Missouri Breakdown: Where Credit is Due
15 comments so far
July 23, 2008 by
Let's start off by giving credit where credit is due. The Missouri Tigers were a great football team in 2007. Statistically speaking, they were one of the best. It's pretty straightforward what made them so good, and what will likely make them just as good in 2008: Chase Daniel. Gary Pinkel has kept the same staff for a number of years, turning them into a finely-oiled machine. He has built the team around the skills of an agile, athletic, and very intelligent football player. Averaging 39 points/game is not out of the question again.
70 offensive touchdowns in 14 games. 490 yards per game. One of the top teams in almost every offensive category that the NCAA keeps track of. Their 33 turnovers gained versus 20 lost was also a huge part of getting so many points. Just one team stopped them from being in a national championship game. It's hard to believe that they didn't beat Oklahoma when you looked at all of their stats. They were highly efficient in critical downs and protected their quarterback and the ball.
Of course everyone thought of Mizzou as this explosive offensive powerhouse, but their defense turned out a modest 23 points/game and only allowed around 378 yards/game - about the middle of the road in the NCAA last year. Expect improvements on the defensive side of the ball as seven seniors are expected be starting in the fall. If they can average 40 points/game and hold opponents to an average of 20 points/game (which is what I expect them to do), they have more than a shot to win against every opponent on their schedule.
Unfortunately, this includes Nebraska. Vegas oddsmakers hand three points over to the home team in every game. If Nebraska wins at Memorial Stadium this year, it will likely be by those three points. The Huskers averaged 33 points/game, but averaged over 60 when Joe Ganz was leading the team! I doubt we can average 60 points/game, but we will need everything Ganz can muster against one of our toughest opponents of the year. I'm going to have to give the edge to the Tigers, 42-38. Prove me wrong Bo Pelini. Prove. Me. Wrong.
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Bill in Iowa Jul 23 08
I think the Mizzou game will either be close or they will blow us out by a couple touchdowns. I am going to wait to make my final prediction until after the W.Virginia game. Regardless of whether we win or lose agianst W. Virginia, that game is going to say a lot about where the team is at. In 2003 Pelini's defense gave up 41 points to Mizzou, the most out of any team that year (Kansas St. was in 2nd place with 38 points). Pelini is a gambler and attacks, I like that, but with Chase and crew, they can really make you pay for mistakes. Then again, against great QB's, I think your only hope of success is lots of pressure.
darren Jul 23 08
Bill,
I assume you mean Virginia Tech and not West Virginia.
And, reserving judgement or predictions until the week before the game is way to prudent! Come on, throw caution to the wind. It's July...don't you have the whole season mapped out in your mind yet??
bnahusker Jul 23 08
Hey Darren,
Is this like Congress? We can revise and extend our remaks?
teamster Jul 23 08
Once again, this year Missouri loses in Lincoln.
I'm going against the grain.
bnahusker Jul 23 08
Obviously, I meant "Our remarks".
GBR
Bob
Jason Jul 23 08
I yield my time to the gentleman also known as bnahusker.
DT Jul 23 08
Is it just me, or does this look more like a Missouri blog today?
Jason Jul 23 08
DT, it's not just you. You're feeling the glow of our live team coverage.
FYI, tomorrow will look a little like a KU site. :)
scott Jul 23 08
Missouri is going to be a good team this year. I don't think the Huskers have what it takes to pull off the upset but I'm not counting them out. Not impossible, not probable.
ze bop Jul 23 08
K, well I already said on the other thread that all this Mizzoo hoopla really sucks and that I dont wanna hear anymore about those guys till the week of the game--and you can throw KU in there with that sentiment.
We win both those games: NU 31, MU 28
NU 35, KU 24
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I really, REALLY would be tickled 'Pinkel' if the TIgs and JBirds each lost 3 or more games this year...sorta like restoring the order for them.
Chico Jul 23 08
Missouri by 13-17 pts. They're out for blood, and NU isn't back quite yet.
DT Jul 23 08
Gotcha, Jason...I just didn't see that coming.
Greg Morrow Jul 23 08
Apart from Nebraska, which occupies about 95% of my sports attention, one of the things I like about college ball, more that pro, is seeing a guy like Chase develop and he'll probably reach his potential as a quarterback, at some point this year. He'll well deserve whatever awards he gets.
No doubt Missouri has done a good job with their program overall, but no doubt again, they're top ten at the moment, because of this kid.
That said, I look for Nebraska to pound Le Tigre like a cheap flank steak!
What, I'm supposed to be objective on my favorite blog?!
Tyler Jul 23 08
I truthfully think that the defense will be twice as good this year from last, with half the amount of so called "talent". I think the tenacity and aggressiveness that Bo Pelini will have burnt into the defense will make up for any lack in experience, talent, speed, and whatever else. Its all about them getting back to swarming to the football. If the offense can be as dangerous as last year, and the defense can cut the points allowed in half even, the huskers have a chance to win alot of games. GO BIG RED!
DT Jul 24 08
Tyler, I've gotta admit that I'm starting to get a bit more optimistic about the subject of "talent". I was looking at the new depth chart and thinking how many high-school hot-shot studs we have currently coming up through the ranks. Guys like Suh, Dillard, Lawrence, Washington, Murillo, Asante, Thenarse, Culbert & Potter were all generally thought of as nationally-recognized studs when they signed on to NU. I think the consensus I've gathered on the subject, from most commentators and pundits, is that upgrading "talent" is one of the areas that Callahan found success in his time at Nebraska. His Achilles heel seemed to come in the form of not adequately being able to develop and advance that talent into a cohesive unit...one that was directed toward a common goal on gamedays.
In my mind, that's sort of where Pelini comes in...at least I hope so anyway.
A lack of experience and depth I can agree with...but talent-wise, I think that we stack up quite nicely across the two-deep. It sort of made me excited to see names like Latravis Washington (wearing #7, no less!) Pierre Allen and Prince Amukamara on there--"fresh blood", "young blood" or whatever you want to call it, it always gets me pumped up about the prospects for the future. It'll just be a nice, refreshing change if the young talent that's stockpiled is actually allowed to take the field and show us what they've got...and not being held prisoner on the sidelines/special teams, enslaved by some sort of grand "scheme" that always seems to never work worth a damn anyway.