Delving the Depth Chart - Linebackers

Every True Son will take a position-by-position look at the Tigers headed into this season. Today, "Delving the Depth Chart" takes a look at the linebackers.

The linebacker corps may have incurred some of the biggest losses following the 2006 season, but may also have the most potential of any unit on the defensive side of the ball.

The Tigers can no longer lean on First Team All-Big 12 LB Marcus Bacon, who led the team in tackles in 2006 with 112. Additionally, gone is MLB Dedrick Harrington, who contributed 100 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 13 starts last year.

Yet, there is cautious optimism about the strength of this year's unit, as noted in an article in early August by the STL P-D's Graham Watson.

Junior Brock Christopher moves inside after 87 tackles outside last season, and his heads-up, cerebral style of play may benefit the unit as a whole. Christopher saw playing time last year in the absence of Van Alexander, who will once again try to stay healthy enough to see consistent snaps.

They will be joined primarily by Sean Witherspoon, a sophomore described by DT Lorenzo WIlliams as "everything you could ever want in a linebacker." Witherspoon is physical for an OLB, and should help shore up the Mizzou run defense, but his aptitude in coverage may need to develop as the year progresses.

But the truly exciting part of the LB unit is the potential quality of its depth. At weakside, Witherspoon will be backed by Connell Davis and true freshman Michael Keck. Davis, who recently switched over from RB, has drawn accolades throughout preseason practice for the strides he's made. Keck endured injury issues throughout camp, but the four-star recruit has a blend of speed and physicality never before seen in the Pinkel regime or, perhaps, in school history. How well he adjusts to coverage and playing stand-up may determine his opportunity for greatness. That talent may have to wait, however, as it appears Pinkel is content to redshirt in 2007.

Inside, Christopher will be backed by another true freshman, Luke Lambert. Recent reports show Lambert will likely avoid a redshirt - Lambert enrolled early last spring, and the extra preparation could pay off in the form of significant time at MLB as the season progresses.

The strongside is a bit more of an enigma. Behind Alexander, three names fill out the depth chart: Steve Redmond, Marquis Booker and Andrew Gachkar. Pinkel recently announced Gachkar, like Lambert, will avoid a redshirt.

The unit as a whole is much like Mizzou's first opponent, Illinois: inexperienced but extremely talented, with the capacity for big things as the players grow older and pick up the nuances of the game.

Delving the Depth Chart - Defensive Line

Every True Son will take a position-by-position look at the Tigers headed into this season. Today, "Delving the Depth Chart" takes a look at the defensive line.

Two VERY different defensive lines showed up in 2006. In the first half of the season, the defensive line was solid against semi-mediocre competition, helping propel the Tiger D to tops in the nation heading into the Colorado game. The unit's premier game came on the road in the trademark victory of 2006 against Texas Tech. The unit pressured Graham Harrell several times, forcing four fumbles and recovering three (the other came on a play where Harrell fumbled twice). Xzavie Jackson even picked off an errant screen pass, running it back for a touchdown, solidifying the lead, and seemingly announcing the line's prescence as a force.

Then, two things happened - injuries and Jorvorskie Lane.

Mizzou's defense was on a high after the Tech win, entering College Station 6-0. Then the Aggie ball-control offense slowly wore away at the interior defense, as the J-Train rolled up 127 yards, primarily up the gut, with Stephen McGee and Mike Goodson adding another 84 combined yards. The rushing trio helped the Aggies possess the ball for 41:30 minutes to Mizzou's 18:30.

Yet, the defensive line still appeared to be in decent shape until injuries devestated the unit. Brian Smith broke his hip in what he termed a "freak accident" blocking following an interception against Kansas State. The loss of Smith, MU's all-time sack leader, was a tremendous loss to the defensive front, a loss the unit never seemed to recover from. Ziggy Hood missed the middle of the season with a broken bone in his foot, returning later in the year but never at 100 percent effectiveness.

