Rock M Nation - 2021 Missouri Tigers Football PreseasonA Blog for Ol' Mizzouhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50319/rmn-fav.png2021-08-26T09:00:00-05:00http://www.rockmnation.com/rss/stream/223767432021-08-26T09:00:00-05:002021-08-26T09:00:00-05:00Mizzou needs someone to make the return game exciting again
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<figcaption>Twitter: @MizzouFootball</figcaption>
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<p>There’s a proud line of exciting return specialists in Mizzou’s recent history, and the Tigers have a few players who could be next.</p> <p id="bckfYb">Eli Drinkwitz knows the dangers of fan apathy well... or at least he appears to.</p>
<p id="s81eAg">In his brief time as Mizzou’s head football coach, Drinkwitz has reinstated a buzzy brand of marketing that permeates everything about his program. Off the field, Mizzou is engaged in Twitter follow Fridays, publishing behind-the-scenes riddles and rock-paper-scissors battles and even the <a href="https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/mizzou-football/eli-drinkwitz-ennis-rakestraw-missouri-tigers-national-signing-day-2020/">occasional viral coach celebration</a>. On the field (or at least adjacent to it), Mizzou has quickly become a team to watch, winning high-stakes recruiting battles, rivalry games and many, many press conferences. </p>
<p id="GC9h9l">Excitement has defined almost everything Drinkwitz has done as the head coach of the Mizzou Tigers... almost.</p>
<p id="Yt7vdj">During the 2020 season, even as Eli Drinkwitz prodded his team to an unlikely 5-5 campaign and third-place finish in the SEC East, Mizzou’s return game was nearly the antithesis of the buzzy, energetic style with which Drinkwitz has branded the program. During the 10-game season, the Tigers ranked 102nd and 118th in average punt and kickoff return yards, respectively, out of 127 teams. No player could consistently hold the return man job, or even the ball for that matter. At some point, it felt as if the coaching staff punted on returns altogether, opting to keep the ball in a bad spot (Mizzou ranked 109th in <a href="https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa/fei/overallst/2020">Offensive Field Position</a>) then have it bounce around in their own territory. </p>
<p id="8I9IEQ">In the coming offseason, though, Drinkwitz and his staff appeared to have a plan. Upgrading both the return game’s potential — and the wide receiver room in the process — Drink flipped blue-chip receiver Dominic Lovett away from Arizona State and snagged another recent blue chipper out of the transfer portal in Mookie Cooper. In the space of a few months, Mizzou went from desperation to what appears to be a healthy competition.</p>
<p id="QznAuy">Neither Cooper or Lovett will likely fit the mold of Jeremy Maclin’s other-worldly return prowess; after all, how many wiry six footers do you know that can run a 4.3 forty-yard dash? But with both players coming in as quick, slippery, strong runners, it’s easy to see how the two of them could compete to become the next person giving opposing teams <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90MoyuqTnlA">the old Marcus Murphy special</a>. </p>
<p id="yDR3Th">Even if they’re not hanging multiple returns a game on their opponents, it’s not hard to envision the myriad of ways a functioning, or even dangerous, return game could be a boon to this year’s team. The one knock on Connor Bazelak’s sterling freshman campaign was his hesitance to pump the long ball. Is that as much of a concern moving forward when Dominic Lovett turns a seemingly ho-hum punt into a 20 to 30 yard return? Or say the offense is stalling and in need of a boost. It’s easier to put the Thiccer in range when Mookie Cooper is burning into enemy territory before the drive even starts. And think of the headache a good return game causes, forcing opposing coaches to make difficult decisions on fourth downs. Do you boot a punt out of the end zone, go for a risky conversion or punt it to a guy who can hang seven on you in the blink of an eye? </p>
<p id="1m8ZD3">Besides, football fans, be honest with yourselves: how many more things are more exciting in football than a kickoff or punt return that goes, as one of our patron saints would say, “to the house!” Some of the most exciting memories of football in Columbia and beyond come from exciting returns. Who can forget the aforementioned Jeremy Maclin torching the Fighting Illini in his debut, or Murphy turning Florida into a fine pair of gator-skin boots on their homecoming night? Who among us couldn’t appreciate the genius of Devin Hester or the magic of Dante Hall? There may be no scientific way to quantify momentum, but a return touchdown gets pretty damn close — nothing turns morale quicker.</p>
<p id="vi7zBl">While it takes more than simply a great return man to make a special season, last year’s dearth of options highlighted the simple truth that Eli Drinkwitz has been hitting home since his arrival — Mizzou needed to get better from a talent perspective, especially in the options available on special teams. Think of the <em>great</em> Mizzou teams of the past 25 years — 2007 had the All-American in Maclin, and the back-to-back SEC East Champions in 2013 and 2014 had Murphy, whose <a href="https://mutigers.com/sports/football/roster/marcus-murphy/2892">official school biography runneth over with Special Teams accolades</a>. Is an ace return man essential to a winning team? Not exactly, but it sure doesn’t hurt your cause, or your case, for greatness.</p>
<p id="OsnLi6">So as camp comes to a close and the season sidles up to our doorstep, let’s anticipate the coming moments where the ball is booted off of an opposing foot. Think of how much better those moments will feel when someone exciting is waiting to catch that ball on the other end. Whether it’s Mookie Cooper, Dominic Lovett or one of the many exciting talents on this year’s team, someone needs to make Mizzou’s return game exciting again. The success of the team — and of Eli Drinkwitz’s brand campaign! — is counting on it.</p>
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https://www.rockmnation.com/2021/8/26/22641826/mizzou-football-needs-someone-to-make-the-return-game-exciting-againJosh Matejka2021-08-23T09:00:00-05:002021-08-23T09:00:00-05:00Martez Manuel leads a secondary with loads of potential... and question marks
