Mizzou Links, 8-20-10

by Bill C. on Aug 20, 2010 5:47 AM CDT in News

First of all, I'd like to point out an exchange that happened on Twitter last night between Mizzou SID Chad Moller and a fan.

ChadMo1: Found an old VHS tape of 1960 #mizzoufootball games. Watching MU-KU now, and I'm starting to get a little nervous. Surely we'll win though..

Fort80: any way you could put those old games on youtube?

ChadMo1: exactly what we're going to discuss tomorrow...

Here is Rock M Nation's official response.

Oh, and more good news: You might be able to purchase the 2010 Missouri Football Preview in the Mizzou Bookstore and Team Store beginning next week. Cross your fingers.

Anyway...

Scrimmage #2 Links

The Trib (Dave Matter): Getting Offensive
Just when Bud Sasser had emerged as the most productive of MU’s freshman receiver, Marcus Lucas put together his finest day of camp, finishing with team-high totals for catches (six) and receiving yards (70). "He did some good things and he’s been doing some good things in practice, too," Gary Pinkel said of the newcomer from Liberty. "For receivers, a lot of times, it’s the opportunities you get. You have to show yourself. We can script them for opportunities in practice, but out here you cant really script it. But I think he’s done some good things. We’re going to consider him and a couple other guys, too." Sasser was less involved, finishing with just three grabs for nine yards. Here’s one thing I’ve noticed about Lucas: Sometimes the receivers that turn heads at practice are the ones who make big plays on bad passes. In Lucas’ case, he hasn’t had many of those opportunities. But he makes the routine catch and has looked good snaring throws in the end zone. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if he and Sasser earn spots in the rotation this fall.
PowerMizzou: Thursday scrimmage report
Missouri's first-string offense finally looked like the top unit, leading the offense as a whole to a 41-19 win. The drops that plagued the receiving unit were no where to be found, and Blaine Gabbert had perhaps his finest scrimmage as a Missouri Tiger, connecting on 16 of his 21 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns (although, for some reason, the official stats say he only has one TD pass).

The second drive of the day for the offense -- after the usual goal-line warmup -- showed a rhythm that we haven't seen during these August practices. The drive itself was quick and professional: Eight plays, 70 yards, culminating in a nine-yard swing pass from Gabbert to T.J. Moe for a score. Gabbert was a perfect 5-of-5 during that first series.
PowerMizzou: Finding their stride
MUtigers.com: Tigers Hold Second Fall Scrimmage
The top defense had a good day overall, as it allowed just one score, on a 29-yard TD pass from Glaser to WR Rolandis Woodland. The #1 defense was playing Thursday without senior co-captain DB Kevin Rutland, who strained his back yesterday in practice and is listed as day-to-day currently. When the scrimmage wrapped up with the two-minute drill, the #1 defense did its job, as LB Zaviar Gooden picked off a pass at his 40-yardline to end the series by the #2 offense. Gooden also added a tackle for loss late in the day, and reserve DE Marcus Malbrough had a pair of sacks to lead the defensive stat sheet.
KC Star: Offense clicks in Mizzou scrimmage

Ashton Glaser, who started the scrimmage as the No. 4 quarterback, made a bid to move up in the pecking order, firing a 29-yard touchdown pass to Rolandis Woodland in the right corner of the end zone and several times popping loose on runs on which he hit defenders harder than they hit him.

James Franklin, who entered the scrimmage No. 2, hit L’Damian Washington with a 14-yard TD pass which may have been the offensive play of the day because of the catch. Washington beat close coverage by Kip Edwards while dragging his toes to stay just inbounds on the left side of the end zone.

Pinkel poked a little fun at a question about the scrimmage producing a reordering of the reserve roles at quarterback.

"I wouldn’t have an investigation on that," Pinkel said. "I don’t think there would be value in it. I don’t want you to waste your time."
Post-Dispatch: Quarterbacks sharp in scrimmage
Fox Sports MW: Tiger Camp Notebook: August 19
Mizzourah: Scrimmage Thoughts

- Last season the tight end position was virtually invisible for Mizzou. I don't expect the same this year. All four of Missouri's tight ends were active in the scrimmage today, most notably Michael Egnew. Egnew made a nice TD catch, adjusting on a slightly underthrown Blaine Gabbert pass and jumping over Jeff Gettys for the catch.

- Egnew and Eric Waters were both utilized in tight end screens that brought me back to the days of Martin Rucker.

Nice to see the offense bouncing back from a slow start to the week. Obviously you like the thought of Blaine Gabbert finding his rhythm late in August, I can't complain about Bud Sasser and Marcus Lucas coming into their own. I feel for Jimmie Hunt, who may have missed his window this season, but despite the continued disappearance of Wes Kemp, I'm feeling at least a little better about the passing game than I did a week or two ago. Clearly it probably isn't at 2007-08 levels by any means, but a) we might never see that level again (not pessimistic, just acknowledging how great those two years were in terms of rhythm and talent), and b) if the running game really has begun to thrive, it won't need to be. We'll see.

More links after the jump.

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Comments

Maybe my attitude will change

but I’d be a bit disappointed with the Alamo Bowl. If you look at his power rankings, Mizzou is ahead of Nebraska. Nebraska comes out ahead in the projections due to their more favorable schedule. The difference is projected wins is 0.2.

by AlaTiger on Aug 20, 2010 6:14 AM CDT reply actions

If they lose that game...

It’s a disappointment. That has them going 8-5 for the season as last year. That shows no improvement from the year before. To be a sufficient year, I expect 9 wins total, between the season and the bowl game. 10 or more is great, 8 or less is a disappointment.

