Mizzou Writers say the Tigers can rest easy

[DeusExMachina]

All I know is: I will be at the Mizzou game, and I will be LOSING MY D**N MIND cheering for the Vols. May be outnumbered, but that ain't gonna stop me at ALL.

 

[UTVOLKeith]

The Mizz media don't need to worry about our game.

What they need to do is right before the game go find a quite dark place.

Sit down and put their head between their legs.

And kiss their ass goodbye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[99gator]

99 hard to agree with a gator but I believe you are dead on target. I've not had a lot to say about Mizzou cuz there's not a lot worse than trashing an opponent after they beat you (double negatives intentionally used to raise the ire of spellcheckers & english police).In my head Mizzou's defense was managed by a very good DC. Why? #1 The put Michael Sam in position to be SEC defensive player of the year who was exposed as a not so talented player ... who could not make an NFL roster! Your mentioning of the 101 points given up against championship SEC opponents is #2.

I ran this in my head the other day.

Florida has been in the SEC title game several times.

They never lost to a SEC East division team at home in a year they went to the SEC title game. In only 3 season did they lose at home at all in making the SEC title game (1994, 1999, 2008).

1999 and 2008 were games lost by one point on a missed/blocked extra point. 1994 was lost by a field goal on a TD given up in the final minute.

Missouri lost at home to a divisional opponent 34-0 and won the division (which really tells you a lot about Georgia)

So, I think part of the problem is many people have a hard time seeing a "championship team" that loses at home 34-0.

 

[fort_vol]

I don't really see a big advantage for any of these teams here. I suppose if I had to, I'd say Mizzou's cross-divisional opponents are the easiest, and Georgia's the toughest, but that's not a lot to go on. I think it's much more likely that the East will be decided on a) if one of these three beats the other two, and/or b) slip-ups against the other four teams in the East.

 

[Mike1967]

Missouri will be 7-5 at very best this season. They're going to start the slide to the middle of the SEC Pack.

 

[sjt18]

I'm not trying to gloss over anything. I believe I said that I have concern about the receivers. What my point was and is that this isn't the first time we've lost most of our production. While your numbers are correct it's also correct that collectively DGB, Marcus Lucas, and L'Damian Washington were considerably better than Bud Sasser, Jimmy Hunt, and Darious White. So while we may be replacing higher numbers we're replacing less talent than we replaced last year.

Only addition here is that the group coming up is far less experienced than the one that stepped in last year. Pinkel has been a magician at times. That's without a doubt. But he literally has nothing but a big question mark to work with at WR.

One of the biggest reasons for the offensive drop-off last year was Maty Mauk was wildly inconsistent and we only had our three leading receivers healthy at the same time for about 3 or 4 games maximum. No one knows but hopefully Mauk will be a bit more consistent this year with another year of experience under his belt.

Mauk's creativeness is what gives you the big plays... and a lot of the inconsistency. It will be difficult to make him more consistent without taking away what he does best.

As far as you "busting my chops" no worries. No offense but I would have to know you and respect your knowledge for you to be able to bust my chops. As is you are just another fan who is being loyal to your team and probably viewing things through the same type of tinted glasses as most of us do. I've missed perhaps 6-8 home Mizzou games since 1972 and have attended quite a few road games. While my glasses are undoubtedly still tinted I think I am able to look at things more objectively than I did years ago. The main thing I've learned is I don't know near as much as I used to think I did!

Outside of UT, I probably follow MU closer than anyone else. I have a son there in the Business school and have generally pulled for Mizzou.

It's fun to discuss and speculate as long as it's not taken seriously. While I won't predict a number I suspect Mizzou will win more than a few games this year. Of course if we have the same amount and type of injuries as we had in 2012 then all bets are off.

As I said before it will be a fun season and i'm ready to for it to begin. Good luck.

Not sure how closely you've followed UT... but it is about time that the law of averages gives UT a year of exceptional health. UT has had not only injuries that caused key players to miss games but also a seemingly high number of career ending injuries to guys who could have been key.

PS- if you've followed Mizzou that long then you've endured some ugly, ugly years. Great fan:clapping:

 

[DaHouse77]

Only addition here is that the group coming up is far less experienced than the one that stepped in last year. Pinkel has been a magician at times. That's without a doubt. But he literally has nothing but a big question mark to work with at WR.

