By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
When Baylor football opens the season Sept. 2 against Texas State, it's almost a certain that Richard Reese or Dominic Richardson will be the running back for the first snap against the Bobcats.
But don't read too much into that, either way. Head coach Dave Aranda said he looks "at that as a tandem."
"They're so talented," Aranda said, "and I think our ability to maximize that particular talent has really grown throughout the spring to summer to now. We can use them in similar but sometimes really different ways that can really benefit them individually. I think there are going to be lots of opportunities for touches and carries and catches and all of it."
Reese earned Freshman All-America and Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors, rushing for a school freshman-record 972 yards and 14 touchdowns on 198 carries (4.9-yard average). Richardson, a transfer from Oklahoma State, led the Cowboys last season with 543 yards and eight TDs on 149 totes.
Last year, the Bears used predominantly a three-man rotation, with Reese getting 37% of the carries and averaging just over 16 touches per game. Richardson's numbers were similar at OSU, getting 28% of the rushing attempts and averaging 19 touches per game.
Aranda said the message to both is: "Hey, when you are going, you're fresh and you're at your best, you're going to give 100% on every snap you've got. And to tie that together, 'Hey, when you're on, when you're feeling it, when you're in the flow, we're going to ride with you, we're going to go with you.'''
"To find the balance between those two things is the trick to it," he said. "And then, it helps when you've got a great coach (running backs coach A.J. Steward) and you've got two great kids that want the best for the team, that gives you a good chance to do it."
Richardson said he didn't come in with the idea of being Reese or even taking the position from him.
"We just came together really quick and did things off the field, as well as working out together and starting to play together," he said. "It was just a great connection. And it was never like, 'Man, I want to beat you out.' Of course, you want to be the guy who's going to start, but we never really showed that. We were just working together."
BACK IN HOME BASE: Going back to his playing days at UTEP (1987-90), Jeff Grimes' "home base" has been the offensive line, a group he coached in stints at Boise State, Arizona State, BYU, Colorado, Auburn, Virginia Tech and LSU.
But when Baylor offensive line coach Eric Mateos had to be away last week because of a death in his family, it was an easy transition for Grimes to assume the coaching responsibilities for the O-line.
"I've seen Coach Grimes strutting out on the field and kind of being real demonstrative," Aranda said. "He's back at a home base for him. And I've seen the difference with the O-line. There's an aggressiveness and a chip-on-the-shoulder. I think there's a ton of potential there, a ton of ability. We have to get the belief and the confidence. This week, I think it's been a plus with that. And I think Coach Grimes getting his personality all over it has helped."
Tight end Drake Dabney said Mateos and Grimes, who usually coaches the tight ends, "have a different way of doing things, and neither of them are right or wrong."
"Grimes will push you and get the best out of you," Dabney said. "You'll hear from him, too. He's coached the O-line before, he's kind of the OG, so he knows the ins and outs of that position. So, I think him going over there is a good switch up for them, and he's definitely getting the best out of them."
Offensive quality control coach Tyler Bolfing, a college quarterback at McNeese State who had coached tight ends at McNeese and ULM, worked with the tight ends while Grimes spent more time with the offensive line.
MEET THE BEARS: Baylor will host its annual "Meet the Bears" event from 2-4 p.m. Saturday at McLane Stadium, giving fans an early glimpse at the new rosters.
Parking is free at McLane Stadium, and Gate C will open to the public at 1:45 p.m. An exclusive "Meet the Bears" poster will be provided for the event, with student-athletes able to sign one memorabilia item per person in addition to the poster.
A total of 14 sports programs will be represented at the event, plus there will be a special appearance by Baylor mascots Bruiser and Marigold.
There will also be multiple booths and fanfare set up throughout the concourse, with fans having the opportunity to purchase gear from the Baylor Bookstore and licensed apparel partners.
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