re: Give an honest assessment of your team going into the season

I think Mizzou will be considerably better on both sides of the ball. The depth throughout the team has absolutely improved after NCAA scholarship reduction has ended and some of the chaff from the previous staff has been weeded out and replaced by some high quality transfers. That combined with continued good special teams play gives the Tigers a chance at 8-4. Don't forget that last season, even with a horrendous rushing defense, Mizzou was in games at BC and UK until the very end.

I'm confident that Brady Cook will be more than capable of getting the ball to a deep group of receivers. He's accurate, looks to have a good command of the offense and can run a bit, too.

I understand the concern re: running back. Badie was excellent in so many ways. Hopefully Nathaniel Peat has recovered from being dinged up in camp. That guy can do one thing that Badie couldn't: hit the home run. I don't understand why Stanford didn't play him more. He averaged 5.1 ypc in an offense that averaged an abysmal 3.2 ypc.