Missouri Question

So you think the biggest change was at coordinator?



Same here. I feel that the SEC champ is the national champ by default. Doesn't really matter what the BCS says IMO.

We recruited a great 5 star surgeon & he started as a true freshman.

Five things that made a difference.

1. Mauk better backup QB than Berkstresser
2. OL injuries last year, translated into PT for subs and experience.
3. Well coached team. Pinkel works hard at fixing things that get broken
4. Adjusted from team built for B12 to team built for SEC
5. No finger pointing, great morale and team cohesion

Life in the SEC is a meatgrinder. You have to be able to have the next guy step up and play at the same level as the guy that got injured.

Last year, we had wide OL splits, and the TE was a big WR. We found that didn't work in the SEC. The DEs are quicker, and the DBs are tighter. Replaced the OC, narrowed the splits, the TE is now primarily a blocker and the RBs run vertically instead of trying to loop around the outside.

Last year's frustrations had a couple SRs who are now gone to start biitching on the sidelines. This years team knows that only made things worse and none of that goes on today.

Couple more things. DGB is much better. Future NFLer Evan Boehm moved to Center and created a solid foundation on OL

Injuries first and foremost. Henry is Josey is back after missing all of last year because of his injury in 2011. Franklin, EJ Gaines, and Max Copeland have missed some games, but we've been healthy other than that.

Offense is quite different with the new OC. Still spread, but we went from using an empty backfield on >50% of snaps to using it on 10% of snaps.

We went from all our running plays being east/west stretches and cutbacks to incorporating a lot of quick hitters right up the middle.

We don't have super wide splits on the OL anymore, which has helped the run game quite a bit.

TEs are used almost exclusively as blockers and Waters has flourished in that role.

Washington and DGB both took a huge step forward.

Defense, it is just a lot of players playing much better than last season. Sam, Ealy, Golden, Ray, Hoch, Vincent, and Brantley have all stepped their game up.

Gaines was great last year, but CB Randy Ponder has been solid. It was thought he'd be a huge weakness going into this season. We've been playing true freshman CB Aarion Penton a ton, he even started when Gaines was hurt, and he's been great. That's a big surprise. Safety Matt White is still not great because of his limited athleticism, but he isn't out of position and is actually able to get to his spots to stop big gainers, most of the time.

1. We were starting a 3rd string walk on Oline due to injuries.
2. Franklin was hurt and Berkstresser was a lousy backup. When franklin came back he was still hurt and not the same.
3. New Offensive Coordinator is much better and adopted an offense much more suited to the SEC.
4. Defense has matured into a really good group, front 7 especially.
5. Secondary went from bad to decent.
6. Team is playing with determination and togetherness, like it has something to prove and is going to prove it

ETA
Injuries affected all kinds of positions last year, Oline, QB, running back, secondary. A ton of starters out, worse than GA this year. We still played everyone close including GA. Last year Pinkle said it sucks for now but what till next year. Saban said anybody that watched the situation at MU last year should not be surprised by this year. My friends this summer were saying we should have never joined the SEC to get our asses kicked (bahstards). I said no we are going to be really good. We've caught some breaks too like you guys. That always seems to be part of getting there for any team.

The main difference is that Mizzou is winning games, as opposed to losing them.