COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M needs its pass defense, which ranks last nationally, to improve as the season progresses and the Aggies continue to meet some of the best passing offenses in the country.
We haven't seen much improvement early.
There's no question that Robert Griffin III has gotten the best of the Aggies through two drives. He flicked a pinpoint pass in between two defenders for a six-yard touchdown pass to Kendall Wright that has the Bears up, 7-3.
He's 9-of-11 for 66 yards already, and has 13 yards on three carries, highlighted by an 11-yard run to convert a third down on the opening drive. He spun out of one tackle, broke another, hurdled a defender and raced down the sideline before drawing a late-hit penalty.
Texas A&M's defensive backs have backed off Baylor's receivers early, and the Bears are taking advantage with their precision screen game. Wright, Tevin Reese, Lanear Sampson and Terrance Williams are all excellent in space, and Griffin has gotten them the ball there in the first quarter.
Don't expect that to stop, but if Texas A&M's corners creep up, they've got maybe the nation's best deep-ball passer.
That's what makes Baylor so tough to stop, and that's the task ahead of the Aggies' defense the rest of the day.
It won't be easy, and the offense needs to be productive for A&M to get the win.