It's definitely a concern, but that's the beauty of college football. It's not uncommon to be completely shocked by the production of young players seemingly coming out of nowhere. In 2007 and 2012, many Mizzou fans knew we had talent at the receiver positions, but we didn't know just how talented we were... until the season unfolded.

I have no idea if our receiving group will be as good as those groups were. They probably won't. But there's some highly recruited talent, albeit very young. I've heard very good things about J'Mon Moore and Nate Brown. Two, BIG receivers. Also, I suspect Mizzou is planning on playing a lot more double-tight formations and throwing to those guys a lot more. We'll see if it works...

But I suspect this team will be more of a run-oriented team like last year's was. I've read some in this thread question Mizzou's offensive line. Personally, I think they're going to be exceptional at run blocking and average in pass protection. You can have a lot of success with a line like that. I think they'll continue to be one of the better units in the SEC.

Mauk's creativeness is what gives you the big plays... and a lot of the inconsistency. It will be difficult to make him more consistent without taking away what he does best

Mauk can get waaaay better and still be creative. For example, he can be creative when he's forced to leave the pocket. Too many times last year, he would leave the pocket with he still had plenty of time. Blaine Gabbert was the same way; although, Blaine improved greatly by his last season with the Tigers. I"m hoping Maty will mature as well... Hey, he's still only a RSJR. He has a lot of ball ahead of him and a lot of time to get better.

 

[FootVolintheFall]

How many of those sacks were because Justin Worley is slower than I am?

30. I think we gave up 13 after Dobbs replaced him

 

[TheGrove68]

As a Mizzou fan I'm not concerned with our WR to a great degree while young and unproven they have great measurable's and have been developed well. Our OL will be nails and I'm crossing my fingers that MM will be a bit more consistent.

I do have greater concerns about our DL...it went from being a strength with Brantley,Augusta,Hatley to a big who knows. Augusta and Hatley will be fine but now we need depth. Harris at DE will be good but after that Hmmm not sure? Got some talent but they have to fast track to be ready.

LBs are deep and good and the secondary is underrated they are good.'But without a doubt a drop off at DL could effect production.

We will compete barring massive injuries but in no way would I predict us to win East three yrs in a row. We could but to many questions.

 

[sjt18]

It's definitely a concern, but that's the beauty of college football. It's not uncommon to be completely shocked by the production of young players seemingly coming out of nowhere. In 2007 and 2012, many Mizzou fans knew we had talent at the receiver positions, but we didn't know just how talented we were... until the season unfolded.

I have no idea if our receiving group will be as good as those groups were. They probably won't. But there's some highly recruited talent, albeit very young. I've heard very good things about J'Mon Moore and Nate Brown. Two, BIG receivers. Also, I suspect Mizzou is planning on playing a lot more double-tight formations and throwing to those guys a lot more. We'll see if it works...

There's always a possibility... but if Pinkel improves the O over what was a pretty bad O vs the SEC last year (13th in Total O in conference games without accounting for the weakness of MU's West opponents) with what you have returning.... PAY THE MAN!!!! Or... maybe just anoint him.

But I suspect this team will be more of a run-oriented team like last year's was. I've read some in this thread question Mizzou's offensive line. Personally, I think they're going to be exceptional at run blocking and average in pass protection. You can have a lot of success with a line like that. I think they'll continue to be one of the better units in the SEC.

Returning 4 OL's should help (UT fans all hope so) but only Hansbrough returns with any experience at RB. UT is in somewhat of the same boat but without the same liabilities at WR. Plus Kamara is probably more physically gifted than anyone MU can run out 2nd at RB.

I guess my point is that even if Mizzou got a lot better in the running game and rose from say 150ish per game (8th in the SEC) to 200 ypg (roughly 3rd to 5th)... that wouldn't make up for a weak passing game UNLESS the D improved significantly. I think most MU fans are hoping not to fall off much.

Mauk can get waaaay better and still be creative. For example, he can be creative when he's forced to leave the pocket. Too many times last year, he would leave the pocket with he still had plenty of time. Blaine Gabbert was the same way; although, Blaine improved greatly by his last season with the Tigers. I"m hoping Maty will mature as well... Hey, he's still only a RSJR. He has a lot of ball ahead of him and a lot of time to get better.

The situation at WR will likely complicate that... iirc it seemed to some during the Spring Game.