This season, it's hard to fully gauge what remains. Both Smith and Jackson are gone on the ends, leaving Stryker Sulak and Tommy Chavis the massive burden of developing a pass rush that was non-existant late in the season. Inside, Lorenzo Williams and Ziggy Hood must shore up a run defense that EVERY scouting report in the nation says is the Achilles heel of this football team. A stronger run defense last year would have allowed Mizzou to hang on to a victory at Texas A&M, avoid the upset at Iowa State, and force Oregon State to take the ball out of Yvenson Bernard's hands in the Sun Bowl.

Behind those four, the rest of the squad is similar to the enitre Missouri bench: talented, but inexperienced. DEs John Stull, Tarell Corby and Jayson Corbatt have had impressive camps according to different reports. The depth behind Hood is extremely questionable, but the depth behind Williams at nose tackle may be surprising strong. Andy Maples, Jason Baston and Dominique Hamilton have a lot to prove but potentially a lot to add to a line that could use some fresh enthusiasm.

How the line holds up against Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas A&M will likely determine whether Tiger fans should start making December reservations in San Antonio. Tiger message boards even consider Hood among Mizzou's "most indispensible players" after seeing how badly his injury cost the team in 2007.

While a lot of the players on the line are not marquee names, the performance of the defensive line may be the difference between a 10-2 year and a 7-5 year.

Photos courtesy Google images

Delving the Depth Chart - OL

Every True Son will take a position-by-position look at the Tigers headed into this season. Today, "Delving the Depth Chart" takes a look at the offensive line.

It's hard to figure out what to make for the Tiger offensive line in 2007. It's an extremely athletic group well suited to the wide splits and pass blocking of Pinkel's Spread offense. But for Tiger fans frustrated by Mizzou's inability to punch the ball in the endzone inside the 5-yard line, look no further than this group.

The line may collectively be one of the top pass blocking units in the Big 12, but they lack the pure strength and "pancake" ability to allow Mizzou to line Daniel up under center and feature a singleback or I-form style set. It's highly unlikely the Tigers find the ability to "pound the rock" when necessary - most of the Tigers' success on the ground will be on options, misdirections, draws and zone reads from shotgun, where his athletic line can keep opposing D-lines off-balance.

The group will miss right tackle Joel Clinger, but there is a surprising amount of depth on the unit. As it stands, here's how things likely look from left tackle to right:

Tyler Luellen
Ryan Madison
Adam Spieker
Kurtis Gregory
Dain Wise

Behind those five, there are several capable backups, including Monte Wyrick, James Stigall and Colin Brown.

It's safe to consider the line "specialized" or even a "niche line," but the squad's depth and profiency at containing the pass rush should play a large role in launching the Tigers' air attack this season.

Delving the Depth Chart - WR/TE

Every True Son will take a position-by-position look at the Tigers headed into this season. Today, "Delving the Depth Chart" takes a look at the receivers and tight ends.

The Texas Longhorns have the deepest, most talented group of pass catchers in the Big 12. The burnt orange air attack can roll out Limas Sweed, Billy Pittman, Quan Cosby, Jordan Shipley, Nate Jones and TE Jermichael Finley. But it's not blasphemy to imply Mizzou's group of wideouts and ends can compete somewhere close to that level.

The pure depth at the position is the primary reason why every deal I proposed on the Mock Trade Deadline post was centered around Mizzou's loaded corps, which could hypothetically be used as extremely attractive trade bait.

This group of wideouts, bolstered by the emergence of Danario Alexander and Jared Perry coupled with the return of Jeremy Maclin, is easily the strongest group of receivers Mizzou has seen in some time, perhaps ever. The depth of the group is simply outstanding - including Will Franklin, who returns after finishing fifth in the receiving yards in the Big 12 last season despite missing the later part of the year.

