Outside of the Georgia game, that team could have not only won but blown out every team in spite of the defense.
But the offense had faults too. It started in the Mississippi State game. We have not been able to score in the red zone since September of 2014.
The end of this season has given me a little hope. I'm still pissed at the state of the program. But with our defense improving, if we can get Malzahn's offense back, we should be able to compete for the West.
The conference Baylor plays in is far different defensively than the SEC. That said, I assure you that Gus' style isn't a fight from your back mentality. Yes, this season, it looked ugly...because it was. After 3 games, Gus/Lashlee were waffling back and forth between grab-bagging the offense, and going untra conservative.
Defensively yes. That conference is more like Oregon with some big athletic line play but Baylor plugs and plays, never wavering from what they do. They don't go in a shell.
Conversely our offense without the zone read is all but hamstrung. I don't recall any Counter Trey, only Power and Sweeps with Bubble Screens which is all but a run play.
Then we have much of the same happening with the pass patterns where so many times we ran the same failed pattern as if it were practice.
Where is the "genius" in limiting an offense to 12-15 plays with occasional variations? Sure it's about execution, but the opposing defenses adjust which IMO is why we often hit a wall (PUNT, PUNT) after halftime.
We might even open the third quarter with the same scripted plays we began with.
Just give us a dual threat QB and let him move the chains.