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Baylor Football: 5 takeaways from Bears’ spring 2018

By Connor Muldowney

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Charlie Brewer #12 of the Baylor Bears looks for an open receiver against the TCU Horned Frogs in the first half at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Charlie Brewer #12 of the Baylor Bears looks for an open receiver against the TCU Horned Frogs in the first half at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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AMES, IA – OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Joel Lanning #7 of the Iowa State Cyclones scores a touchdown as offensive lineman Brian Bobek #61 of the Iowa State Cyclones, and offensive lineman Brian Seda #68 of the Iowa State Cyclones block defensive tackle Ira Lewis #97 of the Baylor Bears in the first half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA – OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Joel Lanning #7 of the Iowa State Cyclones scores a touchdown as offensive lineman Brian Bobek #61 of the Iowa State Cyclones, and offensive lineman Brian Seda #68 of the Iowa State Cyclones block defensive tackle Ira Lewis #97 of the Baylor Bears in the first half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /

4. Run defense will be strong

Just like the secondary, the front-seven struggled in 2017. It ranked ninth in the Big 12 in rushing yards allowed and No. 92 in the country but it looked like a much-improved group during the spring game, which was a culmination of all the work put in during the early part of the offseason.

Ira Lewis will be a force in 2018 as he finished with 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He will be the leader of the defensive line in his senior season, teaming up with Greg Roberts, Tyrone Hunt and Xavier Jones.

In the spring game, the Bears’ run defense was strong, holding the offense to just 2.1 yards per carry — just 47 yards on 21 attempts. This improvement could go a long way in the Big 12 against strong run teams such as Oklahoma, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and TCU.

With two starting linebackers in Clay Johnston and Jalen Pitre returning, along with Lewis on the line, this front-seven could be one of the most improved units in the entire conference.

Matt Rhule could see his defense take major strides in 2018, starting in the trenches.

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