Franklin will be the elder statesman in the WR corps, but for my money, my eye is most drawn to Perry, who's blazing speed was put on display in the Kansas game (watch with 4:19 left in the clip below - notice all-world KU corner Aqib Talib get caught flat-footed in zone coverage):



My excitement carries over to Alexander, who I'll admit I'd never heard of until his 74-yard touchdown reception against Oregon State in the Sun Bowl. Additionally, Mizzou has senior workhorse Tommy Saunders who will likely return kicks and be a security blanket posession receiver. Saunders is famous around MU circles for his work ethic, including making a vow to complete 10,000 pushups in the calendar year 2006 - a goal he completed and then stopped at 10,084 to match his jersey No. 84.

Redshirt freshman Maclin throws his hat in the ring this year as well, returning from an ACL injury that cost the higly-heralded receiver all of last season. The kid whose speed has been a talking point for Mizzou coaches' for the last two season will finally get his shot to prove them right, and if he does, Big 12 North secondary coaches are going to have nervous breakdowns finding ways to cover all of Chase Daniel's options.

And did I mention the best TE duo in the nation? Senior Martin Rucker and junior Chase Coffman are unquestionably, undoubtedly, un[insert word for disbelief]ly the BEST duo in all of college football. ESPN and Blue Ribbon put it best:

If you thought the Tigers were stacked at receiver, they're equally loaded at tight end. They return two that combined for 111 receptions, 1,149 yards and 14 touchdowns last year and who should only improve with a more experienced Daniel at quarterback. Senior Martin Rucker (6-5, 255) was a first-team all-conference pick by the coaches after he caught 53 balls for 511 yards and five touchdowns.

Meanwhile, junior Chase Coffman (6-6, 245) was a first-team All-Big 12 pick by the media who led the team with 58 catches (for 638 yards) and nine touchdowns, and even threw a 29-yard touchdown pass in the Sun Bowl.

No team in the country has a more productive pair of tight ends.

Combining the tight ends and wide receivers, things may never be better for the aerial attack at Faurot Field than they will be in 2007.

Three photos by Sarah Becking. More photos available at Becking.com. Coffman photo credit Kyle Coburn.

Delving the Depth Chart - RB

Every True Son will take a position-by-position look at the Tigers headed into this season. Today, "Delving the Depth Chart" takes a look at the running backs.

The running back position at Mizzou has been juggled around for the past few years, since the departure of the late Damien Nash after 2004. In 2005, neither Marcus Woods nor Tony Temple seemed to lock up the job. Each one of them seemed as committed to protecting the football as Leon Lett in Super Bowl XXVII with Don Beebe on his tail. Brad Smith became options A through X running the football, with Temple representing option Y and Woods representing option Z.

So when 2006 rolled around and Temple was named the starter, I immediately had my doubts. And from a ball security standpoint, things could have gone much worse, but they could have also gone much better. The Tigers fumbled the ball a total of 22 times in 2006, losing 15 of those fumbles. The turnovers cost Mizzou several games, most notably the loss at Texas A&M, where fumbles by Temple and Woods allowed the Aggies to regain possession and wear down Mizzou's run defense. Such problems prompted this summer's practice slogan "It's all about the ball."

But otherwise, Temple solidified a very unstable position for the Tigers. He returns to Mizzou as the leading returning rusher in the Big 12, having rushed for 1,000-plus yards and seven touchdowns last season. Temple announced his prescence to a national TV audience in the Sun Bowl, finally living up to the hype that followed him from Rockhurst High to Missouri, finishing the game with 194 yards and 2 touchdowns. The emergence of Temple as a ground threat presents a serious issue for opposing defenses - let Temple carve up defenses five yards at a time or prevent the run and leave the seams open for Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman through the air? Either way, Temple stepping up adds a major dimension to the offense, which is why his knee injury early in camp sent shockwaves through the Mizzou community. Temple could be vital to helping Mizzou preserve leads it always seems to blow, giving Pinkel and co. a security blanket rather than relying on bubble screens to Will Franklin to run out clocks.

