Being new to the Big 12, Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville spent last week poring over Baylor’s 2008 season. Even in the Southeastern Conference, Tuberville hadn’t seen anything quite like Baylor’s sensational sophomore quarterback, Robert Griffin.
Of course, that was 2008. Griffin spent nearly all of last year rehabbing a torn anterior cruciate ligament that forced him to redshirt. How would he be in 2010?
On Monday’s Big 12 media conference call, Tuberville was asked if he saw any difference between the Griffin in Texas Tech’s 45-38 win Saturday and the Griffin in 2008.
“No,” Tuberville said. “Every player I’ve ever had who had knee injuries, it’s more mental than it is physical. You have to gain that confidence back. And you can tell from that first year to this past game he’s really starting to gain it back in terms of, ‘Hey, I can do this.’ “
Statistically you see Griffin is back, which isn’t good news for Colorado (3-2, 0-1), which is trying to recover from Saturday’s 26-0 crash at Missouri in its Big 12 opener. Baylor is 4-2, 1-1.
Griffin is fourth nationally in total offense at 329.0 yards per game. In his last two games, he has lit up Kansas for 380 yards passing and Texas Tech for 384, with a combined five touchdown passes. His season stats are confirmation that he had one great surgeon. He’s 132-for-205 (.644) for 1,735 yards and 13 touchdowns, with only two interceptions.
“He really impressed me with his endurance and presence on the field,” Tuberville said. “You can tell how he’s matured throwing the football. God blessed him with a lot of quickness and speed and acceleration. But you have to learn how to throw the ball, look for receivers and go through progressions. You can tell he’s a lot more comfortable.”
Griffin is different in other ways too. He’s not terrorizing opponents with his legs as much. His carries have dropped from 13.3 a game to 9.2, but he has scored six touchdowns.
“He probably could’ve run for 100 against us,” Tuberville said. “He’s that talented of a player. He puts so much pressure on your defense.”
The drop in carries isn’t to protect his knee. Baylor coach Art Briles said, “We’re involving more people, quite honestly.”
Baylor’s problem is the nation’s 12th most prolific offense (476.7 yards per game) can’t always overcome a 76th-ranked defense. The Bears yielded 45 points to both Texas Tech and Texas Christian.
Baylor is two victories from its first bowl game as a member of the Big 12 Conference.
“I’m not sure we could be able to describe it verbally,” Briles said. “It would be a huge accomplishment for Baylor University. It’s our driving force for our football team.”
Footnote. Texas Tech’s Oct. 23 game at Colorado will kick off at 1:30 p.m. It will not be televised.
John Henderson: 303-954-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com