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Georgia at Missouri" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yGc_PidHU49xHMU0O3qMZOcrxUg=/0x0:4958x3305/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69763407/usa_today_15371499.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>There’s some exciting new (and rising) talent in the secondary, but is the necessary experience there as well?</p> <p id="82gY6u"><em>Believe it or not, game week is nearly here for Mizzou Football. To prepare you for the coming season, we’ll be previewing each position group with a roundtable Q&A every Monday.</em></p>
<h2 id="xISefw">Missouri lost a lot of talent in the secondary from last year, but made big splashes in the transfer market, specifically pulling CBs Akayleb Evans and Allie Green IV out of Tulsa. Has the coaching staff done enough to upgrade/maintain the talent level in the secondary?</h2>
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Tulsa at Navy" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/p-5omABz34gaasbpnTUpC-0fIKY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22798947/usa_today_15272943.jpg">
<cite>Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="qoDUCh"><strong>Aaron Dryden, Staff Football Analyst: </strong>I think when you evaluate the net result to what has come in, versus what has come out, you can argue Missouri’s secondary is going to be more talented than it was last season. They lose two NFL caliber safeties, but they also add in two guys who are probably NFL cornerbacks as well. They added in a few talented freshman like Daylan Carnell and Davion Sistrunk, and retain Ennis Rakestraw and Martez Manuel. There’s a lot to like in this group, and the benefit of having some guys forced into playing time last year could provide dividends in that Missouri will have plenty of options. </p>
<p id="gsI9uj"><strong>Josh Matejka, Deputy Site Manager: </strong>If you look at the balance of the secondary, the overall unit has likely maintained quality rather than gained overall. Evans and Green automatically upgrade the corner group, especially with guys like Ennis Rakestraw available as viable options. But the safeties, which lost both Tyree Gillespie and Joshuah Bledsoe, will have to display some big improvements to cover lost production. Martez Manuel (see next question) should thrive in a bigger role, but the Tigers need at least two other strong options for the safety group not to text at least a minor step back in 2021.</p>
<p id="8xrC9h"><strong>Parker Gillam, Football Beat Writer: </strong>From an experience standpoint, I see very little drop off. Tulsa was one of the better defensive units in the nation last season, and Evans and Green went up against guys like Tylan Wallace, Shane Beuchele, and Dillon Gabriel and held their own last season (not to mention also took on Mike Leach’s air raid in the bowl game). In terms of talent, it remains to be seen if these two can consistently take on SEC wide receivers on a week-to-week basis, but I have little concern knowing how successful this tandem was last season.</p>
<h2 id="SWuowZ">While Nick Bolton was the unquestioned leader of the defense last year, Martez Manuel stood out as a player who could step into a leadership role once Bolton left. With his status as captain now confirmed, how do you see Manuel leading this year’s defense?</h2>
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Georgia at Missouri" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3c5VXvSfhuZKNqwnI_M-WVLhZVg=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22168099/usa_today_15305335.jpg">
<cite>Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="EdOdm9"><strong>Aaron Dryden: </strong>Manuel was certainly a leader for the defense last year, and I expect him to be the same this year. He is a vocal guy, yet at the same time, lets his play do a lot of his talking. </p>
<p id="AhmVt8">Last year’s defense had a few different guys who were leaders at various points. Bolton, Bledsoe and Gillespie all showed that they can be leaders. With all three gone, it can’t just be Martez Manuel as the sole voice. There will need to be someone else to step up and accompany him in a leadership role. There will be options. Blaze Alldredge, maybe Kobie Whiteside. Regardless, the defense will need more than just one guy to be that vocal leader. </p>
<p id="Z5cqPd"><strong>Josh Matejka: </strong>Manuel embodies everything Eli Drinkwitz seems to want his defense to be — aggressive, vocal, hard-nosed, and (in a more minor way) local. Manuel brings the same edge that Bolton brought, but he brings it from the back, which ought to give the entire secondary more of a personality as they follow their position group leader. </p>
<p id="g3E7FM">My only worry is that Manuel (a junior this season) may be held to a higher standard than he may be ready to meet. Nick Bolton (a senior last season) was a borderline first-round NFL pick; outside of defensive lineman, how many defensive players come out of Mizzou with that level of prestige? I have no doubts Manuel can be just as effective of a leader as his former teammate, but I hope fans will bear with any growing Manuel still has to do on the field. If he takes a similar step to the one he took last season, perhaps my worries will be unnecessary.</p>
<p id="lUFsVr"><strong>Parker Gillam: </strong>From everything we have been hearing, Manuel is the man on this defense. Every player on the team has a massive amount of respect for the work and dedication he puts in, and the coaching staff trusts him. A lot rides on this season for Manuel, as his NFL hopes can either be solidified or dashed based on his performance as one of the captains of this team. He brings plenty of experience and versatility to the table, but playing without a guy like Bolton will be a stark change, at least at first.</p>
<h2 id="oQjMMy">Mizzou’s youth was tested early and often in 2020, and they won’t get any breaks coming into 2021. Which underclassmen will be key contributors for the Tigers this season?</h2>
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Kentucky at Missouri" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8wc7S5QHUQmIvxq0jZmsvlKvBlc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22067293/usa_today_15109627.jpg">
<cite>Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="zGSOxY"><strong>Aaron Dryden: </strong>Rakestraw will be in the mix at one of the corner spots, but if I’m thinking someone somewhat under the radar, it’d be JC Carlies. He recieved plenty of snaps last season next to Rakestraw, and held up okay at times. They seem to like what he can bring to the table as a bigger corner. It also wouldn’t surprise me to see someone like Ish Burdine, or Daylan Carnell to sneak into the two deep either. </p>
