Sizing Up Missouri (2007)

On paper, you can see why this is seen as the toughest game for Nebraska to this point besides USC. The Tigers have the biggest offensive line since the Trojans, tall quick tight ends, a good –sized defensive line (with one smallish end), stout linebackers and tall cornerbacks. They start 6 seniors (and 3 juniors) on offense and 3 seniors (and 6 juniors) on defense. In other words, this is a mature team.

They use small quick running backs and aside from their tight ends, their wide receivers are only average sized. The Tigers have completed 47 passes to their top two tight ends (Rucker and Coffman) and 48 to their top 3 wide receivers. In many offenses, the tight end is sort of a last resort. To Missouri, it's the #1 option.

Despite the spread they run (they usually feature a single back, three wide receivers and a receiving tight end), they don't throw to their backs much. And while they've done a decent job running the ball, many of their rushing yards have come from their quarterback and on end-arounds. While those are scary enough to defend (especially for a Husker team that let Wake Forest run end-arounds all day), the Tigers are not a team that line up in short yardage situations and beat you with power. They very much appear to be a finesse team offensively. Finesse or not, they've done a good job of protecting the ball.

While the athletes on defense for the Tigers look the part, they haven't performed at a high level. When you consider the difference in strength of schedule between Missouri and Nebraska, it's easy to see their defense as every bit as vulnerable as the Huskers if not more. They'll need the crowd to be their extra defender. They've gotten big plays from their punt return game but don't cover punts well at all. So if this game comes down to special teams, that might give Nebraska the edge it needs.

Expect a shootout, in any case. It could well be a game where the last team with the ball wins.