Mizzou...tell me more about your team

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What's made you all so successful this season?

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Georgia and Florida and USC are all down.

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Georgia and Florida and USC are all down.

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Yup, just like we were down last year.

We suck. You forgot A&M too though.

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I'm familiar with Franklin, Josey, The WRs, and Sam...

Who am I missing? What do you run? What's made you all so successful this season?

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You named everyone that's decent and we were good because everybody really sucked really bad PLUS we didn't play anyone.....that was good......or even average......we're not worthy.

We've been successful because we're good at just about everything. We're versatile and have a lot of players contributing.

Running the ball? We're second in the SEC in run offense. We've got three RBs with over 500 rushing yards and over 6 ypc. We have a little over 500 yards rushing at about 4.5 ypc from the QB position. Franklin is excellent at getting tough yards on the ground.

Passing the ball? We're a bit lower at 5th in the SEC in passing offense. However, we're very efficient through the air with 27 TDs to 6 INTs. We've a big three receiving attack with Marcus Lucas, L'Damian Washington, and DGB. Lucas has the most catches, but the fewest ypc and TDs of the three. He's more of a possession receiver. Washington and DGB have ten receiving TDs each. We've also got Bud Sasser and Jimmie Hunt, who are very solid.

Getting to the QB? Mizzou leads the SEC in sacks. We rotate four DEs, and they're all productive:

Michael Sam: 42 tackles, 18 TFL, 10.5 sacks, and 1 fumble return for a TD

Kony Ealy: 32 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, and 1 INT return for a TD

Markus Golden: 50 tackles, 13 TFL, 6.5 sacks, and 1 INT return for a TD

Shane Ray: 33 tackles, 9 TFL, and 4.5 sacks

We rotate four guys at DT and all are solid.

Stopping the run? Mizzou is second in the SEC in run defense. Our DL does a great job against the run and our MLB Andrew Wilson is a thumper. OLBs show flashes but are inconsistent. Our CBs are also great in run support.

Stopping the pass? Mizzou has the worst pass defense in yardage given up in the SEC. However, that is mostly because teams throw on us way more than any other SEC teams. We're second in the SEC in yards per pass given up. We much more vulnerable to short and intermediate passes then we are the deep stuff.

Turnover margin? Mizzou leads the SEC at +15 in turnovers. We're tied for first in takeways at 27 and tied for last in turnovers at 12. We've gotten at least one turnover in 41 or 42 consecutive games.

Special teams. This is Mizzou's biggest weakness. Our kicker Andrew Baggett has a strong leg, but he's inconsistent. He especially has problems kicking from the left hash. Our return man Marcus Murphy has a lot of big play potential, but he also has had some muffs this year.

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I'm familiar with Franklin, Josey, The WRs, and Sam...

Who am I missing? What do you run? What's made you all so successful this season?

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The thing about Mizzou is that they plan as a team, with a lot of playmakers and contributors. We spread the ball around to so many guys that no one has gaudy numbers. But we have 3 RBs who have had 100+ yd games this season, and Josey is closing in on 1,000 yards I believe. There isn't a superstar receiver - just 6 or so guys that can all burn you given the chance. That keeps defenses honest, if you take something away we go to something else. If you double someone, there's someone just as dangerous to take his place.

Our defense is very opportunistic. They get after the QB, and don't necessarily need to blitz to do it. In fact, we don't blitz much at all, we get plenty of pressure without it. And we create turnovers, 42 straight games. They use a 4-3 and a 3-4, depending on the opponent and the game plan. Our 4 DEs are pretty interchangeable, and can line up at LB if needed. The secondary is the weakness of our defense, but they've improved throughout the season. Gaines will get drafted, and he absolutely shut down A&M's big receiver (whose name escapes me) last Saturday; Gaines is also good at stopping the run.

You only rotate 8 defensive linemen? We rotate 10, so ha! Again I say, ha!

I don't think we'll be in the 3-3-5 anytime Sat.

Good insight, Mizzou fans....are you guys excited to be in the SECCG?

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Mizzou has the worst pass defense in yardage given up in the SEC. However, that is mostly because teams throw on us way more than any other SEC teams.

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Do you think the fact that teams throw way more on you guys also makes your run defense numbers look better than they actually are? Or are you guys consistently shutting down ballcarriers at the LOS?

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Do you think the fact that teams throw way more on you guys also makes your run defense numbers look better than they actually are? Or are you guys consistently shutting down ballcarriers at the LOS?

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For the most part they do a great job limiting rushes at the line of scrimmage or < three ypc, or at least it seems that way. But my fear is missed tackles, which were an issue early in the season. Mizzou has tightened up as of late, but it seems like they give up one or two big runs per game. Only problem with that is, with Auburn doing the running, on a fast track, those turn into 6.