<p id="bP4B1E"><strong>Josh Matejka: </strong>The amount of youth in the secondary leaves an unavoidable truth staring Missouri in the face — they’ll need at least one underclassmen corner and safety to play a major role in 2021. The obvious pick at corner is Ennis Rakestraw, and for good reason. As we thought might happen, Rakestraw took some serious lumps in his freshman season, but he also flashed some of his vast potential. He’ll be counted on heavily to play starting snaps, even if he’s not always the first guy up ahead of Evans and Green.</p>
<p id="NNd3aX">At safety, there aren’t many options to choose from. Stacy Brown will have the inside track to starting time as a junior, and Jalani Williams will have to break out or be relegated to a bench role at some point. Really the only true underclass option on the roster would be Tyler Hibbler, an exciting, underrated pull in the vaunted 2021 class. A healthy amount of Hibbler starts means the safety position is probably struggling to stay afloat, but none of the guys ahead of him have done much to secure the spot in the past few years. Until someone grabs ahold of the other starting spot and make it theirs, Hibbler should have as much of a shot as anyone to take it.</p>
<p id="sN9VVT"><strong>Parker Gillam: </strong>Jalani Williams is the guy I look at. Now a redshirt sophomore, people are looking for him to live up to his 4-star billing, and the secondary needs him to step into a larger role. As either a starter or rotation player, he needs to be able to provide quality snaps for this secondary, otherwise the depth of the unit will really be a point of concern.</p>
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https://www.rockmnation.com/2021/8/23/22636805/martez-manuel-leads-mizzou-football-secondary-loads-of-potential-cornerbacks-safetiesJosh MatejkaParker GillamAaron Dryden2021-08-17T11:00:00-05:002021-08-17T11:00:00-05:00AP Preseason Top 25: No love from Mizzou yet
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Vanderbilt at Missouri" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YvfJNYl_SVjxbPOrkAuB7MZaTR4=/265x0:3559x2196/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69736908/usa_today_15243925.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Tigers didn’t receive any votes in the preseason AP Top 25, but here’s a look at the ranked teams they’ll face</p> <p id="JtmQdM">The <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">preseason AP Top 25 was released on Monday</a>, and unsurprisingly – Alabama will start the season ranked as the No. 1 team in the country. The Crimson Tide are one of five SEC teams ranked in the preseason Top 25, which doesn’t include the <a href="https://www.rockmnation.com">Missouri Tigers</a>. <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fsports%2Fncaaf%2Fpolls%2Fcoaches-poll%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rockmnation.com%2F2021%2F8%2F17%2F22628363%2Fmissouri-tigers-football-ap-preseason-top-25-poll-college-football-sec" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Despite receiving eight votes in the preseason coaches poll</a>, Mizzou didn’t gather any receiving votes for the AP.</p>
<p id="rQgqB1"><em><strong>Here is the full preseason AP Top 25:</strong></em></p>
<ol>
<li id="jo20RY">Alabama</li>
<li id="IBwxde">Oklahoma</li>
<li id="wvNNd9">Clemson</li>
<li id="2mWFy5"><a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com">Ohio State</a></li>
<li id="YDv93t">Georgia</li>
<li id="OqeF5C"><a href="https://www.goodbullhunting.com">Texas A&M</a></li>
<li id="DzqUfY"><a href="https://www.widerightnattylite.com">Iowa State</a></li>
<li id="oE8J1o">Cincinnati</li>
<li id="88p3Hi"><a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame</a></li>
<li id="Zzy0Uy">North Carolina</li>
<li id="vn6RCq">Oregon</li>
<li id="jzjO0q">Wisconsin</li>
<li id="hxycZP">Florida</li>
<li id="rKzXT3">Miami (Fla).</li>
<li id="lrjzbq">USC</li>
<li id="gFRlRt"><a href="https://www.andthevalleyshook.com">LSU</a></li>
<li id="voavIw">Indiana</li>
<li id="y6ZNjC">Iowa</li>
<li id="SjM87x">Penn State</li>
<li id="vez0sN">Washington</li>
<li id="jm44Cc">Texas</li>
<li id="azxxLm">Coastal Carolina</li>
<li id="WoKEl3">Louisiana</li>
<li id="9DYyMr">Utah</li>
<li id="xDWCHN"><a href="https://www.houseofsparky.com">Arizona State</a></li>
</ol>
<p id="5hb2hf"><em>Others receiving votes: </em><a href="https://www.cowboysrideforfree.com"><em>Oklahoma State</em></a><em> (107), </em><a href="https://www.redcuprebellion.com"><em>Ole Miss</em></a><em> (106), </em><a href="https://www.frogsowar.com"><em>TCU</em></a><em> (40), Liberty (36), Auburn (32), </em><a href="https://www.backingthepack.com/"><em>NC State</em></a><em> (14), Michigan (12), Northwestern (8), Nevada (7), </em><a href="https://www.obnug.com"><em>Boise State</em></a><em> (7), Ball State (6), Houston (5), Boston College (5), UCF (5), West Virginia (3), </em><a href="https://www.bruinsnation.com"><em>UCLA</em></a><em> (2), UAB (2), Army (2) </em></p>
<p id="SUv1V4">According to this poll, Missouri will play three teams on their schedule ranked in the Top 25: October 16<sup>th</sup> vs No. 6 Texas A&M, November 6<sup>th</sup> at No. 5 Georgia, and November 20<sup>th</sup> vs No. 13 Florida. In what isn’t exactly an overly daunting start to their schedule, Missouri will probably need to start the season 4-0 with the notable wins over Kentucky and Boston College (who received five votes) to start being in the consideration. </p>
<p id="MVvfCi"><strong>Top 25 match ups for Week 1:</strong></p>
<p id="R82kXS">No. 19 Penn State at No. 12 Wisconsin (11:00 a.m. CT, FOX)</p>
<p id="368aJM">No. 17 Indiana at No. 19 Iowa (2:30 p.m. CT, BTN)</p>
<p id="xEgAVM">No. 1 Alabama vs No. 14 Miami (FL) (2:30 p.m. CT, ABC in Atlanta)</p>
<p id="axCQRD">No. 23 Louisiana vs No. 21 Texas (3:30 p.m. CT, FOX)</p>
<p id="5c7dbs">No. 5 Georgia vs No. 3 Clemson (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC in Charlotte) </p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2021/8/17/22628363/missouri-tigers-football-ap-preseason-top-25-poll-college-football-secSammy Stava2021-08-16T09:00:00-05:002021-08-16T09:00:00-05:00Mizzou has some exciting talent at linebacker, but will they be able to fill Nick Bolton’s shoes?
