My weekly picks will be posted eventually. I've got the final score under that total ... by the slimmest of margins.
I saw that. Unreal numbers. Mizzou will have an interesting situation at running back next year if he's ready to contribute.
I'm not sure about redshirting, but those positions are hard to learn. Brooks missed a lot of time with the knee injury. Miller looked like a beast in the spring game, but I'm not sure he's the most disciplined player on the field. The staff raved about Bolton's play in the spring, knowing his assignments and making the right play at the right time. They weren't saying that about Miller. Plus, he had a bad personal foul penalty in the Purdue game on a kick return. The young guys have a lot of football ahead of them. No reason to write them off.
I like the trio of Acy, Sparks and Holmes. Acy would have helped at Purdue. Sparks lost some 1-on-1 matchups, but it took great throws and catches to make plays against him. He can be more disruptive, but it's not like he was getting burned or missing assignments. He was asked to cover receivers for a looooooooong time because of the non-existent pass rush. Holmes played pretty well. He's physical. Good size. I think you can have a serviceable defense with these guys as the top corners.
Good points. Mizzou has to tackle well in this game. Guys have to get off blocks and gang tackle. Hardman is really quick. Fromm doesn't take a lot of shots downfield. But he's talented enough to sit behind that monstrous O-line and pick apart a defense. This is a really difficult matchup for this defense.
The typical. If it's a loss, they can't let one turn into two. Get healthy. The 2014 season might be worth revisiting. That team lost at home to Indiana ... then went on the road the next week and beat South Carolina. One week really has no bearing on the next. That same team followed with an awful 34-0 loss to Georgia ... then went on the road and beat Florida.
Odom won't fire Walters. That's his guy. He's been grooming him for this role for years. A defensive-minded head coach can only blame his coordinator so many times. I think this defensive staff has to have a better feel for how to use its sub packages. And they need to find better ways to pressure the quarterback. The D-line isn't going to get it done on its own.
OK, thank you. That game is 4 pm Sept. 29 at the softball stadium.
I can't really think of any major differences between the two leagues. Can you? I'm not sure the officiating is that different from one league to the next. They all work under the same rules, focus on the same points of emphasis and adhere to the same changes every other year.
What happened to one at a time? I'm still trying to write about the matchups for Mizzou-UGA. Yes, I've been surprised by Vandy. They took down two solid Group of 5 programs and held their own at Notre Dame. I'll take a closer look at the Dores once that game gets closer, but I'm all in on Georgia this week.
He got it right in 2015. That was one of the best defenses in the country. He also had an All-American linebacker and a first-round pick at defensive end. Like most things in college football, I think it comes down to talent and depth. This team doesn't have great players at D-end. The linebackers are good but not elite. The secondary is OK, but there's not an All-SEC player back there. That doesn't mean they can't play winning football, but my opinions on this defense haven't changed since the preseason. It only has to be adequate for Mizzou to win a bunch of games this year. That wasn't close to adequate at Purdue.
I think you mean Alex. AJ is the dad. Alex got on the field a couple times at Purdue, but he's not a regular in the rotation. He didn't have a great camp. He's behind a freshman in Jalen Knox who has really come on and played well. Alex has never been a productive college player, though injuries were a big factor at Oregon. That doesn't mean he can't produce eventually, but right now the staff clearly likes others better.
Those numbers are set one week at a time. Much will depend on how MU plays Saturday.
I'm just eye-balling it here - I'm not exactly Bill Belichick - but I'd put more on the pass rush and the struggles to recognize play-action. The downfield coverage wasn't great, but it can't be down after down if the QB has all day to throw. Mizzou seemed to have some lapses in zone coverage a few times, too. Also, and I know this is the unpopular response, but Jeff Brohm and David Blough get credit for exposing the weaknesses they were finding. Brohm gave up on the running game and continued to attack with the pass. All the motions and fakes in the backfield are designed to disrupt the defenders' eyes - and it seemed to work to perfection.
Missouri has multiple helmets, like most teams these days. I like the storm trooper look every once in a while.
I dig the storm trooper look, but to each his own.
