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Five things this year's Mizzou team is lacking compared to past Pinkel teams
Posted on 10/12/12 at 12:54 pm
Posted on 10/12/12 at 12:54 pm
1. A pro-caliber quarterback: Before this year's injury-laden Franklin disaster, we experienced a solid year with a (relatively) healthy Franklin and three future NFL quarterbacks before him. Not since 2002, Brad Smith's freshman year, have we experienced such issues at the QB position.
2. A kicker with a golden leg, or just a kicker in general: Although Grant Ressel struggled last year, he gave us tremendously accurate 2009 and 2010 seasons (17-19 and 26-27, respectively). Before him, we had diver-to-kicker convert Jeff Wolfert who hit 82% of field goals during his three-year career. Even Crossett was an improvement over Baggett, who has hit 7-11 FGs this season, but is only 3-7 beyond 28 yards and appears to have absolutely no range.
3. A tough, sure-handed tight end. Granted, it would be about impossible to follow what Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman did, but Egnew was still solid the past couple years. This year, we've tried giving DGB time in the slot, largely to no avail - and the true TE, Eric Waters, has been unimpressive at best.
4. A center that can snap the ball: I know Morse has been injured, but McNulty has been awful. I miss you, Tim Barnes, that is all.
5. A big-play wide receiver: I'm confident DGB can develop into a premier receiver, but for now, we've got nothing. Lucas can't catch, Washington is too small, DGB is too inexperienced, and Moe hasn't gotten enough looks (or done much with them when the ball does come his way). We've been spoiled in recent years by the likes of Jeremy Maclin, Danario Alexander, Justin Gage, Sean Coffey (and also Coffman and Rucker, even though they were really TE's).
ETA: I ignored the biggest, most painful flaw this season - our o-line, simply due to the number of injuries contributing to the problems in that area.
2. A kicker with a golden leg, or just a kicker in general: Although Grant Ressel struggled last year, he gave us tremendously accurate 2009 and 2010 seasons (17-19 and 26-27, respectively). Before him, we had diver-to-kicker convert Jeff Wolfert who hit 82% of field goals during his three-year career. Even Crossett was an improvement over Baggett, who has hit 7-11 FGs this season, but is only 3-7 beyond 28 yards and appears to have absolutely no range.
3. A tough, sure-handed tight end. Granted, it would be about impossible to follow what Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman did, but Egnew was still solid the past couple years. This year, we've tried giving DGB time in the slot, largely to no avail - and the true TE, Eric Waters, has been unimpressive at best.
4. A center that can snap the ball: I know Morse has been injured, but McNulty has been awful. I miss you, Tim Barnes, that is all.
5. A big-play wide receiver: I'm confident DGB can develop into a premier receiver, but for now, we've got nothing. Lucas can't catch, Washington is too small, DGB is too inexperienced, and Moe hasn't gotten enough looks (or done much with them when the ball does come his way). We've been spoiled in recent years by the likes of Jeremy Maclin, Danario Alexander, Justin Gage, Sean Coffey (and also Coffman and Rucker, even though they were really TE's).
ETA: I ignored the biggest, most painful flaw this season - our o-line, simply due to the number of injuries contributing to the problems in that area.
This post was edited on 10/12/12 at 12:57 pm
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Posted on 10/12/12 at 1:01 pm to BreakawayZou83
Good post.
Maybe I'm crazy, or imagining things, but I seem to remember kicking being horrible forever. Before Wolfert, did we have anyone that could kick at all?
I remember feeling an unusual sense of calm when it was field goal time recently, and remembering that every FG and PAT was an adventure before him.
Is bad kicking the norm more than the exception, or am I confusing Pinkel with Larry Smith?
Maybe I'm crazy, or imagining things, but I seem to remember kicking being horrible forever. Before Wolfert, did we have anyone that could kick at all?
I remember feeling an unusual sense of calm when it was field goal time recently, and remembering that every FG and PAT was an adventure before him.
Is bad kicking the norm more than the exception, or am I confusing Pinkel with Larry Smith?
Posted on 10/12/12 at 1:05 pm to Mizzeaux
quote:
Is bad kicking the norm more than the exception, or am I confusing Pinkel with Larry Smith?
We had Crossett before Wolfert, who wasn't great, but appears to be better than what Baggett can offer currently.
Posted on 10/12/12 at 1:53 pm to BreakawayZou83
Does this stretch of bad kicking make Pinkel and Yost rethink their no scholarships to incoming kickers rule.
Already seen a couple games turn into field position battles. I'm sure it has alot to do with our offensive struggles, but we can't continue to assume our offense can pump out 80 yd drives all the time. Maybe higher quality kicker/punters are really needed.
Already seen a couple games turn into field position battles. I'm sure it has alot to do with our offensive struggles, but we can't continue to assume our offense can pump out 80 yd drives all the time. Maybe higher quality kicker/punters are really needed.
Posted on 10/12/12 at 1:59 pm to PFizzle
Yeah good post.
We did go at least a year in the last 5 without a big threat.. the year after Denario left there wasn't a real big play threat at WR.
If anything, this team now is more built for the Big12 than ever.
We did go at least a year in the last 5 without a big threat.. the year after Denario left there wasn't a real big play threat at WR.
If anything, this team now is more built for the Big12 than ever.
Posted on 10/12/12 at 3:15 pm to mograyback
Disagree. We've got a defense, and a secondary that has been exposed a few times. Even our guy EJ.
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