Baylor Football: Zach Smith sparks improvement in Bears offense
Baylor football lost, but Zach Smith took the opportunity he received and ran with it in an impressive three touchdown performance against Duke in Week 3.
The Baylor Bears were not expected to win against the Duke Blue Devils in Week 3. Duke was a team that defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 41-17. Northwestern is a good team and Duke made them look terrible. Yet, sophomore Baylor quarterback Zach Smith helped Baylor hang tough with Duke throughout their entire contest.
Baylor entered this game as a 14-point underdog and held true to the spread as Duke won 34-20 behind a huge effort from their rushing attack. Quarterback Daniel Jones had a tough time against the Baylor secondary. He was held out of the end zone just one week after racking up four total touchdowns.
Smith totaled nearly 275 yards and three touchdowns. The three interceptions he threw were a product of his inexperience and should improve over time. With Smith’s progress, the time appears to have run out for senior transfer quarterback Anu Solomon.
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Solomon went through concussion protocol this week, which lead to Smith getting the start. He took advantage of the opportunity and should be the permanent starter moving forward.
The receiving combination of Denzel Mims and Chris Platt combined for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Mims and Platt are Smith’s top two receivers and there seems to be chemistry between them that doesn’t exist with the rest of the skill position players.
Smith did not receive much help from the ground game or the offensive line. Starting running back John Lovett rushed for just 21 yards on nine carries. Baylor did not even get 60 rushing yards as a team. That let the Duke secondary and linebackers sit back and focus on the air attack.
Next week against No. 2 Oklahoma, Smith should be the starter. He was the projected starter during the preseason and looks like the best option for head coach Matt Rhule.