Annoying You Since 1986

by MUTIGERS86 on Aug 20, 2010 7:02 AM CDT reply actions

8.2 wins there on that site I would say is a little disappointing

I certainly realize we have a tough, 4-game stretch with OU, NU, aTm and TTech, but losing all four of those would stink. All things being equal, I will be pretty pleased with 9-3, and like 86 says above…a bowl win to get to 10 would be great.

Advocating for the "Spreadbone" since 2010
Rock M Nation

by The Beef on Aug 20, 2010 7:19 AM CDT reply actions

See, I guess I'm just a little more pessimistic.

Not ready to throw out any official predictions, but I keep bouncing between 8-4 and 9-3.

"Don’t want to spend my night waiting in line unless it’s for more beer."
--EssBee, on LoneStarBall, Jan. 21, 2010

by ghtd36 on Aug 20, 2010 7:29 AM CDT up reply actions

TTech, aTm and NU all on the road is certainly tough

but I would still be disappointed if we dont win one of those three games. I think OU at home, on homecoming could be very entertaining, but I dont think we will win it. (But I’d love to see us having beaten aTm the week before to come into it unblemished). But aTm and TTech are still something of unknown properties, and NU still needs to prove it can score consistently in conference. If we go 8-4, then I will say I really hope we win our bowl game as was enumerated above. 8-5 will only continue to feed the anti-GP/staff buzz that is (at times) unhealthy.

Advocating for the "Spreadbone" since 2010
Rock M Nation

by The Beef on Aug 20, 2010 7:41 AM CDT up reply actions

Well, now you're going to get me into near-official prediction mode.

As always, the patented ghtd36 prediction method.

ALMOST-SURE WINS
Illinois, McNeese State, San Diego State, MiamiOH, Colorado, Kansas State, Iowa State, Kansas

ALMOST-SURE LOSSES
Oklahoma, Nebraska

TOSSUPS
A&M, Tech

Reasonable best case: 10-2
Reasonable worst case: 8-4
Absolute best case: 11-1
Absolute worst case: 6-6
Avg. expectation: 9-3

I tried to be honest about this, and now that I write it out, I guess 9-3 isn’t that big of a stretch. You win 1 of the 4 games of the Bible Belt Death March, and TCB against everyone else. I guess I just don’t see a lot of variance in this: I think Mizzou is very clearly the second-best team in the Big XII North, which isn’t bad but also isn’t going to turn any heads.

"Don’t want to spend my night waiting in line unless it’s for more beer."
--EssBee, on LoneStarBall, Jan. 21, 2010

by ghtd36 on Aug 20, 2010 8:01 AM CDT up reply actions

and there is not much I can argue with there...

I’d say the only piece is the almost-sure loss against NU…don’t count me as saying I think we win, but I dont put it in the same category as OU really. I agree in that our best chances against the death march reside in our games in Texas.

Sucks that 9-3 (and then potentially 10-3) “isn’t going to turn any heads”. My how expectations have changed in the last decade.

Advocating for the "Spreadbone" since 2010
Rock M Nation

by The Beef on Aug 20, 2010 8:05 AM CDT up reply actions

I meant nationally...

..but yeah, that is amazing how far Mizzou has come in just the past eight years.

"Don’t want to spend my night waiting in line unless it’s for more beer."
--EssBee, on LoneStarBall, Jan. 21, 2010

by ghtd36 on Aug 20, 2010 8:08 AM CDT up reply actions

10-3...and if Gabbert comes back...

which I personally think right now is going to hang on the potential work stoppage of the 2011 NFL season, that could certainly turn some preseason heads in 2011.

And yes, I am saying that if Gabbert is healthy throughout all of 2010, and if his numbers improve the way you would assume a 2nd year starter would over his first full year, then I think he will leave for the NFL.

Advocating for the "Spreadbone" since 2010
Rock M Nation

by The Beef on Aug 20, 2010 8:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Bible Belt Death March

Awesome.

"Fall in line and witness punishment." -Will Ebner, probably

by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Aug 20, 2010 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions

Google images brings up

this when typing in "Bible Belt Death March:

make sure on the march there are no women in the crowd…

Formerly known as Mizzou Grad

http://twitter.com/Ausgiano

by Ausgiano on Aug 20, 2010 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Bible Belt Death March

Should be a new RockMNation meme.

by Mac6uffin on Aug 20, 2010 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions

I think reasonable worst case would be 7-5,

lose the Bible Belt Death March and get upset by ISU/Kansas

Making you feel old since 9/26/09

by solidpit on Aug 20, 2010 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Also: Derrick Washington for President.

Wake up in the morning take leak and wash my hands take a knee and thank the man and get back to the money!!

Agreed, sir. Indeed: get back to the money.

"Don’t want to spend my night waiting in line unless it’s for more beer."
--EssBee, on LoneStarBall, Jan. 21, 2010

by ghtd36 on Aug 20, 2010 7:30 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

by apr67d on Aug 20, 2010 9:55 AM CDT reply actions

Well..one of them was on the field in crutches :-)

Advocating for the "Spreadbone" since 2010
Rock M Nation

by The Beef on Aug 20, 2010 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions

Danario was healthy enough to

have a monster game in the Great Sodding of 2007™.

We also had three 1st/2nd round NFL picks playing in the defense. Not bad for a bunch of 3-star guys from MO and guys from Texas that UT didn’t want. :)

by apr67d on Aug 20, 2010 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions