Mizzou Links, 10-25-12

Mizzou Football Links

• Game Week
  The Trib (Dave Matter): Pinkel expects James Franklin back for Florida game
  The Missourian: Kentucky succumbs to losses, injuries as Missouri game approaches
  KC Star: Pinkel expects Franklin to return for Florida game
  KC Star: Like Missouri, Kentucky's offense will lurch into this weekend's game
  Post-Dispatch: Pinkel says Franklin doubtful for Saturday
  Post-Dispatch: Kentucky struggles to score and defend entering MU game (most polite "They're bad" headline ever)
  Post-Dispatch: Football an afterthought at Kentucky
• Definitely Worth A Reminder That Mizzou's Offense Was Pretty Bad In 2009, Too
  The Trib: SEC opponents have put brakes on MU offense

  [Co-offensive line coach Josh] Henson, who coached four seasons at LSU, knew his linemen were in for a challenge against the bigger, deeper SEC defensive fronts. Despite multiple injuries, his line has adjusted to the physical play over time, he said.

  "The physicalness of this league is different," he said. "It is unique. … It's just one of those things where we'll get more and more used to it as time goes along."

  This is hardly the first time Missouri's offense has suffered chronic issues midway through the season. In 2009 — having replaced star quarterback Chase Daniel, his All-American targets Jeremy Maclin and Chase Coffman plus offensive coordinator Dave Christensen — the Tigers went weeks without scoring in the second half and managed just 11 second-half points in their first five Big 12 games.

  The next year, Blaine Gabbert's second season at quarterback, Missouri won 10 games but became helpless for a stretch against defenses that played tight man-to-man coverage.

  Last season, MU leaned on a potent rushing attack led by tailback Henry Josey, but third downs became the bugaboo du jour. Only Kansas converted fewer third downs among Big 12 teams.

  These days, the Tigers would beg to have those problems, each of which Yost and the players eventually resolved, to some degree.

• The WRs
  The Missourian: Dorial Green-Beckham, receivers still hoping to break out

  Each member of Missouri's talented group of receivers has basically taken a turn showing what he can do. The problem is, not one of them has been able to repeat his success. Through seven games, the plays look more like flukes than a reliable source of offense. [...]

  So far this season, Missouri has failed to take advantage of favorable matchups. Washington and T.J. Moe cautioned that the team needs to focus on each play and not simply expect to have a big game. But the receivers are looking to help Berkstresser out this week. Green-Beckham said that sometimes the quarterback must be able to rely on receivers to bail him out.

  "Every pass that goes up in the air as a receiving group, we've got to know that that's our ball. And we just got to go make those plays," Green-Beckham said. "Even if it's a short play or a long play, a high ball or a short ball. We've still got to make those plays no matter what."

• The O-Line
  KC Star: Missouri's injury-ridden offensive line still has fight left

  It was Oct. 13, late in the fourth quarter of Missouri’s 42-10 loss to No. 1 Alabama. Morse, the Tigers’ starting center, was sitting out because of a sprained knee and could only watch as Alabama defensive lineman LaMichael Fanning took down freshman running back Russell Hansbrough with what could be described as a pro wrestling move.

  "Part of me wanted to run out there and take a couple swings," Mitch Morse said with a laugh.

  Offensive linemen are protective by nature, so when someone messes with a teammate, they often take it personal.

  So it should also come as no surprise that, on the next two plays, center Brad McNulty and left guard Evan Boehm drove Fanning to the ground, then watched as right guard Max Copeland pancaked Fanning and appeared to rip his helmet off.

  Just like that, Morse’s anger turned to happiness. To him, it was proof the Tigers, although 3-4 overall and 0-4 in the Southeastern Conference, aren’t even close to losing their fighting spirit.

  "Like any team should, if you cheap-shot our guys, we’re not going to take that lightly," Morse said. "But I feel like we should … say look what we can do when we get ticked off. If we take that mentality and we go every play with that, we’re going to be just fine."

• 2013 Recruiting
  PowerMizzou: [JUCO DE Randy] Gregory lives a cliche
  PowerMizzou: [Illinois DT Josh] August Postpones Visit until December
  PowerMizzou: PMTV: Aarion Penton in action
  
• Mailbag
  PowerMizzou: Tiger Mailbag
• Gabs
  Big Cat Country: Blaine Gabbert injury: Jaguars QB won't be out long, if at all
  Big Cat Country: Jaguars QB plans to start vs. Packers
• MORE PINKEL COPTER
  We Are Mizzou: Black and Gold Helicopter

Other Football Links

• He's Absurd
  Smart Football: Bill Snyder: Miracle Worker

Mizzou Basketball Links

• 2012-13
  PowerMizzou: Powered Up: New season, new league, new role
• Top 25
  The Trib (Steve Walentik): ... 10 ... 9 ... 8 ... 7 ... 6

Mizzou Diamond Sports Links

• Fall World Series
  MUtigers.com: Mizzou Baseball Sets Fall World Series Dates
• SEC
  SimmonsField.com: SxSE: Sic 'em Dawgs
• Scramble!
  SimmonsField.com: Tiger Bullpen Golf Scramble This Friday

Other Mizzou Links

Really, really bad loss for Mizzou Volleyball yesterday. For a while now, I've been working on the assumption that the Tigers will end up pretty safe in terms of NCAA Tournament consideration, even though their RPI has been pretty poor. Now ... I'm not so sure. Since crushing Mississippi State, Mizzou has lost to Ole Miss (who had lost seven of nine before the Mizzou match), been taken to five sets by Auburn, and gotten romped by another NCAA Tourney hopeful, Georgia. It's definitely not too late to turn things around -- Mizzou still has nine matches remaining (six at home), but the combination of personnel shifting and a long road stretch (five of the last six matches have been away from Hearnes, as is the next match against Arkansas) have taken a toll.

• Mizzou Volleyball
  MUtigers.com: Volleyball Swept at Georgia
  The Trib: MU volleyball embraces imbalance
• Mizzou Soccer
  The Missourian: Missouri, Texas A&M soccer coaches leave friendship off the field
• Mizzou Men's Golf
  MUtigers.com: Follow Mizzou's Jace Long at PGA Tour Q-School
• Mizzou Cross Country
  MUtigers.com: Tigers Enter First SEC Championships with High Expectations