College Football

[ozark trout fisher]

I think this Mizzou season is a real mystery. In a vacuum, they have a bunch of returning starters from a team that won 11 games and the schedule isn't too bad. But almost all of the important losses came from just two units (WR and DL), the latter of which was the teams biggest strength the last two seasons.

So it's going to be those two units that either limit Mizzou or allow them to defend their division title, in all likelihood. I could see it going two ways. The receiving corps has looked really good so far in camp, and guys like Nate Brown and DeSean Blair could end up breaking out and preventing much of a drop off. The defensive line is young, but really talented. Any unit with guys like Josh Augusta and Terry Beckner Jr. at least has a chance to be among the best in the SEC. The upside is there.

On the other hand, one thing Pinkel is NOT necessarily known for is having freshman and underclassmen in general come in right away and be dominant. So there's a real possibility that this could cause Mizzou to play their way out of the division race pretty quickly.

In all likelihood, the reality will be somewhere between the two extremes. There will be growing pains, and frustrating losses, but there is enough talent and experience on this roster in enough important areas (O-line, QB, secondary, RB, LB) that they look like one of the best in the east more or less by default. I'll say they win 8-9 games and finished tied for second with UT. I think the Bulldogs are just too good this year for Mizzou to win the division again, but I don't think they fall off a cliff, either.

[ozark trout fisher]

I think there is good chance MU does not redshirt Drew Lock and he starts the year as the back up QB.  If Mauk continues to be inconsistent Lock could see some substantial time.

I don't think Lock will be at MU for more than 3 years (including redshirt year if they decide to sit him) as he is that good.  He was the best QB in camp by far completing 75% of passes and played against the 1's yesterday.  He does take too many sack's though.

If Gary Pinkel wasn't so loyal to his starting QB's he would start day 1.  Lock's play has put Pinkel into an uncomfortable position....gonna be really interesting when they announce on Monday.

If Lock is the back up I have feeling Zanders or Prince will transfer.

Yep, no reason to redshirt Lock. I think he's gone after 3 years no matter what. I expect him to get quite a few reps against SEMO, and in any other game that gets out of hand. I'd love to see Pinkel put him in for at least one series per game, even in SEC play. It will be worth it.

As important as Mauk's play is this year for Mizzou, it's a lot more important to him. Right now, he's a perfectly average to slightly above average SEC starter. That's not a bad thing, and there are a number of teams in the conference that would love to have him...but it probably won't be enough to hold off Lock past this season.

I still think we are better off with Mauk in 2015. I'd love to let our young receivers get some experience before we hand off the offense to a freshman QB. Talented youth is great, but if there was ever a season we needed a veteran QB, it's this one.

[Al Agnew]

That last point is a good one.  Inexperienced receivers plus new freshman qb spells lots of growing pains.  Several of the receivers apparently worked out a lot with Mauk over the summer, and may be on the same page with him a lot more so than they would with Lock.  

Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I think the receivers will be average starting out, and good by mid-season.  The truth is, last year's receivers weren't all that great, and the receiver corps had some key injuries.  This year's bunch as the chance to be considerably better.

The d-line worries me the most.  I would feel good about them if Brantley hadn't gotten hurt, but now they are one or two injuries away from being a disaster.  Still, Pinkel has shown he can develop defensive linemen, and if they can stay away from injuries they should be okay.

Mauk knows by now what he needs to do to make himself an elite qb.  And he has to feel Lock coming up behind him.  He's going to have to show he can be very good this year if he wants to keep the job for his senior year.  I think he's enough of a competitor that he becomes a much better qb this year.

[ozark trout fisher]

I agree with you about the WR corps. Yes, we lost our top three guys from last year. But because they were among the most "visible" players on a good team, I feel like folks might be going just  a little over-board when they act like those guys were irreplaceable.

Even the cream of the 2014 receiving crop (Sasser and Hunt, and Darius White, some of the time) were buried pretty far down the depth chart in 2013. Bud Sasser was the classic "circumstantial" star. A few months before the season, he was looking like the best of several secondary options, another solid veteran to take some pressure off the undisputed star (DGB.) With his dismissal, and the periodic disappearing act of White and Hunt, he suddenly became THE guy. He was good enough to take that label and run with it, and it got him an All-SEC spot.  But it's worth mentioning that the same guy, with presumably about the same skillset was buried pretty deep on the depth chart, and the only thing casual fans knew about him was that epic double pass against UGA. Jimmy Hunt and especially Darius White were basically unknowns. It's easy to forget that the worries we are having right now are basically identical to those we had a year ago.

 

[stlfisher]

Drew Lock will not redshirt.  He is listed as #2 QB behind Mauk.  This will certainly put some pressure on Maty.  I would think Lock will see a few series a game this year.

7 other true freshman will also see time on the field including to no one's surprise, Terry Beckner JR. 

 

 

 

[joeD]

All good points. However, this is where I disagree and say ya'll are missing something. The key to Mizzou's season is Hansbrough running the ball and staying healthy. Without him being effective, it doesn't matter who our receivers are. Or our defense. Because they will be on the field A LOT if Hansbrough and the O line struggle. 

Still, should be fun. Unlike the Rams.

[ozark trout fisher]

Yep, Hansbrough needs to stay healthy. He gets forgotten, but he's probably our best offensive player (it's either him or Evan Boehm right now.) We could see a major drop off at the position if he goes down, unless guys like Ish Witter are further along than we think.

[stlfisher]

I think Morgan Steward will provide the needed depth as the season progresses and he shakes off the rust.  He is a beast if he can stay healthy.  Beyond that there is not much depth this year.

[Al Agnew]

I think there's enough depth in the running game, with Stewart, Witter, Abbington...it all depends upon the o-line play.

[Jerry Rapp]

well, they won.  Mauk had better win.  If not, he will be replaced.  If you can win 8 games with him and 8 games with Lock, that should be a no brainer for the future.  On a side note, I watched the last quarter of the game on some SEC alternate channel, and that lady announcing the game was very monotone.