2008 Baylor Bears
Written June 30, 2008 by Jason Lowry
Jason Lowry is ready to make his 2008 Baylor Bears football predictions, but before we get to that lets take a closer look at what this team will be bringing to the field in the upcoming season. The Bears struggled again going just 3-9 overall and a sad 0-8 in the Big 12 South. This year the Bears are going with a new head coach in Art Briles, and it will be his job to get the 15 returning starters to turn things around and get this team to a bowl game once again. The Bears haven’t seen their season extended since 1994 when they went to the Alamo Bowl. Here is a quick look at what the Bears will be sending on both sides of the ball in 2008.
Offense:
The Bears are hoping that with 9 returning starters they can get things going on this side of the ball, and it could end up going into the hands of true freshman quarterback Robert Griffin, but the team has some options as junior Blake Szymanski returns and they also add Miami, FL transfer Kirby Freeman as well. The team needs to improve on their ground game, and senior Jacoby Jones will likely get the starting job. The team returns all 3 starters at wide receiver and also get their starting tight end as well. Thomas White was the go to guy in 2007 bringing in 8 touchdowns and 475 yards. The offensive line returns 4 of the 5 starters from last year, and senior left tackle Jason Smith is one of the better tackles in the conference. The only spot expecting to see a new face is left guard and it looks like redshirt freshman John Jones will get the edge to start the season.
Defense:
This side doesn’t bring back as much as the offense, but still has 6 returning starters. The defensive line pretty much remains in tack, as they bring back 3 starters from last year, and plug in senior Leon Freeman at the other end spot. The team only returns 1 starter at the linebacker, but its a good one in junior Joe Pawelek. As it looks now junior Antonio Jones and redshirt freshman Elliot Coffey will get the edge at the two open spots at linebacker. The team brings back 2 starters in the secondary in safeties junior Jordan Lake and senior Dwain Crawford. Lake is the real deal at free safety, but the team really needs the newcomers in the starting spot at corner to step up, and it looks like it will be sophomores Krys Buerck and Dominique Criss.
Prediction: 5th in the Big 12 South
We got the Bears having a pretty good season by their standards, as they will finish out of last place for the first time since 2005. The offense should be much improved from last year, and the defense should be just as good as last year if not better. The team needs to make sure they take care of a couple home games against teams like Iowa State and Texas A&M, or they will be back in last place once again.
If you want to get a jump start on the upcoming season, head over to Bodoglife.com and get an account going today. Also be sure to keep checking back for more team preview and predictions as the season continues to get closer.
