First Practice

Here's some notes and recaps from different impressions of Mizzou's first practice:

-- Dave Matter had an interesting article in the Tribune detailing Chase Daniel meeting a very special guest at EA's Elite 11 Camp a few weeks ago.

-- TE Martin Rucker, DT Lorenzo Williams, WR Jason Ray and S Pig Brown were named team captains. The first three are not much of a surprise, with each entering their fifth year in the program. However, Brown was named despite being in the program for just over a year.

-- With kickoffs being pushed back five yards this year, there's been a lot of talk NCAA-wide about the kind of athletes teams will use for returns. On the first day of practice, Mizzou ran out Jared Perry, Tommy Saunders, Jeremy Maclin and Marcus Woods. Not a bad tandem, but they desperately need to find a unit that can cover kicks effectively.

-- The first answer to the Gilbert Moye question may have appeared, as he started camp at free safety. The highly regarded athlete chose the position because of the opportunity for early playing time.

-- The team's motto this year is "It's all about the ball," helping the coaching staff preach the importance of turnover margin and ball security.

-- Mizzou's selection as the Big 12 North favorite was the talk of the day, and Matter's blog had a great quote from Will Franklin regarding the selection:
“It’s a great thing to be picked like that,” [Franklin] said. “But we know those same people didn’t think we’d be able to have the record we had last year. There’s still a sense of urgency for us to go out there, play our best and earn that respect even more than we’ve picked up now.”

-- Matter's blog also includes an early depth chart.

-- STL Post Dispatch's Graham Watson says Adam Crossett may make the punter race with Jake Harry obsolete.

-- Watson also had a great article talking about the mood around camp. The expectations, returning starters and immense confidence appear to be a great mix for this squad. Watson's second paragraph describes that same sentiment in outstanding fashion:
"Instead of the awkward orientation that usually comes with the first few days of a new season, the Tigers took to the field with the business-like confidence of a team that knows this could be one of the greatest seasons in the school's history."