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Rewatched the Florida, USC, UGA, and A&M games

Posted on 7/20/14 at 7:18 am
Posted by TigerCruise
Virginia Beach, VA
Member since Oct 2013
11898 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 7:18 am
Specifically looking to see how this years starters progressed and how well they played last season.

Surprisingly I was shocked to see how many plays Simon, Singleton, Gibson, Penton and Webb made last year. I remember most of the attention being on Gaines and a lot of negatives from White. What was very apparent was that there is no way that we play any worse at Safety. White was awful at tackling and very sub par in coverage. I noticed a very big tendency by Ponder of getting beat on vertical routes. Webb seems to be a very competent in coverage and often arrived at the same time as the ball. Simon and Gibson seemed to do fairly well at coverage, their tackling was the area they seemed to need improvement on. The more film I watched the more it became apparent that we actually have a little depth in the secondary.

On the defensive front, man are these guys going to have a big year. Vincent/Hoch/Bentley were very noticeable in the run game last year. Golden and Ray were also flying around when they were in the game. Golden's biggest issue seemed to be mental mistakes that he made, whether it was off-sides or late hits on the QB, really need him to play disciplined football this year. The big question is who do we have after the Golden Ray?

Linebackers was biggest question mark I could see as far as the defense goes. Brothers speed was very apparent and he was all over the field making plays. I was actually surprised to see how slow Wilson was at outside runs, he rarely got to the edge and often got blocked at the line. Granted a lot of this obviously has to do with gap responsibilities and taking on a blocker, but his lack of speed was very noticeable. The snaps for Bonner and Wilson's backups were very limited last year. I plan on watching the Toledo game to analyze the defense after Wilson's targeting ejection. I'll post more on that later.

On offense, the line looks to be fairly set. Gatti played fairly well and should step in right away. Hunt and Sasser made big plays last year, the biggest issue will be a deep threat, which hopefully Moore can fill. White was invisible to be honest, there was a few games they tried to get him involved and he did very little. I'm concerned as to whether he can step in and take over as a true #1 WR. Loss of DGB is a hit, but he had a tendency to disappear during big games last year, he had some big plays, but I feel as if Washington is a bigger loss then DGB. Mauk > Franklin as far as I'm concerned, Mauks mentality is such a difference from Franklins, let alone the throwing arm ability.

I was very encouraged by what I saw from Murphy and Hans, I could see these two having a big big year. Hansbrough runs very hard and has that sneaky speed that can slip right through a hole. Throw in Morgan Steward and we are sitting pretty at RB. I really hope Murphy gets it going early, he has that open field speed that's just unreal.

The biggest thing I took away from this was how often we were using our backup Corners last year, and our DE's continuously beating "1st round tackles". Gaines actually left during the UGA game as well as not playing the USC game. So it's not like these guys don't have any experience.

Honestly the more I paid attention to who was on the field and who was making "plays", it was very apparent to me that there are a lot of guys on this team that will be ready to make an impact this year. The biggest thing is experience, and there's a ton of it on this team.
Posted by Tackle74
Columbia, MO
Member since Mar 2012
5249 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 7:33 am to
I feel exactly the same as you. Note on the LB Ruise got most of the reps as a backup last year and he has dropped to 3rd string on last depth chart.
Posted by Mizz-SEC
Inbred Huntin' In The SEC
Member since Jun 2013
19229 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 7:51 am to

Thanks for the analysis, Tiger.

Looking forward to your other thoughts.
Posted by TigerCruise
Virginia Beach, VA
Member since Oct 2013
11898 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 8:02 am to
I'm assuming that's due to Biesel getting reps?