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Rice at Army" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AwZ8Np8k02bpaHQO6PJxz0VyFio=/314x0:4253x2626/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69731075/usa_today_13283579.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Mizzou will have big shoes to fill in Nick Bolton’s absence. Who will step up into the role he left behind?</p> <p id="kPUAOb"><em>Believe it or not, fall camp is finally here for Mizzou Football. To prepare you for the coming season, we’ll be previewing each position group with a roundtable Q&A every Monday.</em></p>
<h2 id="WSlqhQ">Mizzou can try hard, but there will be no replacing Nick Bolton in 2021. Out of all the great things Bolton brought, what will be the hardest for the Tigers to replace?</h2>
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<img alt="Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5kCfNbxW-OtfU_Oef-d14G4Xq7o=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22776898/1234327789.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="Krtzcm"><strong>Nate Edwards, Football Editor: </strong>Would it be weird if I cited Bolton’s pass defense skills? Yes, he was an excellent student of the game and a hard-hitting havoc machine, but he also broke up 12 passes and snagged 2 interceptions in his two years as a starter. The only other returning linebacker from last year’s roster with any pass defense stats is Devin Nicholson, with 1 pass broken up and 1 interception (in the South Carolina game where Luke Doty essentially threw it right to him). Blaze Alldredge had 4 passes broken up and 1 interception in his three years at Rice so hopefully he can provide that quiet, second-element that Bolton brought to the defense to help bolster the secondary.</p>
<p id="eTtjXa"><strong>Josh Matejka, Deputy Manager: </strong>Nate makes an important point about Bolton’s pass defending — it was one of the quietly great parts of his game! And while it would be great for another LB to provide that, I have to think one of the more important parts of Bolton’s presence was the way he set the tone of a game. </p>
<p id="nVEAcn">Think back to the Arkansas game last season when Bolton got run out for a terrible targeting call... and yet showed up and made his physicality count on the sidelines. He made sure his loss didn’t change the overall tone of the game. He did that throughout his career both through his play on the field and his leadership off of it. It may seem trite to say that a necessary replacement will both a star and a leader... but those things can’t be mutually assumed.</p>
<p id="7iR8TU"><strong>Kortay Vincent, Football Beat Writer: </strong>Leadership is one of those things you can’t quantify. Of course, Bolton had all the stats you’d want from your star linebacker, but he was also the unquestioned leader of last year’s team. Now, someone needs to step up and fill that void in Bolton’s absence. </p>
<h2 id="6W4RtE">Eli Drinkwitz helped the linebacker room immensely by bringing in coveted Rice transfer Blaze Alldredge. Where does Alldredge slot in, and what can we reasonably expect from him in 2021?</h2>
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 28 Louisiana Tech at Rice" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7WBx9tLAPWPw9TPBfLHjkuLl8EY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22776904/1171852125.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="NA6SV9"><strong>Nate Edwards: </strong>I’ve previously said it many times, and I’ll say it again: you don’t bring in graduate transfers to just have them sit on the bench. Alldredge was an All-Conference USA performer at Rice and will be expected to contribute, and start, immediately. His best year with the Owls saw him generate a ton of havoc, racking up 21.5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks along with 24 run stuffs; that’s better than any season Nick Bolton ever had and will be the hopeful performance he can replicate. At a bare minimum he needs to be an effective, stop-gap, replacement-level linebacker to absorb snaps while the younger guys develop around him.</p>
<p id="IbDtPz"><strong>Josh Matejka: </strong>Well, he’s going to be a starter no matter which way you slice it... and if he’s not, you can officially start worrying about (a) his health or (b) the health of the defense. Alldredge’s numbers at Rice speak for themselves, and it seems like the coaches hope he can recreate some of Bolton’s disruptive tendencies in the opposing backfields. I don’t know that I’d necessarily expect early NFL pick levels of production from Alldredge, but he’s certainly performed well against higher-rated opponents in the past. It’s probably fair to expect him to be an above-average SEC linebacker who mostly excels at eating snaps and providing valuable leadership experience to a young defense.</p>
<p id="EWoxsG"><strong>Kortay Vincent: </strong>Alldredge was the man on the Rice defense for the last two years. He’s been first-team Conference USA the last two years and was a team leader in tackles, TFL, and sacks. He won’t replace the departure of Bolton, but he will bring mountains of experience and good talent. I expect that he will add another element to the Tiger pass rush that was subpar at times last year. In pass coverage, he won’t have as much of an impact, but he should live in the opponent’s backfield.</p>
<h2 id="r3eDDO">The depth at linebacker is both thin and young, especially after the recent departure of Cam Wilkins to the transfer portal. Which players need to step up for Mizzou to have a strong set of LBs in 2021?</h2>
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Georgia at Missouri" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TRlogNuw-wgRc5Ha-N_98HFUZh0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22319823/usa_today_15371632.jpg">
<cite>Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="Tn7KZH"><strong>Nate Edwards: </strong>Devin Nicholson is the obvious choice because he’ll be one of the starting linebackers (barring an injury or a total meltdown in quality). It would be nice for Chad Bailey to finally realize his 4-star potential, especially since he and Devin are the “most experienced” guys in the room as sophomores. My preference, however, would be to see the younger guys usurp the vets and start logging playing time now in preparation for the “surge” in age/talent/experience that we’re anticipating in 2023 that should/could lead to a big, breakthrough season. Whether that’s young Rock Bridge-product Will Norris or Dameon Wilson - who’s already earning early rave reviews - I always prefer younger talent seeing the field over older guys who’ve been locked into the special teams unit.</p>