Behind Temple, Woods is fighting for playing time with junior Jimmy Jackson, the latter of whom averaged about 4.5 yards per carry in limited playing time over the past two years. Throw junior Earl Goldsmith in the mix, and the team has talented, yet unproven depth in the backfield. Additionally, freshmen Derrick Washington and De'Vion Moore show promise for life after the Temple/Woods/Jackson/Goldsmith era, although it's a push to expect anything out of them until 2009.

While the Mizzou backs won't make any noise on a national scene exploding with big names (see McFadden, Darren), this set of backs - especially if Temple lives up to the precedent he set at the Sun Bowl - may be the first in awhile Mizzou fans can feel confident about entering the season.

Photos courtesy Sarah Becking photography. More photos available at Becking.com.

Delving the Depth Chart - QB

Every True Son will take a position-by-position look at the Tigers headed into this season. Today, "Delving the Depth Chart" takes a look at the quarterbacks.

Missouri entered 2006 with a MAJOR question mark hanging over the quarterback position - and for good reason. Mizzou parted ways with four-year starter Brad Smith, a Missouri legend and keeper of 69 different records. Smith's tremendous athleticism is currently making New York Jets coaches turn giddy like 5-year-old's on Christmas morning.

But the question was not without an answer. Throughout Chase Daniel's freshman year, coaches hinted about the kind of leader Daniel was becoming, in addition to his knowledge of offense. Daniel was wildly successful in high school running the same offense leading most Mizzou fans to be cautiously optimistic about his future. That optimism was confirmed as legit when Daniel entered the 2005 Iowa State game for an injured Smith, leading the Tigers to a come-from-behind victory. As the Columbia Tribune noted before the 2006 season, the torch was being passed.

Daniel took it and ran with it. He broke the school record for TD passes in one game in his first start, throwing for 5 TD against Murray State (a powerhouse, I know). Daniel orchestrated wins over Ole Miss, Ohio, New Mexico, Colorado and Texas Tech, all the while quieting concerns about his size and creeping Mizzou into the national conscience.

The Tigers struggled down the stretch, but it's hard to fault Daniel for most of it. The inability to protect the football, inability to stop the run and poor playcalling hamstrung the Tigers in the second half of the season, directly contributing to losses against Texas A&M, Nebraska, Iowa State and Oregon State. Only Oklahoma truly outmanned and outclassed Daniel and the Tigers, and Mizzou even had a shot at the Sooners for a large portion of the game. Only Oklahoma and Nebraska had Daniel the least bit flustered.

When all was done, he finished the year with 28 touchdown passes, 3,527 passing yards and 3,906 total yards - all school records. Entering 2007, the only question at quarterback is depth.

Daniel is the man unless, God forbid, he gets hurt. Sitting behind Daniel is senior QB Chase Patton, who may be the only player on the roster hurt by what Daniel's done for the program. Patton seemed to be the heir apparent to Smith. Patton was a 4-star, hometown hero who passed up the likes of Tennessee and UCLA to stay in CoMo. Coaches have expressed how comfortable and confident they feel with Patton as the No. 2, but it's hard not to feel somewhat bad for the one Mizzou didn't let get away.

After Patton, the questions pick up - perhaps not for 2007, but as a backup in 2008 and a starter in 2009. The two redshirt freshmen each bring a different style - with Dominic Grooms able to make some plays with his feet and J.P. Tillman able to make more plays from the pocket. If neither can prove they are up to the task in two years, the amount of pressure on Pinkel and Co. to recruit a top quarterback will only continue to compound - especially after losing in-state QB Blaine Gabbert to Nebraska. But if any lesson has been learned from the Daniel era at QB, it shows that size and recruiting stars don't win ball games, and here's to hoping Mizzou pulls another diamond from the rough in the future.

But for 2007: In Chase We Trust.