Edit: Ruise is 12 right? Not surprised he's dropped in the depth chart, the film is not kind to him.
This post was edited on 7/20/14 at 8:09 am
Posted by TigerCruise
Virginia Beach, VA
Member since Oct 2013
11898 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 9:03 am to
Watching the Cotton Bowl now, the one knock you have to have on DGB is the inconsistency of his hands. Drops a lot of a passes right to him.
Posted by Tackle74
Columbia, MO
Member since Mar 2012
5249 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 9:29 am to
Yeah I see Ruise dropping as a positive for the LB corp, he has not done well. DGB's loss scares me less for what he has done and more in his potential to do things. There is little doubt that teams kept an extra eye on him and he influenced defensive schemes. I could see DC's playing more vs the run and daring our receiving corp to beat them. I really love the balance we had on Offense last year and hope to see that continue.
Posted by MizzouMick
KC
Member since Dec 2012
50 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 10:30 am to
Thanks for doing that - bet it was fun watching those again. I had felt that way, but it's good to have the analysis support it. I also feel way more confident with Maty at QB, but the big question is LB. Overall though, there's really deep talent at all positions - the best I can remember at Mizzou. In all years past, after losing the players we did last year, we'd be in a rebuilding year, but it really seems like Mizzou has transitioned to the more elite 'reloading' level of teams. I know people rag on the recruiting ranking, etc., but it's proven to work very well.
This post was edited on 7/20/14 at 10:32 am
Posted by reedus23
St. Louis
Member since Sep 2011
25485 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 11:08 am to
Thanks TigerCruise. Good stuff. I think we have tons of depth in the defensive backfield now. Some of it is just young and inexperienced at this point. Not only do we have Penton and Gibson for years to come, but now young guys like Sherrils, Wingo, Ross and so forth. I would agree too that we have lots of depth up the middle on the defensive line and the starters on the edges are magnificent. No depth on the ends like you said is my concern. Really don't know what to make of the LB corp. Lots of movement and seems like uncertainty of who will play where and where on the depth chart they'll be. Really like Brothers but after that it will be a wait and see approach for me.

On offense, I think we're not just set this year but for years to come at every position but WR and WR might be set in the future. This year, though, we're almost going to have to have contributions from guys that we haven't gotten it from or who haven't shown it yet. Whether it's White as a senior. Culkin and the TE being used more. Moore or Brown as youngsters. Or more designed passes for the RB out of the backfield.
Posted by Remote Controlled
Member since Apr 2013
6859 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 12:16 pm to
quote:

DGB's loss scares me less for what he has done and more in his potential to do things.


Agree 100%.

There's not anyone who can replace the "potential" of DGB. However, I'll take consistency over potential. If these guys can be consistent in their play, then WR will be fine. They all know Mauk can get them the ball, that's all the motivation a receiver needs sometimes.

As long as everyone stays healthy, this team should compete at a high level. I think they will surprise people again, as no one is really giving them a shot. There is a lot more experience than the prognosticators want to acknowledge.

Great analysis Tiger Cruise. How's Sigonella?
Posted by Jagd Tiger
The Kinder, Gentler Jagd
Member since Mar 2014
18139 posts
Posted on 7/20/14 at 12:56 pm to

Overall I think Brothers and Newsome will be the two best LB's this year, they really looked it through much of last season when it came to getting across the field to make a play, wouldn't be surprised to see them get a lot of the work in our nickel look. Stec being the old school MLB= QB of the defense guy, you have to think Scherer and Beisel have both shown a lot to impress, let's just hope that is the case and they become really reliable really fast. To have a good year on defense there will have to be a surprise or two in the young guys stepping it up, it's not like the defensive line can do it all.

What Green and Ruise will contribute is another big question mark, depth at LB and DE is certainly a concern. If Logan, Winston and Hatley are all good enough to play in SEC games, the middle line depth is about as good as we have seen, and Brantley/Hatley getting some edge work against power run teams wouldn't be a big surprise either.

With youth will come mistakes and no doubt a few will be costly but overall the DB position is strong in numbers and talent. Can't wait to see what Ross can do at Safety, also hoping Wingo and Cheadle can bring it early.

I like a lot of what the defense can potentially do but at the end of the day, the offense is going to have to be reliable about moving the chains and executing in the red zone, Henson, Mauk and the O have to come through or we could be looking at another 6 win season.



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