If Robert Griffin’s knee holds up under contact, he could be the comeback story of the year in the Big 12.
Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald

The Baylor football players are tired of seeing green and gold.

They’re not talking about the fans. Throughout the summer, Baylor’s theme has been to “Rise Up” and the players hope 50,000 fans pack Floyd Casey Stadium for Saturday’s season opener against Sam Houston State.

What the Bears are tired of seeing is themselves.

They haven’t played a jersey of another color since Texas Tech at Cowboys Stadium last November. The Bearkats’ orange and white will be a welcome sight, but honestly, any opposing jersey would be OK.

“All we’ve done is gone up against each other since last spring,” Baylor coach Art Briles said. “So now we can gear up for game week against Sam Houston.”

Despite a succession of 100-degree days that finally ended Tuesday, the Bears’ practices have been productive and energetic since they first hit the field Aug. 6. There haven’t been any startling lineup changes, but some players have built their portfolios with their preseason performances.

Here are five of the biggest developments to come out of the Bears’ camp as they begin preparation for the season opener.

1. Robert Griffin has been spectacular.

After undergoing knee surgery last fall, Griffin has worked diligently to get back into shape. But his work in the weight room hasn’t just aided his repaired knee. He’s added more bulk everywhere, and now he’s got a howitzer for a right arm.

Griffin is a confident guy and his attitude rubs off on his teammates. If his knee holds up under contact, he could be the comeback story of the year in the Big 12.

2. The defense has some legs.

You don’t need a stopwatch to see Baylor’s defense is faster this year. They’re more athletic at every position, and practices and scrimmages have shown how quickly they react to the ball.

Baylor’s linebackers look particularly athletic with Antonio Johnson and Elliot Coffey outside and Chris Francis in the middle. But the key players will likely be redshirt freshmen defensive ends Tevin Elliot and Terrance Lloyd and sophomore Gary Mason, who have the potential to give the Bears a much-needed pass rush.

3. Receiving corps is Baylor’s deepest position.

Griffin will have no shortage of talented receivers.

Biletnikoff Award nominee Kendall Wright will be one of the best receivers in the Big 12, while Lanear Sampson, Terrance Williams and Josh Gordon are speed burners who got their feet wet as freshmen last season.

The Bears have good size at tight end with 6-6 Willie Jefferson and 6-4 Jerod Monk, while inside receivers Krys Buerck and Tevin Reese are among the quickest players on the squad.

4. Young players will be keys in the offensive line.

With Griffin and running back Jay Finley seeing limited time due to injuries, Baylor’s offense ranked 10th in the Big 12 last year. But the Bears also need across the board improvement in the offensive line, which means some young players will have to deliver immediately.

Briles likes having veterans at two key positions with senior Danny Watkins at left tackle and center Philip Blake switching from tackle to center.

But the Bears also need sophomore right tackle Ivory Wade to have a big year and redshirt freshman Cyril Richardson, sophomore Cameron Kaufhold and junior college transfer Robert T. Griffin to make an impact at guard. They’ve all looked good in camp and must continue to prove themselves.

5. Veterans must stay healthy.

Keeping Griffin healthy is the biggest key to the season, but he isn’t the only player the Bears can’t afford to lose.

Coming back from spring ankle surgery, Briles expects Finley to be ready for Sam Houston State. Briles has been careful not to push Finley too much during the preseason. If Finley can’t go, Jarred Salubi, Terrance Ganaway, Isaac Williams and Glasco Martin will carry the load.

Briles has also been cautious with Watkins and senior safety Tim Atchison, who have been plagued with back problems. By saving them some miles during the preseason, Briles hopes they have a lot of tread left for the season.

Bonus pick: Redshirt freshman kicker Aaron Jones has shown he can boom 50-yard field goals in practice. If his nerves hold up in games, “The Stork” could be just what the Bears need to solve their kicking problems.

“Most storks don’t panic, and he’s not a panic guy,” Briles said.

Sounds like Briles could get a guest spot on Animal Planet.

jwerner@wacotrib.com

757-5716

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