Grading Stec's Mizzou career

The Marine has been a trooper(pun intended) for Mizzou and Pinkel and can't be faulted for his unflagging, blue collar, workman like attitude at his task. He's always turned in solid, if often under talented, Linebacker classes, that typically perform well enough and occasionally over perform at an unheralded position in the Mizzou defense.

For every Spoon, Gooden or Gachkar there have been at least a couple of Brock Christophers, Jeff Lamberts, Van Alexanders, Andrew Wilsons and Will Ebeners. Guys who might just miss on the talent to play in the NFL, yet are valuable components to a Mizzou D that has occasionally been good but at least can typically keep the Tigers "in the game".

As a position coach, Stec has turned in a very "solid B" career, maybe not good enough to have the blue blood programs beating a path to his door with gold stenciled offers, but a guy who's gotten the job done consistently at an acceptable level. In the college football coaching world that's really not bad at all.

At the DC level, Stec has been slightly less consistent, with some on the job learning/growing pains. While his D unit usually plays with intensity, it's still looked confused or down right lost from time to time. Granted part of the overall look and feel of the D is a product of what Gary Pinkel wants. It's hard to say exactly what level of autonomy he allows his coordinators, but it's a fairly safe bet the soft zones and massive cushions that separate the second level from the box are what Pinkel deems "his defensive plan". Assuming Stec must work within the limits of soft cover 2-3, he really hasn't done too badly at all. There is only so much you can do when you allow the offense that much room to work with over the middle, and without a cadre of All American LB's and Safetys you will give up the dump offs and screens we are all used to seeing Mizzou get burned with.

Probably the most disappointing aspect of Stec's D is the inability of his blitz packages to be effective, again lack of talent is a factor and there is some raw luck to calling it at the right time as well. His use of the D-line to over all be a disruption and strength has been enough though, even if that's an area that would be hard to screw up. Letting the front 4 eat, if a bit simplistic, is still a decent plan, and if they have a good year, it will get you on a short list of coaching awards!

Overall grade as a DC, B-


Stec grades out at around a B, and a pretty good just not great, DC, which is exactly why he is heading off to a State school few people outside of Mo. have even heard of, instead of being considered for a job like HC of U of Fl in Gainseville.