(Michael Danser/The Daily Campus)
The Mustangs will open its 2012 season on the road against the Baylor University Bears on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. in front of 50,000 people at Floyd Casey Stadium.
SMU is looking to start the season with its first win on the road with this matchup of former Southwest Conference rivals since 1986.
With new quarterback Garrett Gilbert, former Gatorade and Parade national player of the year, taking the reins of the Mustangs’ run-n-shoot offense, SMU has its most talented quarterback in years starting for them.
Gilbert understands that the Mustangs will face a tough atmosphere and opponent in Baylor and doesn’t shy away from that.
“We’re going to face some adversity. We’ve got to be ready for that,” Gilbert said.
In his first game in almost a year after completing 27 hours to graduate from the University of Texas, Gilbert will rely on senior running back Zach Line to pick up where he left off last year – a No. 7 national ranking in rushing with 122.4 yards per game.
“Anytime you’ve got a guy like Zach Line, that’s a weapon. Zach [Line] is one of the best in the nation. He’s a great player and he’s going to do a great job for us,” Gilbert said.
The Baylor team will be rebuilding after losing Heisman Trophy winner and quarterback Robert Griffin III to the draft, receiver Kendall Wright and running back Terrance Ganaway to graduation. However, Baylor isn’t in such a bad spot.
The Bears return quarterback Nick Florence, who proved to be more than a capable backup when he stepped in for RGIII. Florence has great receivers in Terrance Williams and Tevin Reese, who are as talented as they come.
Baylor’s front seven is the team’s weakest link, which will help SMU as they look to avenge its 2005 defeat at the hands of the Bears.
Baylor lost three of four starters last year along the defensive line and in the past, its ends have not made much of an impact at pass rushing.
The Bears’ defensive coordinator is former SMU head coach, Phil Bennett, who preceded June Jones on the Hilltop.
Bennett’s defense will be looking to improve off of its 2011 campaign, where the Bears gave up over 37 points a game including 56 in its bowl win against Washington.
Gilbert faced Baylor as a sophomore at Texas and believes that he “owes ’em one.”
With Gilbert’s experience against a Bennett defense, the Mustangs gain a slight edge.
“The scheme is the same,” Gilbert said. “so I can use that a little bit as I go into the game. Baylor has been a very special program the last couple years and it’s going to be a great challenge for us.”
SMU has five new starting offensive linemen this season after losing all five to graduation, but the team does return senior lineman Blake McJunkin, who will start at guard after being granted a medical redshirt last season. For SMU, grinding it out with Line is key.
The Mustangs have an opportunity to take advantage of an inexperienced Baylor defensive front. A heavy dose of Line will help SMU control the clock and the game.
SMU’s defense has the talent and experience to shut down the Bears upfront and take away its running game by allowing senior linebackers Ja’Gared Davis and Taylor Reed to roam and play to their strengths.
Stepping in for Ganaway will be a committee of running backs, but Jarred Salubi, Glasco Martin and Lache Seastrunk, an Oregon transfer with big play potential, will be the ones to get the most time.
None of the backs will be work-horses, but each has their own style that could benefit the Baylor offense with a new quarterback.
The secondary for SMU has two new starters, but senior safety Ryan Smith will be the unquestioned leader looked to for big plays against Baylor’s talented group of receivers.
The key to SMU beating Baylor will be Gilbert making big plays on the Baylor secondary after Line has its defense concerned about him ripping off large gains.
Gilbert has the strongest arm SMU fans have seen in awhile and the Mustangs will add the shoot into the run-n-shoot that it has been missing in recent years.