<p id="j9ngmX"><strong>Josh Matejka: </strong>I’m still hopeful Chad Bailey can be the guy we hoped he was years ago, but everyone is watching him these days. Instead, I’m hoping at least one or two of the young guys can step up and provide Steve Wilks with a dependable two-deep... or at least one that won’t get burned consistently. I like Dameon Wilson’s potential as a tackling machine and run defender a la an early version of Kentrell Brothers. If he (or anyone! Will Rogers, Zach Lovett, I’m not picky!) can stand alongside Bailey or Jamie Pettway as a dependable back up, it’ll be enough.</p>
<p id="uPYVti"><strong>Kortay Vincent: </strong>One player I think will step up this year is Chad Bailey. He was Bolton’s roommate last year, and despite not having all the on-field experience, he seems eager to step into a contributing role. In a spring practice press conference, Bailey said, “I want all the defensive players to know they can trust in me like they trusted Nick Bolton last year,” and quickly followed it up with a solid performance in the spring game. Keep a lookout for the former 4-star this year as the Tigers look to find depth at the linebacker spot.</p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2021/8/16/22620681/mizzou-has-some-exciting-talent-at-linebacker-but-will-they-be-able-to-fill-nick-boltons-shoesJosh MatejkaNate EdwardsKortay Vincent2021-08-11T09:00:00-05:002021-08-11T09:00:00-05:00Veteran pass rushers lead the way for a defensive line set on improvement
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<img alt="SEMO v Missouri" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3ow5zJtcSFF5EUGM_r5FKIMdEUg=/0x0:4920x3280/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69709753/1175741036.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Following a trying season, the depth and experience on the defensive line is the best it has been in a while for Mizzou</p> <p id="WR4u4G">No position group was affected by COVID-19 and injury as much as the defensive line for Missouri in 2020. It was a revolving door of starters throughout last season, meaning that plenty of guys have experience up front now.</p>
<p id="6htVEz">Still, improvement is needed. The Tigers have ranked among the worst in the SEC with 38 total sacks in the past two seasons. Compare that to how Georgia led the SEC with 33 last season (9 games), and Florida topped the conference with 46 in 2019. To contend with the elite in the SEC East, the Tigers have to start getting more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.</p>
<p id="URSXT5">An influx of new talent will certainly push the veterans. With three highly-touted incoming freshmen set to push for playing time, it is anybody’s guess as to who takes the field first on September 4th against Central Michigan.</p>
<p id="3p7F6G">There is one known commodity. After being dismissed from the team in 2019, Trajan Jeffcoat was reinstated by Eli Drinkwitz shortly after he was hired. It proved to be a great move by the new man in charge.</p>
<p id="DvgTkV">Jeffcoat racked up six sacks last season, the most of any Missouri defensive end since Charles Harris in 2016. The redshirt junior was named to the Bednarik Award Watch List (best defensive player) this offseason following that breakout 2020 campaign. </p>
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Georgia at Missouri" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RxHf5tAXjzCz9wSDan_ctwogj2E=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22263752/usa_today_15371707.jpg">
<cite>Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="w893zh">At 6’4”, 276 lbs., Jeffcoat has a unique mix of length, size, and speed that allowed him to terrorize opposing offenses. He’s able to power past an offensive tackle but also track down a scrambling quarterback outside the pocket, and that versatility makes him very difficult to scheme for.</p>
<p id="SF02A1">Many expect him to be the next great Mizzou pass rusher, and plenty of NFL scouts will have their eyes on him this season. </p>
<p id="WY9xih">Outside of Jeffcoat, the coaching staff is looking for another returning edge rusher to step up and take some pressure off of their star. Junior Isaiah McGuire is the most popular pick.</p>
<p id="ejaYW7">McGuire is coming off of a solid 2020 campaign in which he recorded three sacks, and the Tulsa product fits a mold that Eli Drinkwitz seems to like with his pass rushers. Jeffcoat’s size was previously mentioned, all three of the freshmen edge rushers come in at 6’2” or above, and McGuire stands at 6’4”. Drinkwitz clearly wants length on the edge, and McGuire certainly has it.</p>
<p id="S4XKnB">Chris Turner, Darius Robinson, Jatorian Hansford, and Cannon York all started games at some point last season, in large part due to the frequent absence of key players. None of them necessarily stood out, but they are all upperclassmen that have plenty of experience in the SEC. </p>
<p id="bY0Yai">The incoming Travion Ford and Kyran Montgomery likely have more upside, but they will need time to adjust to this level of play and physicality in the trenches. That means that outside of Jeffcoat, Missouri needs players to step up at defensive end. </p>
<p id="NlB3A6">The good news: working opposite Jeffcoat means that most of the attention goes towards him. There will be plenty of one-on-one opportunities for McGuire, Turner and all of the returning defensive ends, it will just be up to them to take advantage of them.</p>
<p id="fpd0e8">A by-committee approach (similar to what took place in 2020) may be the solution until one or two players separate themselves with consistent production. Whether that be one of the veterans or freshmen remains to be seen. </p>
<p id="7rRLiV">Jeffcoat receives most of the hype, and rightfully so, but he will only see more double teams and chip blocks this season. One of the major keys for this defense to take the next step in 2021 will be finding another pass-rushing threat to work alongside him and take some of the pressure off. </p>
<p id="Rg2a1e">On top of that, another part of the job for the returning defensive ends this season will be to educate the incoming freshmen. The trio of Ford, Montgomery, and Daniel Robledo have tremendous potential and can make an impact right away, but they are still very raw. It is a tall order to start as a freshman at any spot, but the war in the trenches in the SEC is a stark change from anything someone would experience in high school. Guiding these young guys both on and off the field is a role every one of the upperclassmen needs to take seriously, because their legacies can live on through the development of these freshmen.</p>
<p id="w7ftDt">It was Michael Sam and Kony Ealy in 2013, and then Shane Ray and Markus Golden in 2014. If Missouri has aspirations to win the SEC East again, they will need to fill in the blank next to Trajon Jeffcoat and bring back the intimidating presence that the Missouri defensive line used to have.</p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2021/8/11/22618357/veteran-pass-rushers-lead-the-way-for-a-defensive-line-set-on-improvementParker Gillam2021-08-09T09:00:00-05:002021-08-09T09:00:00-05:00Could Trajan Jeffcoat and a talented freshman class revive #DLineZou?
