Sports > August 21, 2008

By Joe Holloway | Baylor Lariat sports writer

After finishing the 2007 season on an eight-game skid that landed them last in the Big 12, the Baylor Bears return this season with new Head Coach Art Briles hoping to improve on last year’s dismal performance. In his five seasons as head coach of the University of Houston, Briles was able to take the Cougars from going 8-26 under the previous head coach to a 34-28 record and three bowl games.

As the coach for Baylor, the only team in the Big 12 that hasn’t been to a bowl game since the conference was created, Briles hopes that he will have a similar impact on its program.

As the 2008 season begins, Briles faces questions about the quarterback position.

With five signal-callers on the active roster, he has plenty of options. The two that stand out the most are the senior transfer from the University of Miami, Kirby Freeman, and true freshman Robert Griffin.

In seven starts at Miami, Freeman completed 92-of-197 passes for 1,311 yards, 12 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

He led the Hurricanes to victories over an 18th-ranked Boston College team and a 21-20 win over the University of Nevada in the MPC Computers Bowl.

Griffin lacks college level game experience, but he was one of the top prospects in the 2008 recruiting class. Griffin, the Rivals.com No. 4 dual-threat quarterback in the nation, has continued to impress in spring and fall scrimmages.

After spring practices concluded, he joined the Baylor track team.

He finished third in the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 400-meter hurdles (49.55), won the Big 12 gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles (49.22) and won the NCAA Midwest Regional 200-meter hurdles title with a 49.53.

Both quarterbacks will probably see playing time, but it remains to be seen who will occupy the top of the depth chart.

Whoever starts under center will get plenty of protection from an offensive line that has four returning starters from last year’s squad that gave up the fewest sacks for the Bears since 1995. For the Bears’ spread offense to be effective, the line will have to remain a strong point.

Another key for Baylor to be successful is junior wide receiver David Gettis. Once one of Baylor’s biggest recruits, Gettis has yet to come into his own but has the potential to be one of Baylor’s best playmakers.

On the other side of the ball, Baylor’s greatest defensive strengths are junior free safety Jordan Lake and junior linebacker Joe Pawelek.

Lake led the team in tackles last year with 120 while Pawelek recorded 99 to take the second spot.

Together they shared 2007 squad MVP honors.

As for special teams, it shouldn’t be too hard for Baylor to improve on last year’s numbers, which had them next to last in the Big 12 in almost every category.

The departure of Special Teams Coordinator Kasey Dunn will certainly bring about some measure of change that can’t make things any worse, but Baylor shouldn’t look to impress too many people with their special teams this year either.