Mizzou Links, 8-20-10

By Bill Connelly@SBN_BillC Aug 20, 2010, 5:47am CDT

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.

Mizzou Links, 8-20-10

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