Mizzou Fans Wanted To Fire Pinkel Last Year.

We settled with replacing our OC.

I never hopped off the Drinkel Express, FWIW.

quote:

---

Goes to show how bad Yoast was

---

Dont agree. Having the team healthy was the most important thing by far over the OC.

I think the change helped but Henson's scheme wouldnt work with the OL we trotted out there last year as well as Berkstresser or a hurt Franklin at the helm.

Im not saying that Henson isnt better than Yost, just saying that health and line play are the bigger reasons for this teams better play.

I agree its definitely multifactorial, with the OL and Berk from last year very little would work. Although, just to play devils advocate, you could argue that if your OL is a MASH unit its probably a better idea than ever to tighten the splits and bring in a TE for extra blocking since that's what is badly needed...and to run simpler, easier to execute pass routes rather than the precision timing spread stuff.

I guess the more telling thing would be to look at where this Mizzou offense ranks production wise compared to the healthy Gabbert teams under Yost and Franklin's 2011 team. I don't have the numbers, but it sure seems like this year's O has been a bit more prolific than even those teams in terms of scoring and yardage and what not...but again I don't have the stats to back that up.

Yost had some very, very good offenses at Mizzou during his run, there's no question about that. I think a lot of it is more that the true original, Mike Leech type spread was kinda figured out by a lot of defenses as time went on.

What we are running now is more in keeping with what a lot of the up tempo teams are doing, more balanced and more focus on a beefier, traditional use of the OL while still using lots of WRs and spreading the field a good amount. The best spread attacks have evolved and I feel like the current system we run this year is more reflective of that evolution than last year.

Also I just feel like Henson has a better sense for taking what the defense is giving you rather than saying "we are gonna go five wide on this 3rd and 2 because that's what the pregame script says dammit!" regardless of what the defense is showing. It felt like Yost was more prone to that. Christiansen before him was, I felt, GREAT at taking what the defense was giving you. Think of Texas Tech and Arky in 2007 where we just ran the ball all day long b/c that's what was available with the defense dropping 8 into coverage. Yost seemed more stubborn and married to passing it at a high rate no matter what. Anyway you get the gist. No question being healthier is a major, major factor this year though.

I completely agree with your opinion on the evolved spread Henson has implemented this year. It seemed like Yost approached the offense with the mindset that the SEC will have to adjust to our offense while Henson has, like you said about his play calling, molded the offense to be more prepared to compete in the SEC.

He is 61.

Pinkel has always been a good coach. But mainly when he's not getting DWI's.