April 2, 2007

The Baylor football team began its third week of spring practice with a full-pad workout Monday afternoon on the grass practice fields at Floyd Casey Stadium.

"I thought defensively we came out and got after it again," said Baylor coach Guy Morriss. "They've (the defense) had a good spring. I'm really pleased with their work.

"We put in some new wrinkles today offensively and that probably doesn't lend itself to a good practice," he added. "Offensively, we were dragging around a little bit and thinking a little too much right now. They (the offense) need to come out tomorrow with a little more spring in their step."

Over the first nine practices, the Bears' defensive unit has grown under the leadership of first-yeear coordinator Larry Hoefer.

"The basics have not changed (on defense)," said Morriss. "When Bill (Bradley) took over, he put his spin on things and now Larry (Hoefer) has done the same thing.

Baylor, which returns seven starters on the defensive side of the ball, is continuing to play the 4-2-5 it has employed since Morriss' arrival in Waco.

"I think Larry has been a good fit for the kids," he added. "He's really connected with them well and they are playing hard for him. They like his style. They are doing some little wrinkle things that are helping them as well.

"They are spinning the safeties down, playing some Tampa 2 that we hadn't used in the past, and just being a little more active with the front seven," Morriss said. "They are not just going to sit there and play base and try to face up. I don't think we can do that in this conference."

With less than two weeks to go in spring camp, Morriss indicated that senior transfer Michael Machen and junior Ryan Roberts have began to distance themselves from the five-player pack that started the spring hoping to replace Shawn Bell as the Bears' No. 1 quarterback.

"He's (Matchen) begun to separate a little bit, as has Ryan (Roberts)," Morriss said. "We'll continue to give them all a few reps, but the lions' share are probably going to go to those two."

Baylor will return to the practice field Tuesday afternoon, take Wednesday off, then workout Thursday before breaking for the Easter holiday weekend.