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Georgia at Missouri" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bkTiurG7uEYgaExJALLsQB8Ukrw=/0x0:2616x1744/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69698869/usa_today_15371625.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Missouri boasts an All SEC pass rusher, a lot of experience and some high-end freshmen. Could those three ingredients spell the return of #DLineZou’s glory days?</p> <p id="2RBoLJ"><em>Believe it or not, fall camp is finally here for Mizzou Football. To prepare you for the coming season, we’ll be previewing each position group with a roundtable Q&A every Monday.</em></p>
<h2 id="eZkn5J">In his first year, Eli Drinkwitz made a point of emphasizing getting to the quarterback... and no one did that better than Trajan Jeffcoat, who made a surprise return to the roster before turning in an All-SEC season. Is Jeffcoat for real, or should we temper our expectations moving forward?</h2>
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Georgia at Missouri" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RxHf5tAXjzCz9wSDan_ctwogj2E=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22263752/usa_today_15371707.jpg">
<cite>Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="Kovswn"><strong>Brandon Kiley, Lead Football Writer: </strong>Trajan is legit. You don’t become a first-team All-SEC player by accident, especially as an edge rusher. </p>
<p id="6k9a2V">Jeffcoat finished with at least one sack in six of his eight games last season. That’s the kind of consistency that puts you on an NFL trajectory, especially when it’s combined with Jeffcoat’s size (6-foot-4, 276 pounds) and his athleticism. </p>
<p id="HLen9p">I’m fascinated to see what comes next for Jeffcoat. His career arc is unlike anything we’ve seen by a recent Mizzou defensive lineman. He showed flashes in limited playing time as a true freshman in 2018, vanished from the team for a full season, and then showed up at camp in 2020 and immediately became the most productive defensive lineman on the team. That... doesn’t happen.</p>
<p id="5ZHV1S">But progress isn’t linear. Jeffcoat might be a better player in 2021 with worse numbers. A seven or eight sack season in 12 games this year should be deemed a success, in my opinion.</p>
<p id="Hl2rzH"><strong>Aaron Dryden, Staff Football Analyst: </strong>He is for real. Trajan has earned a lot of respect from his season last year. He earned those SEC first team honors, and he also earned the attention of opposing defensive coordinators. Especially in the latter part of 2020, there were a lot of double teams and chip blocks from the running back on Jeffcoat. </p>
<p id="ej7NAZ">That is my only real question about Trajan heading into 2021— how will he handle the extra attention he’s going to receive? Can he be okay with executing his job in the scheme while not always getting the stats he was last year? Can he be okay letting his teammates eat, because he is occupying attention? </p>
<p id="6WhYkf">I think he can, but being disciplined and making the right play even when you’re not the one making it is sometimes difficult when you have an expectation of being *the* guy. </p>
<p id="AycXQq"><strong>Parker Gillam, Football Beat Writer: </strong>He’s for real, though it may not show up in the box score as much this season. Jeffcoat has a great skillset to pair with his athletic ability, and he took a lot of teams by surprise last season with his play coming off of injury. Teams are now going to be preparing for his abilities in their scouting reports and schemes, so expect a lot more double teams to come his way. </p>
<p id="1xMb8P">Therefore, I doubt he improves his numbers too drastically from last season, but his impact will still be greater. Other guys like Kobie Whiteside and even the LB corps will benefit greatly from the attention Jeffcoat will receive, freeing them up for more one-on-one opportunities in passing situations. The great Mizzou defensive lines thrived when they had multiple threats on the field at the same time, forcing offensive lines into a kind of “pick your poison” situation. All in all, the pass rush will improve thanks to Jeffcoat, just maybe not due to him taking down the quarterback every time.</p>
<h2 id="arYUlY">The line suffered from a lack of impact depth (and injuries) in 2020, but brings back a lot of experience. With Jeffcoat expected to make a lot of noise, which other upperclassman could help him anchor the attack in the trenches?</h2>
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<img alt="NCAA Football: SEC Media Days" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3NNzW7hRpZgbewIimoao1WQyqYM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22761887/usa_today_16437705.jpg">
<cite>Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="3rcr5D"><strong>Brandon Kiley: </strong>It’s a fascinating question. Let’s start with the options:</p>
<ul>
<li id="01ulOx">Defensive Tackle: Akial Byers, Darius Robinson, Kobie Whiteside, Ben Key</li>
<li id="owgpI3">Defensive End: Isaiah McGuire, Jatorian Hansford, Chris Turner</li>
</ul>
<p id="jXljyC">I think we’ve seen roughly what we can expect out of guys like Byers, Hansford and Turner. That’s not to speak ill of any of them — they’re all helpful players — but I don’t think we should expect a breakout campaign.</p>
<p id="qfpYWy">Robinson, Whiteside, Key and McGuire are a little different. All four have shown enough promise to give Mizzou fans some optimism that any of the four could be in for a solid season.</p>
<p id="VPUMVU">Whiteside and Robinson are the two that I have the most faith in to make good on that promise. Robinson <em>looks </em>like a man among boys. I feel like he’s eventually going to look like Thanos in a Mizzou football uniform. I’m consistently shocked to learn he finished last season with just one sack and one tackle for loss. His numbers don’t reflect the disruption he caused in opposing teams’ backfields at times in 2020.</p>
<p id="2peY7E">Whiteside might be the most intriguing case of the group. He was never healthy last season, but he’s already shown All-SEC potential when he was at his best in 2019. The only question for Whiteside is whether or not he can get back to that 2019 form without Jordan Elliott lined up next to him.</p>
<p id="Wi93Jp"><strong>Aaron Dryden:</strong> I was really impressed with Darius Robinson last year. He started to pop towards the end of the year as he seemed to adjust to regular playing time in the SEC. He looked like a bully at times and showed a little bit of positional flexibility, too. </p>
<p id="dVjk6y">He moves really well for his size, and since he’s gotten on campus he’s invested in his body and added roughly 45 pounds to his frame.</p>
<p id="5dXlPV">This is probably an unfair comparison, but there are flashes of Terry Beckner, Jr. to his game. They both have an exceptionally quick first step and play really violently. </p>
