Mizzou Links, 9-2-13: Hints on offense, twists on the line, and depth in the post

Twisting on defense and pace on offense made a difference on Saturday night. Also: the Trib checks in on Frank Haith, and Soccer, Volleyball, Cross Country, etc., all look pretty damn good.

By Bill Connelly@SBN_BillC Sep 2, 2013, 5:18am CDT

1. More Murray State

Post-Dispatch: Emptying the Notebook: Josey's happy return

The postgame takeaway of Mizzou’s defense is classic half-empty or half-full. On Murray State’s first few possessions, the Tigers looked like they were playing with one arm in a brace like their coordinator, Dave Steckel, who tore his triceps during the preseason. Miller, an Ole Miss transfer, was doing his best Johnny Football impression in the first quarter, gouging the Tigers for 60 rushing yards on six carries, 94 passing yards and two touchdown drives. Miller neutralized Mizzou’s pass rush with his scrambling ability and quick passes. And the Tigers weren’t exactly tackling very well beyond the line of scrimmage.

On their first three possessions, the Racers picked up 195 yards on 28 plays — 7 yards every time they snapped the ball. For the rest of the game, over 12 possessions, Racers picked up 102 yards on 47 plays — 2.2 yards per play. Murray State moved the ball more than 8 yards on only one series in the second half.

What was the difference? Pinkel said Steckel called more twists along the defensive line after the first quarter and that threw off Murray State’s blocking schemes.

The Trib (Behind the Stripes): GAME REWIND: Missouri 58, Murray State 14
PowerMizzou: PMTV-HD: Murray St. Post-Game
PowerMizzou: Turning the page
PowerMizzou: A Closer Look: Murray State

MISSOURI 20, MURRAY STATE 13, 9:26 2Q [...]

-- Two plays in a row from under center, a sneak by Franklin followed by a run. Walk-on Clayton Echard makes his first appearance, attached to the line as Culkin motions behind the line. Josey tried to bounce the run outside on first down but actually was tripped up by Culkin. […]

-- First sighting of a new tweak to the tight ends. Attached to the left side of the line, Sean Culkin runs a delayed route after Franklin fakes a hand off to Josey, going right. This is a play that schools like Alabama have used to perfection, and Culkin provided a big safety blanket for Franklin after getting the defense to slide right, mimicking Josey. Get the ball to a big tight end, fight for tough yards. In the end, a seven-yard pick up for a first down.

-- After a pass to DGB sets Missouri up at the six-yard line, Missouri saw a mismatch from the previous play and hustled back to the line, snapping the ball with only one second coming off the clock. Murphy took the handoff outside, hesitating briefly to hold a defender before bouncing around blockers into the endzone. That's a score because of tempo, as the defense barely had time to get set.

We Are Mizzou: Friday Night Highlights

2. Future Tigers

PowerMizzou: PMTV-HD: Sam Bailey paves the way

3. Hey, how's basketball going?

The Trib: MU basketball team trains with Missouri National Guard
The Trib: Q&A with MU basketball Coach Frank Haith

Q: How much do you feel like you already know about this team, and how much are you going to learn in the next two months?

A: There's a lot to learn. I do like where we're at from the physical look of this team. We've got great size, great length, we've got speed, we've got shooting. But it's all about putting it all together, and that will come in the next couple weeks of practicing and working with these guys. Then the next stage is how they're going to respond when the lights are on and playing with games. Those are things you still don't know until you get to that point.

Q: The last two years, you've really relied on three guys up front, primarily with Ricardo Ratliffe, Kim English and Steve Moore two seasons ago and Laurence Bowers, Alex Oriakhi and Tony Criswell last season. With this group, do you feel like you're going to be able to have the ability to have a deeper rotation there?

A: I love that about this team. I think we can play at least four to five post guys and really be physical and do some things I like to do and really just pound. Time will tell, but I think between Ryan Rosburg, Keanau Post, Tony Criswell, J3, Torren Jones ... all those guys are very capable.

Music Monday

So Mizzou plays Toledo next ... Toledo's pretty close to Detroit ... so...

Mizzou Links, 9-2-13: Hints on offense, twists on the line, and depth in the post

Share this story

Share All sharing options for: Mizzou Links, 9-2-13: Hints on offense, twists on the line, and depth in the post

1. More Murray State

2. Future Tigers

3. Hey, how's basketball going?

4. Volleyball cleans up

5. Soccer does, too

6. And Cross Country

7. And Golf

8. Chelsea and that damned arm issue

Music Monday

Next Up In Links

Share this story

All sharing options for: Mizzou Links, 9-2-13: Hints on offense, twists on the line, and depth in the post