for the Baylor offense this season has to do with the overreliance that offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes and the Bears have at times on the speedy sophomore wide receiver Monaray Baldwin.

Baylor found its most potent and explosive target in the passing game (and occasionally on run plays) in Baldwin.

But the breakthrough of Baldwin this season has also presented detrimental circumstances to the Baylor offense in certain games. Baylor can often get too reliant on Baldwin to move the ball for this offense. When that happens, it severely limits the potential of this offense that does have some other notable weapons that Shapen can get the ball to.

Wide receivers Gavin Holmes and Hal Presley are some other quality weapons in the passing game that can pose various threats to opposing defenses. Holmes is another speedy and reliable wideout that ranks among the seven highest-graded Big 12 wideouts in slot targets in the passing game this season.

Presley is also a solid 6-foot-3 outside receiver that can go up and get those contested 50/50 balls. He’s got a half-dozen contested catches on the season, more than any Texas wideout.

Moreover, Baylor has some potent options out of the backfield with the running back trio of Richard Reese, Craig Williams, and Qualan Jones. This trio has combined for a whopping 1,841 rushing yards and 25 rushing scores on the season.

Thus, you can see the weapons that Baylor is taking out of the game when targeting Baldwin too often. And if Baylor tries to get the ball to Baldwin in this game too much, the key defensive backs for Texas such as junior nickel Jahdae Barron and junior safety Jerrin Thompson should be there effectively contest him in space.

Texas has maybe the most improved defensive backfield in the Big 12 this season, and Baylor will be tested by this group on Black Friday.