<p id="433lon"><strong>Parker Gillam: </strong>This is a year in which Mizzou is aiming to restore the “D-line U” mantra back to the program. With Jeffcoat already being a proven commodity, it’ll come down to the guys around him to back up those lofty expectations. Due to injuries last season, plenty of players have experience along the line, making it a potentially deep and competitive position group.</p>
<p id="3IC8Qt">Whiteside is an easy answer for this question given he stays healthy, but whoever starts opposite Trajan Jeffcoat will be the key in my eyes. Someone has to step up to take the pressure off of Jeffcoat, and I expect that to be junior Isaiah McGuire. He had a promising sophomore campaign (4 TFLs, 3 sacks), and his 6’4”, 266 lb. frame is now built to handle the grueling SEC schedule. He does not have to play to Jeffcoat’s level necessarily, but if he can be a threat coming off the edge, it will prevent offensive lines from keying in on Jeffcoat too much.</p>
<h2 id="KZo9ZP">Perhaps no position group benefited more from Eli Drinkwitz’s recruiting prowess than defensive line, which saw a number of coveted recruits sign up with Missouri. Out of all the newcomers, who has the best chance at grabbing early playing time?</h2>
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<cite>Twitter: @KyranMontgomer2</cite>
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<p id="sOHI5j"><strong>Brandon Kiley:</strong> I think there are three that have a good chance of seeing the field early: Ky Montgomery at defensive end, and Mekhi Wingo and Realus George at defensive tackle. If I had to bet on two of those three being part of the main rotation, it would be Montgomery and George.</p>
<p id="w6PVZC">George is the former Miami fullback who transitioned to the defensive line last season at JUCO. He didn’t commit to sit on the bench. He’ll play. </p>
<p id="V8jaSC">Montgomery is a bet on college ready talent. The four-star defensive end out of Indianapolis is listed at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds. That’s big enough to see the field as a true freshman, even in the SEC.</p>
<p id="UHjcrN"><strong>Aaron Dryden: </strong>I don’t think there will be very many freshmen who log anything other than minutes at the end of games, let alone along a pretty experienced defensive line.</p>
<p id="zBDRrh">If I had to choose one player though, it’d probably be Mekhi Wingo. He’s a bit undersized, but he was a dominant player at the high school level who showed a lot of nice technique that could translate well to college football. Defensive tackle is going to be a very young group heading into 2022, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see a guy like Wingo be in to gain some experience.</p>
<p id="HnVw8h">I like Travion Ford as a prospect but Mizzou is four deep at DE. It would take a lot to dethrone the incumbents. Jeffcoat, Hansford, Turner, and McGuire all probably have better chances of immediate snaps in 2020. </p>
<p id="DWuF42"><strong>Parker Gillam: </strong>It’s very hard to say anything other than Travion Ford for this. He is perhaps the most college-ready prospect in Mizzou’s 2021 freshman class, and he should be a key cog in the defensive line as he develops.</p>
<p id="LJT3yk">To toss another name out there, I’ll go with Kyran Montgomery. I could see him used in speciality packages as a freshman, as the coaching staff could put his speed and length to good use. In 2019, Montgomery recorded 5 sacks but a whopping 22 tackles for loss, displaying his knack for living in the backfield whether it is a pass or run. If he plays with the same motor he did in high school, Montgomery should see the field early on and have the opportunity to make a name for himself.</p>
<p id="qzpRI2"></p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2021/8/9/22610110/could-trajan-jeffcoat-and-a-talented-freshman-class-revive-dlinezou-mizzou-football-defensive-lineAaron DrydenBrandon KileyParker GillamJosh Matejka2021-08-06T11:00:00-05:002021-08-06T11:00:00-05:00Mike Maietti is the NFL prospect you don’t know about
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Georgia at Missouri" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/44yDQLqhMTqMeEZbBNbalr47Kfg=/0x274:3510x2614/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69688952/usa_today_15371593.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Mike Maietti at this point is an underrated NFL prospect, but with another season of good football, his star could wind up rising. </p> <p id="aFQdyA">Michael Maietti was a heaven-sent acquisition when he arrived to campus last season. As a player who had started 33 games at <a href="https://www.onthebanks.com">Rutgers</a>, his experience was coveted by a Missouri team who, simply put, didn’t have a lot of known commodities. Missouri was a perfect fit for him since Rutgers was going through a coaching transition and had been scuttling at the bottom of the B1G since they had been acquired by the conference. From the moment he arrived on campus he elevated himself to the starting spot at center and was a force across the offensive line in 2020. That, on its own, would be impressive enough but realize this: Maietti didn’t commit to Missouri until late April after spring practice had already been cancelled.</p>
<p id="uMX2b9">When Drinkwitz began advocating for seniors to return for another year, Maietti was at the top of his list. He recognized the impact of what Jersey Mike did for the 2020 offensive line and was attempting to establish some continuity for the 2021 season. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Drinkwitz is publicly lobbying for graduate transfer center Mike Maietti to return for another year of eligibility in 2021.</p>— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/Peter_Baugh/status/1336377240553140228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2020</a>
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<p id="eriM4U">Oh, and he wasn’t the only one. The guy who relied on the competency of Maietti the most, Connor Bazelak, was also openly requesting for Maietti to run it back one more time: </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Connor Bazelak said he's been part of Drinkwitz's efforts to get Mike Maietti, a graduate transfer center from Rutgers, to come back for another season. "We're winning games. He didn't get to do that much at Rutgers. ... If he wants to win, then come back."</p>— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/Peter_Baugh/status/1336451685254897666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2020</a>
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<p id="aRY7as">The lobbying from coaches, teammates and fans alike clearly worked: </p>
