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Baylor Football Spring Game 2017: 5 things to watch for

By David Rouben

Dec 27, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Zach Smith (4) against the Boise State Broncos during the Cactus Bowl at Chase Field. Baylor defeated Boise State 31-12. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Zach Smith (4) against the Boise State Broncos during the Cactus Bowl at Chase Field. Baylor defeated Boise State 31-12. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 3, 2016; Annapolis, MD, USA; Temple Owls head coach Matt Rhule gets Gatorade dumped on him by offensive lineman Dion Dawkins (66) during the fourth quarter of the game against the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Temple Owls defeated Navy Midshipmen 34-10. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Annapolis, MD, USA; Temple Owls head coach Matt Rhule gets Gatorade dumped on him by offensive lineman Dion Dawkins (66) during the fourth quarter of the game against the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Temple Owls defeated Navy Midshipmen 34-10. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

2. A new coaching staff, led by Matt Rhule, in action

Baylor tried to move on from Art Briles with Jim Grobe. But he was never in their long-term plans, and a 7-6 season expedited his departure from the team. When they had to find a full-time option, the regents hit a home run when they hired Matt Rhule. After seeing how he turned around Temple in a relatively short time, they had no doubt that he was the man to change the culture at Baylor.

While his success on the recruiting trail has been proven, Bears fans are dying to see how his offensive and defensive schemes will fit on this team. Luckily for him, he doesn’t have to adapt to anybody’s system, because everyone else on the coaching staff is new. And if there’s one unit that should see an upgrade, it’s the defense.

The most prominent person alongside Rhule is Phil Snow, the defensive coordinator who followed him from Temple. In his first season with the Owls, Snow lowered their points allowed total from 29.8 to 17.5. And just last season, Temple ranked third in total defense behind just Michigan and Alabama. Rhule and Snow have a proven formula and have worked with each other since 2001 when they were together at UCLA.

Rhule has wasted no time making his mark on the Baylor program. And when fans get together for the Spring Game, they will see a team that has nowhere to go but up.

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