What’s Scary About Missouri?
The answer? Plenty. Let's start with the fact that, like Nebraska, they've won two of the last four Big 12 North division titles. They also won in their last visit to Lincoln by a large margin. It sounds like they've gotten serious about nutrition in tandem with their conditioning so that they are a lot leaner. At times, you still see Husker players that look doughier than the vintage 1990's teams. Tiger Quarterback Blaine Gabbert is the leading returning Big 12 quarterback in terms of pass efficiency from a year ago. And that included some time spent playing hurt. They also bring back senior running back Derrick Washington, who's given the Big Red troubles in the past. He's just one of 18 returning starters. It doesn't help that you haven't heard Nebraska players or fans say much about Missouri this off-season, making you think that this is a team that the Huskers might actually overlook. And oh yeah, Nebraska has to face them in October - typically Bo Pelini's worst month.
The Achilles heel for the Tigers a year ago was their defense. And losing a player like Sean Weatherspoon, doesn't necessarily make you think the defense should be better. But Mizzou brings back four of the top fifty tacklers in the Big 12 from a year ago and freshman Aldon Smith led all returning defensive linemen in the conference in sacks and tackles for loss. So taken altogether, you'd expect the defense to be better than it was a year ago, even without Weatherspoon.
Offensively, the big question for Missouri will be how do you replace a receiver like Danario Alexander. The guy caught 116 balls for 1,781 yards and 14 touchdowns. He even threw a touchdown pass. By himself, he accounted for a third of their offense. But Missouri's replaced receivers before. A year ago, it was Jeremy Maclin Chase Coffman, and Tommy Saunders who had combined for over 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. But considering the secondary seems to be the strength of the Nebraska team, it may not matter.
The Texas game may be getting all of the offseason hype, but ultimately it could be the Missouri game that decides whether Nebraska wins the Big 12 North in their final season or not. If the fans aren't interested, let's hope the players will be.
8/25/2010
Can I say that this is the most important game on the schedule?
Okay.
This is the most important game on the schedule.
8/25/2010
I’m with Exiled on this one. This is the MOST important game on the schedule. It’s not just a conference game, it is a North division game. Missouri is the next best team within the division.
All of NU’s goals hinge on winning the North. The sure way to capture the north is to beat all the other teams in the North. So, Missouri is a HUGELY important game.
8/25/2010
Yep, scary. We can say this about each and every North Division game. Every team, every coach, and every player has the Huskers in their sights. But, this is the same thing it has been for 40 years! We are always the circled game on the schedule for these teams. Bo will keep the team focused and the intensity will be there. Have faith Husker fans, we will prevail.
8/25/2010
Why would NU fans, coaches or players overlook this game? Does anyone really think that whole 52-17 thing is already ancient history? I haven’t forgotten it, and I wasn’t even there—so I can pretty much guarantee that the coaches and players who were on the receiving end of it haven’t forgotten, either. Sure the players have the wristbands which would suggest a Texas fixation, but “Finish” is applicable to the entire season, as I’m sure is the intention with said motivational campaign.
Not to mention, unlike the inferiority complex thing we have going with Texas, the Missouri series is a pure rivalry. The two teams (and fanbases) hate each other, and we’ve already had a bit of bulletin board material provided to us by MU players. I fully expect Memorial Stadium to be rocking for Missouri’s final visit.
8/26/2010
Like Alex has said we havent forgotten what happened in ‘08. i honestly think the way to beat nebraska is a balance offense that can run/pass out of the same offensive sets and mix in a power running game….mizzou is gonna set 4-5 and pass 90% of the time which runs right into nebraska strength. since we will be sitting in nickel n dime most of the time our Lbs will be saved and our top secondary will be out there.
were not sleeping on mizzou but their offensive strategy plays into our strength. our weakness is lbs bc of their lack of experience, facing a 4-5 wide spread you wont see many lbs, they will be seeing alot of gomes, prince, dennnard, west, hagg, thenarse, cassidy and more.
8/26/2010
I disagree about every Big 12 North team being “scary” (Iowa State last year notwithstanding). Iowa State will be about the same and we won’t turn it over 8 times. KU and KSU have some HUGE holes to fill on both sides of the ball. I think CU will be improved—but improving on 3 wins might equal 5 or 6 wins, not a division title.
Missouri is clearly the team to be in the Big 12 North (well, besides Nebraska). Experienced, talented QB back, good special teams, especially the kicker (who along with Henery put the two best kickers in the nation in the Big 12 North), and a decent number of starters returning off of a pretty good team from last year. Their schedule is more favorable this year, too (except that pesky trip to Lincoln). At any rate, they are CLEARLY better than any other team in the division, save Nebraska.
We would overlook this team at our peril.
8/26/2010
I disagree about every Big 12 North team being “scary” (Iowa State last year notwithstanding). Iowa State will be about the same and we won’t turn it over 8 times. KU and KSU have some HUGE holes to fill on both sides of the ball. I think CU will be improved—but improving on 3 wins might equal 5 or 6 wins, not a division title.
Missouri is clearly the team to be in the Big 12 North (well, besides Nebraska). Experienced, talented QB back, good special teams, especially the kicker (who along with Henery put the two best kickers in the nation in the Big 12 North), and a decent number of starters returning off of a pretty good team from last year. Their schedule is more favorable this year, too (except that pesky trip to Lincoln). At any rate, they are CLEARLY better than any other team in the division, save Nebraska.
We would overlook this team at our peril.
8/26/2010
Sorry about the double post.
8/26/2010
I feel the MU game is very important, but i still think this year is the year Memorial Stadium becomes one of the toughest places to play once again, if we adopt the your not beating us in our house again it will be tough on Gabbert. The key to the game is the way Bo sets up the defense, judging from what i am hearing down here, Gary Pinkel is going to be stubborn and stick with the base spread offense which boads well for us becuase Bo has diagnosed it. The other key if our offense, if MU still refuses to play defense and if Roy and Rex can run the ball enough, i think Niles can break the game open with play action, plus we need a big special team play early in the game to allow us to get momentum. I think our conditioning will prevail like it did last year. I still think the OSU game and T A&M are a greater challenge this year for NU as well as at Iowa State.
8/26/2010
Yeah, I think the OSU game and aTm games are ‘scarier’, but mizzou brings back alot of players from a good team…. We should win, but we should’ve beaten isu last year too.
When it come to a team like mu, who has a bunch of hatred for us, and are fielding a solid team, anything can happen.
With that said, NU by 17.
8/26/2010
Im not ‘scared’ of us over-looking them at all…. The team will be ready for this one.