<div id="tEomYn">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/kF2CyvGCXZ">pic.twitter.com/kF2CyvGCXZ</a></p>— Michael Maietti (@MikeMaietti78) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeMaietti78/status/1344020347515973633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2020</a>
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<p id="XXaIk3">Players, especially this year, have plenty of motivations for coming back to school for another year. In Maietti’s case, I think multiple reasons motivated him to return for 2021. </p>
<ul><li id="t1WRMI">Being the starter at Rutgers doesn’t give you a lot of chances to win games and the opportunity to be part of a winning program is attractive. For context, in 2020, Maietti played in five victories for Missouri; a<em><strong>t Rutgers - in three years of playing (‘17-’19) - he played in seven total victories. </strong></em>
</li></ul>
<p id="WMwueR">and also...</p>
<ul><li id="DH3JmF">Michael Maietti simply wants to improve his <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL draft</a> stock. </li></ul>
<h1 id="ttfE4V"></h1>
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Georgia at Missouri" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EsvmVPidC3k2ngcklNapFaIZNn8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22540919/usa_today_15305437.jpg">
<cite>Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="tN54SX">He’s not often discussed as an NFL prospect, but Maietti has a lot of the tools that teams in the NFL covet. </p>
<p id="TpZgkJ">He plays with good pad level, has excellent technique and impressive foot speed. He’ll never convince the world he’s a track star, but I was really impressed watching him move to the second level of the defense. He moves on from combo blocks pretty quickly and efficiently. There’s a level of nastiness that he plays with that is kind of fun to see. He <strong>WANTS </strong>to finish blocks. Aside from the actual on-field product he puts out, Maietti has been hailed as a leader going back to his time at Rutgers and, more impressively, has started 43 consecutive games heading into 2021. Your best ability is availability. </p>
<p id="QydpRD">That said, there is room for improvement. He is a bit light (291lbs), and will need to add muscle. Maietti is probably better suited for a zone blocking scheme due to some of those size concerns that exist. He also has a tendency to lean forward with his upper body.</p>
<p id="TpIKcF">All in all, Maietti has been a nice piece to add to the team over the past couple years, and is a really good college player. He has the potential to have an excellent super senior season, and with that could shoot up draft boards as a result. It’s simply going to be about adding little things to his game in addition to adding muscle mass. If he can do those two things, there’s no doubt he can be in the NFL for a long time. </p>
<p id="F8yH5A"><em><strong>Follow me on Twitter @</strong></em><a href="http://www.twitter.com/iAirDry"><em><strong>iAirDry</strong></em></a><em><strong>!</strong></em></p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2021/8/6/22612590/mike-maietti-is-the-nfl-prospect-you-dont-know-about-mizzou-football-rutgersAaron Dryden2021-08-06T09:00:00-05:002021-08-06T09:00:00-05:00Eli Drinkwitz’s offensive line will set up Connor Bazelak for success
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Vanderbilt at Missouri" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/w0gw6TPWv1WfVVyXTEXqzZ2bY1g=/0x0:4554x3036/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69688202/usa_today_15243904.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Drinkwitz’s offensive lines have finished with a top five sack rate each of the last five seasons.</p> <p id="vsRqSC">Being a quarterback in Eli Drinkwitz’s offense is demanding. Drinkwitz doesn’t shy away from saying publicly that his offense is “quarterback driven.” Connor Bazelak learned that in a trial by fire scenario throughout the 2020 season.</p>
<p id="pLJFyp">But Bazelak rarely felt as if he was under fire from his offensive line.</p>
<p id="juHyGX">Last year was the fifth straight season in which Drinkwitz coordinated an offense with one of the five lowest (best) sack rates in his respective conference. That’s a remarkable statistic. He’s achieved such a mark at three different schools, and with four different quarterbacks. </p>
<p id="DLmNBI">What goes into that? Well, a lot of things. Drinkwitz’s offense puts his quarterbacks in a position to succeed.</p>
<div id="EwgRim"><div data-anthem-component="table:10681010"></div></div>
<p id="pGe2Gr">That might sound obvious. But, for far too many coaches, it’s not.</p>
<p id="j7r71U">It starts pre-snap. Missouri used motion on 23 percent of its offensive plays last year, good for the third highest rate in the SEC, <a href="https://secstatcat.com/sec/team-stats">according to SECStatCat.com</a>. That immediately gives the defense something to read and can help to keep the pass rush a step behind.</p>
<p id="hJpHcf">Drinkwitz is no stranger to utilizing play-action to keep the defense honest. He’s good for one or two trick plays a game. He moves the pocket for his quarterback if the offensive line has a clear weakness. He kept the offense on track last year by utilizing one of the most productive running backs in the country in Larry Rountree III.</p>
<p id="jPz0WN">But, maybe most importantly, he gets the ball out of his quarterback’s hand quickly. I can’t quantify this, but I have to imagine Bazelak was at or near the top of the list of “time to throw” in the SEC last season. A lot of that was by design.</p>
<p id="RxxDpy">Bazelak’s freshman season was unexpected. He was inserted into the starting lineup in week two when it became clear Shawn Robsinon just wasn’t as effective against Tennessee. Drinkwitz did a great job of helping Bazelak and his offensive line manage the game with short, quick passes.</p>
<p id="WUg7AA">That’s something that we could see change this year as the offensive line talent and health continue to improve, and as Bazelak’s development takes the next step. There’s been plenty of discussion about the Tigers’ lack of explosive pass plays last season. It’s something that needs to improve. It will, by design.</p>
<p id="FgW4Y5">Drinkwitz’s offense is quarterback-driven. It’s also quarterback-conscious. He knows what his quarterback is and is not capable of doing. Last season was all about Bazelak gaining quality experience. This season is about building him into the best possible version of himself.</p>
<p id="Rxuc86">It remains to be seen what that looks like for Bazelak, but if Drinkwitz’s recent history is any indication then I don’t suspect we’ll see him on the ground very often.</p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2021/8/6/22605167/eli-drinkwitzs-offensive-line-will-set-up-connor-bazelak-for-successBrandon Kiley