1,540 & 5.9

The first number is the collective weight of Missouri’s projected starting offensive line, a group that will open camp with first-year starters at left guard (Austin Wuebbels) and right tackle (Dan Hoch) but established veterans at the other three positions. The Tigers don’t typically play a grinding, smashmouth brand of football along the front five, but the two new starters bring a physical presence. And new O-line coach Josh Henson was raised on punishing power running games at Oklahoma State and LSU under Les Miles.

The second number is Derrick Washington’s yards-per-carry average in 2008, when he played 13 games with a torn meniscus in his left knee. Only two Missouri running backs in the modern era have averaged a better rate: Robert Delpino and Ernest Blackwell. Missouri’s not going to give up throwing the ball and will probably wing it around at least 50 percent of the time as it did in 2006, Daniel’s first season as a starter. But Washington is capable of taking tremendous pressure off Gabbert — as is his more than capable backup De’Vion Moore — if the Tigers can get the running game going and stick with it.