Mizzou Links, 4-4-12

Mizzou Football Links

Spring break: over. Practice reports: back in our lives. The major news focused on Henry Josey and James Franklin (and no, I'm not going to read into the quotes about Franklin -- he'll be back in September), but ... evidently Elvis Fisher returned to full-speed, full-contact practice yesterday. That's pretty awesome.

• Practice Reports Are Back!
  The Trib (Dave Matter): They're baaaaaack: Tigers resume spring drills

  Injured tailback Henry Josey is expected to undergo his second knee surgery in two to three weeks, Pinkel said. Josey still needs his anterior cruciate ligament repaired from the significant knee injury he suffered last November. He previously had his patellar tendon and meniscus repaired shortly after the injury but needed time to recover from that procedure before undergoing another.

  "He's doing very, very well," Pinkel said. "I always get the question, 'Will he be able to play this season?' And my answer is he's got three years to play two. So, when he's ready to play, that's when he'll play."

  PowerMizzou: Tuesday Practice Report: Back in Action

  *Braylon Webb made himself noticed a few times. The sophomore safety had a huge hit on Gahn McGaffie over the middle (McGaffie hung on to the ball) and then a few plays later broke up another pass. Webb has the inside track to start at one safety spot.

  *A few defensive linemen stood out. Michael Sam seemed to be very active early. Shane Ray had a sack and a tackle for a loss on a running play on consecutive snaps. Kony Ealy had back-to-back sacks late.

  The Missourian: Missouri returns to practice after Spring Break

  The defense kept up the pressure it has shown all spring, and senior offensive lineman Elvis Fisher finally saw some live repetitions after recovering from the torn patellar tendon he suffered last August. Corbin Berkstresser made some mistakes against some surprise defensive schemes but continued to make strides, reminding Pinkel of James Franklin a year ago.

  "Overall, I thought we became a better football team today," Pinkel said.

  Post-Dispatch: Franklin coming along well, Pinkel says

  Between quarterback James Franklin's outlook about rehabilitating his injured shoulder and Mizzou team surgeon Pat Smith's report that the March 23 operation on Franklin was "a very good repair," MU coach Gary Pinkel said Tuesday that he is optimistic about the pace of Franklin's recovery.

  "He's a pretty special guy; he'll heal quick," Pinkel said in his first remarks on Franklin since the operation. "He works tremendously hard in the training room. And so much of it is having a great attitude." […]

  Pinkel, speaking after MU resumed spring practice Tuesday following spring break, reiterated that MU doesn't expect Franklin to miss any time in the fall.

  But he added an asterisk: "We're expecting that he won't (miss time), but to say that that can't happen, I can't say that. We feel that he can get ready to play, but bottom line is we'll have to wait and see what happens."

• 2013 Recruiting
  KC Star (Campus Corner): No Elliott, no problem: Abbington eager to carry the load for Mizzou
  PowerMizzou: J'Mon Moore plans to visit Columbia
• Gabs
  The Trib: Blaine Gabbert confident he will improve with Jags in 2012
  National Football Post: Gabbert reveals he played with toe injury
• SPOOOOOOOOON
  The Falcoholic: Falcons Quote Of The Day: Sean Weatherspoon Is Pretty Good Against The Run
• Gary Pinkel Has Wind Issues (And Is Kind Of A Badass)
  SB Nation: VIDEO: Gary Pinkel, Paul Rhoads Talkin' Motorcycles

Other Football Links

So Missouri is currently scheduled to play the No. 1 and 7 teams in the country at home, the No. 13, 15, 16 and 23 teams on the road. Here goes nothing.

• 2012 Self-Share Projections (Subtitle: Good God, The SEC Is Freaking Loaded)
  Football Study Hall: Updated (But Not Yet Official) 2012 F/+ Projections

SEC

• Scheduling
  Mr. SEC: SEC Inches Closer to 8-Game Schedule with Permanent Cross-Division Foes
  Senator Blutarsky: And now we return you to "As The Schedule Turns", already in progress...

Other Mizzou Links

• MUtigers.com: 2012 Mizzou Coaches Caravan Events Set for April
• Mizzou Baseball
  MUtigers.com: Tigers Look to 'Pack Taylor for Baylor'
• Mizzou Tennis
  The Missourian: Missouri tennis team to open new outdoor courts
• Mizzou Wrestling
  MUtigers.com: Wrestling Banquet Set for April 15