By Carson Vercoe | Sports Writer
It had been exactly two weeks since Baylor fans last saw junior quarterback DJ Lagway suit up. Baylor fans had seen only one drive of a healthy Lagway before a sprained ankle limited him to the pocket.
The game left Baylor fans questioning what a healthy offense would look like when Lagway returned.
In Baylor’s (3-1) 23-13 win over Colorado (2-1), they found some answers, but Baylor fans might have left with more questions than answers after an inconsistent performance from the offense.
Last week Baylor relied heavily on the deep ball. Junior quarterback Nate Bennett slinged three deep touchdowns along with a long touchdown run to help the Bears win, but against the Buffaloes, those knockout shots weren’t a factor.
Too often in the first three quarters, Lagway danced in the backfield, looking downfield with no options. The lack of any threat downfield forced the Bears into a more conservative style of play with runs and checkdowns, which they couldn’t consistently execute.
Colorado came into this game with the 111th-ranked passing defense, but the Bears managed only one deep touchdown on a 33-yard score by junior wide receiver Jadon Porter in the fourth quarter.
“I’m just blessed to be back,” Porter said. “I wasn’t supposed to be back for three weeks, so I’m ready to get back running.”
The deep ball has already proven to be an area where the Bears have thrived, and they can keep leaning into it as the season progresses.
The Bears’ rushing offense also hasn’t started the season as expected. Baylor is averaging only 3.75 yards per carry, ranking 75th in the nation, behind senior Dawson Pendergrass and sophomore Caden Knighten.
This continued on Saturday against the Buffaloes, as Baylor only managed 116 rushing yards against a Colorado defense that gave up 180 yards against Northwestern. The lack of a rushing attack contributed to the offense’s inconsistency.
“We have got to be more dependable running the ball when we need to run it,” head coach Dave Aranda said.
As the Bears continue their trek through the Big 12, the rushing attack will need to be something they can rely on when things aren’t rolling through the air.
With the loss of Michael Trigg, it was clear the tight end room wouldn’t produce the same as last year, but through the first four games, the Bears’ tight end room has only seven receptions.
The tight ends struggled again on Saturday, accounting for only two receptions, one of which was a 28-yard first down by senior tight end Hawkins Polley.
The Bears’ tight ends could add another level to a solid passing attack. With bigger bodies, the Bears could use them in short-yardage situations to help the offense gain some consistency.
But despite the questions the Baylor offense raised today, there were plenty of things fans can look forward to as they move deeper into the Big 12 play.
Every QB’s got their number one, and for Lagway, his happens to be fifth-year receiver Gavin Freeman.
Lagway and Freeman’s consistent connection was on full display against Colorado. Freeman finished with six catches for 59 yards and a touchdown, proving his connection with Lagway against Auburn was not a one-and-done deal.
“We’re so lucky to have him,” fifth-year defensive end Kyler Jordan said. “He’s been awesome from the jump. He came in, bought into the culture and just loves to play football. He’s going to go out there and show the world.”
The offensive line also had a strong game despite guys going in and out of the game. The group had its fair share of penalties over the previous two weeks due to injuries, making it difficult to remain consistent.
“A lot of it’s their cramps, some of it’s like stingers and things of that sort,” Aranda said. “We need to get it to where we’re healthy there and can be consistent.
But against Colorado on Saturday, it surrendered only one false start. The unit looked solid in protecting Lagway, giving him ample time to find his targets. If the line can limit penalties and protect Lagway like it did on Saturday, the Bears can find lots of success in the passing game.
With a cleaner performance from the line, the Bears had their moments on offense on Saturday, like in the Auburn game.
A couple of explosive plays, like a deep catch from Porter on his touchdown, gave fans a taste of what could be to come. If the offense can consistently hit in these moments, it can reach a whole new level.
Despite the on-and-off offense, the Bears still ground out a win on Saturday, a big milestone as they move forward.
“There’s a lot to clean up,” Aranda said. “And there’s a lot we’re still fighting to get right, but the thing I’m proud about is that for four quarters, the ability to close out a game is a goal for us every week, and we were not able to do that last week.”
If the Baylor offense can find some consistency and combine it with their red-hot defense, the Bears could become a sleeper team in the Big 12 moving forward.
The Bears will look to get the offense rolling early when they take on Arizona State Saturday at 9:30 p.m. at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.
