Can't win 'em all, I guess...Johnny Wholestaff was not his normal self last night, as Mizzou lost to SMS, 10-5, at Simmons Field. It was 5-5 heading into the 7th before SMS just chipped away at Wholestaff, putting up 1 in the 7th, 2 in the 8th, and 2 in the 9th. Six of Mizzou's Wholestaff pitchers gave up at least one run. Eh, I guess it happens sometimes. That keeps the Rachel Phelps Watch at around 5-4 or so. PowerMizzou and the Missourian have more.
Last night, Dave Matter promised more on Tommy Saunders, et al, and sure enough...his latest post catches up with Saunders, Chase Patton, and Chase Coffman...
"I’ve been told that as of now they want to take the three guys they have into camp," Patton said, referring to the Bears QBs, starter Jay Cutler and inexperienced backups Caleb Banie and Brett Basanez. "That could change, I guess. But it sounds like they would take me if they decide to take a fourth quarterback. Usually teams take four into training camp, so there still could be a shot. The door’s not closed yet."
Patton said Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner gave the rookie QBs a slice of the playbook then spent the next few days quizzing them on everything from routes, reads and protections. By the end of the minicamp, Patton felt confident he'd left an impression on the staff.
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Still, with no contract offer from Chicago, Patton accepted an invitation to the upcoming Kansas City Chiefs minicamp, which begins Thursday. The Chiefs appear set at quarterback with a flock of Matt Cassel, Brodie Croyle and Tyler Thigpen, but if anything, new Chiefs GM Scott Pioli has history going outside the box when it comes to selecting quarterbacks. He was in charge of New England's player personnel in 2005 when the Pats drafted USC's Cassel, who like Patton was a career backup in college. Former Pats scout Matt Russell, now working in Denver for Josh McDaniels, is often credited for discovering Cassel at his college pro day. Pioli, though, was responsible for pulling the trigger in the draft.
To hopeful future Tigers...PowerMizzou reports that athletic New Madrid County TE/DE Kony Ealy (6'5, 225) now has a Mizzou offer. That gives the following MO kids offers:
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QB Tyler Gabbert (Parkway West - 6'0, 190 - other major offers: Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas)
- RB Brandon Bourbon (Potosi - 6'2, 205 - other major offers: BYU, Kansas, Stanford)
- WR Marcus Lucas (Liberty - 6'5, 195 - other major offers: Oklahoma, UCLA, Nebraska, KU, KSU, Iowa, just about everybody) (Rivals' #108 overall player)
- WR Keeston Terry (Blue Springs - 6'2, 179 - other major offers: Nebraska, KU, KSU, Illinois) (Rivals' #203 overall player)
- TE/LB Trey Millard (Rock Bridge - 6'2, 245 - other major offers: Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, South Carolina, Stanford)
- TE/DE Kony Ealy (New Madrid Central - 6'5, 228 - other major offers: Memphis, Arkansas State)
- OL Nick Demien (Wentzville Timberland - 6'6, 295 - other major offers: everybody) (Rivals' #56 overall player)
- DE/DT Chase Rome (Rock Bridge - 6'3, 280 - Oklahoma State commit)
- ATH Marquise Hill (St. Louis Trinity - 6'0, 165 - soft Mizzou commit)
That's nine guys. Really, it appears this class of MO kids is pretty talented at the top (some of those offer lists are quite impressive considering we've only crept into May), but not tremendously deep. We'll see. As a whole, it appears that Mizzou is in really good shape with Demien, Lucas, Millard, Bourbon, and Ealy, but maybe not quite as good with Terry and Gabbert. Who knows, but that appears to be where it stands for now...and of course, any knowledge I think I have about this comes from PowerMizzou reports, so...you know...subscribe, etc...
Finally, Dave Matter showed up at the ROARS awards Monday night (first annual!!) and gave his account...sounds like a pretty good time...