7. Colorado: The Buffaloes remain the Big 12's mystery team and Tyler Hansen's thumb injury only accentuates that uncertainty. New offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau will be taking over this summer. And while he's been around the program for three years, it's still a concern taking the top job. The offense looked fine in the spring game, particularly a bruising rushing game keyed by Darrell Scott and Rodney Stewart. The defensive line remains the biggest question on the other side of the ball and we won't know how that group will play until the season begins. Dan Hawkins confidently picked the Buffaloes to go 10-2 after last season. They'll be better than last season's 5-7, but I'm not sure they will live up to their coach's optimism. February pre-spring ranking: 8.
8. Missouri: It was tough to get a handle on the Tigers during the spring. Blaine Gabbert had some moments, but his numbers weren't that impressive. But those struggles were understandable considering he was throwing to some inexperienced receivers while Danario Alexander and Jared Perry recovered from injuries. The turnover in both coordinators from last season will be interesting to watch. And with all of the thoughts about the huge personnel losses on offense, the Tigers also will lose a lot on defense. I still think the Tigers will go bowling this year, but will be better suited for a run at the 2010 North title than this season. February pre-spring ranking: 7.
I'm taking the bait. I just couldn't resist sharing this beaut from Tim Griffin. Blaine Gabbert's numbers from the final three scrimmages (all three without Jared Perry and Danario Alexander, two without Gahn McGaffie and Michael Egnew): 35-for-59, 408 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT. 60% completion, 7 yards per pass. Without probably four of the top seven targets. And Derrick Washington only getting a couple of touches per scrimmage. "His numbers weren't that impressive."
10 months ago
Bill C.
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I can't disagree with the last part.
I still think the Tigers will go bowling this year, but will be better suited for a run at the 2010 North title than this season.
Then again, it just shows how much these nat’l pundits missed. You can’t just show up for a practice and take it as that’s been the entire Spring. Come on Tim, we expected better from you than to half-ass it and not include that half the WRs and DW were out.
by Big Head on May 15, 2009 11:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Umm...
Come on Tim, we expected better from you than to half-ass it
Why?
by RPT on May 15, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Griffin seems to know his stuff...
but also sounds like he’s relying on some numbers w/o looking at a full picture. Was he even in CoMo to realize that half of our offense at the skilled positions wasn’t even practicing? Doubtful.
If your job is to follow 12 teams in two sports that actively compete from August-early April, I’d expect a better job of actually going to the events you’re writing about..
I like Griffin, especially over all the ESPN bloggers but Graham, but come on dude…just try next time.
by Big Head on May 15, 2009 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
he was there for 1 practice
"Elvis Andrus has just preformed a MIRACLE!"
-Eric Nadel, 5/4/09
by Mizzou12 on May 15, 2009 10:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The problem with Tim, et al.
is that they don’t actually go to the events they’re writing about. Please don’t take this as a post excusing Tim for this, but the brutal reality is that even the Worldwide Leader doesn’t have the cash right now to send someone to enough Big 12 practices to understand what’s going on across the conference. That said, some basic research could change Mr. Griffin’s mind, but the problem is systemic — there are not enough journalists covering teams for us to expect anything besides this.
by jschooltiger on May 15, 2009 10:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
maybe he could spend more time
in the Big 12 North, if he could get his tongue out of the collective asses of Oklahoma, Texas and aTm. A couple months ago, I went into his blog looking to see what he had about Mizzou, I went through over a week of stuff before I found Mizzou even mentioned, and that was just a link to the Tribune.
by leghumpingjihadkiller on May 15, 2009 10:53 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
VERY WELL SAID...
I have echo’ed these comments before. He could pull his tongue out or wipe the jiz off his chin…either one.
by B_W on May 16, 2009 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really guys?
As much as I may agree with the sentiments, I’m not sure the graphic representation was wholly necessary.
by RPT on May 16, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not a good excuse in my opinion.
1). ESPN started the ‘Blog Network’ to connect regionally. Tim has a region, and a small one at that. The B12, compared to most other conferences, is tightly located. You could drive to five B12N schools in one day, no problem! (minus CU) I realize Texas is a huge state, but would imagine you could hit three in a day driving (OSU, OU, Texas).
2). You’re expected to do your job. Tim’s job is simply to cover 12 teams. Do it in person, not just relying on box scores, which seems to be what he did for Mizzou. Especially when we have challenged for a nat’l title and played in the past two B12 CGs. It’s a huge slap in the face to get shoved to the side by a guy that gets paid to cover this team.
I’m all for mailling it in while posting links or a phone interview, but when you’re trying to visually rate a team after lacking visuals of the team…there’s a problem. What kind of credit does Tim lose by not actually going to check out the teams he’s writing about?
3). ESPN/ABC now owns the BCS beginning in ‘11, so money for Tim’s gas/travel costs is nothing. The BCS is going to be ESPN’s big thing, along with MNF after Fox’s contract expires. ESPN does a helluva job covering CFB already, and has invested in the product. Money isn’t the problem.
This isn’t a rant on jschool at all, more so on getting the shaft by someone I’ve had journalistic respect for, and believed had integrity in their writing. Maybe there is something to this that Tim couldn’t cover the Tigers (or who knows who else), and if true, DON’T WRITE THE PIECE.
by Big Head on May 16, 2009 12:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've never expected better from him...
"Write a wise saying and your name will live forever." - Anonymous
Rock M Nation
by The Beef on May 15, 2009 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'm not buying this theory...
that mizzou’s offense is going to take a huge step back until i actually see it happen. they still have have some pretty solid players. gabbert was highly rated for a reason. i think we will see a whole lot of dwash and moore this season, which i think is a good thing. run the ball more to make it easier for gabbert to throw. as prolific as the offense has been the last few years, i was frustrated at times by the abandonment of the run (or even a threat to run). i’m not a fan of the 5 wide/no back set unless you are in 3rd and long. i like the spread as much to run as to throw and i think mu can do that this year to put gabbert in good situations to succeed and limit his mistakes.
and i don’t get why anyone thinks cu will be anything by crappy to mediocre. before each season people always say they’re ready to breakthrough, but i just don’t see it. but its always people in other places that think this, no one here in denver thinks they are/will be anything but average at best. i like hawkins- i think he’s a good coach and a very entertaining guy, but he just doesn’t have the horses to compete in the biiiig tweeeeelve, brother!
/rambling rant
by Wooderson on May 15, 2009 12:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
the thing that's driving me crazy...
Anybody who says they know what’s going to happen with Mizzou is wrong, whether they’re predicting 10-2 or 4-8. Nobody has any idea whatsoever because there are so many grey areas, but what’s driving me crazy is, if we took this entire team/staff/last two years and traded with Nebraska…meaning, now THEY have Pinkel and Daniel and Coffman and go 12-2 and 10-4 in 2007 and 2008, they’d be a preseason top 15 team right now despite the losses of Daniel, etc. “THEY’RE BACK!!!” would be all we’d read.
Meanwhile, if Missouri had gone 5-7 and 9-5 and lost their starting QB (Ganz), RB (Lucky), and their best two WRs (Peterson, Swift), then even with what could be a pretty good defense, they’d be ranked in the 40s right now. But because Missouri is Missouri, and Nebraska is Nebraska, they’re Top 20 (and “BACK!!!!!”) despite massive question marks at QB, WR, and to some degree OL, while we’re now worse than Colorado (who we beat by 58 points last year).
And yes, I realize it doesn’t matter, and I realize I’m the guy who tried to warn people that CU would be ranked above us in the ‘conventional wisdom’ meter this year in a podcast a few weeks ago. But a) that doesn’t make it feel any less silly when it actually happens, and b) really I’m just writing this because it’s fun to rant sometimes.
Rock M Nation
Thrust nunchuk upward!
by Bill C. on May 15, 2009 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
/kicks puppy
/gets ranked below Colorado
/still isn’t ejected
Rock M Nation
Thrust nunchuk upward!
by Bill C. on May 15, 2009 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I shouldn't say this ...
… but I just got aroused reading that post.
Eff Nebraska.
WE’RE BACK!
Was once caught putting at night ... with the 15-year old daughter of the dean
by mitch cumstein on May 15, 2009 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Personally I cant stand the "loss of cordinators" business
I guess GP should just give up. Its not like he was the OC for a national championship team. Or that he ever had anything to do with the offences at U-Dub, Toledo or Mizzou. Forget that Yost called plays with Christianson and that the entire staff game plans the O. As for the defense, he who will remain nameless, led us to 8 seasons of below average defense. Did you ever think you would see the day that MU would have a 1st Rd NFL pick, a 2nd rounder, and a 6th rounder all from defense go in the same draft yet we finished in the bottom 10 in the country in defense. That is addition by subraction in replacing Mr. E.
by Frodaddy on May 15, 2009 1:37 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
The best thing to take out of all this?
It should really get our Tigers focused and keyed up to knock the snot outa somebody on Saturdays.
by B_W on May 16, 2009 12:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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