The Sports Xchange
NCAAF Team Report – Missouri – INSIDE SLANT
Missouri Tigers coach Gary Pinkel hasn’t been in this situation before.
After Corbin Berkstresser threw interceptions on back-to-back plays to start the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats, Pinkel had a decision to make. A 17-10 lead looked precarious, and Missouri was on the brink of falling to 0-5 in SEC play. To prevent that from happening, Pinkel told James Franklin to warm up.
Franklin, out since the beginning of the Vanderbilt game with a strained MCL, was cleared to play on Thursday, but would be limited. Pinkel’s decision was about adding a veteran presence to the offense, and it was the first time he’s benched a starter during a game because of performance issues.
“It’s a call you’ve got to make, though,” Pinkel said.
Over the final 20 minutes of game time, Missouri’s lead swelled to 33-10. Franklin was little more than a caretaker of the football. He completed six of nine passes for 16 yards, and Missouri mainly stuck with the ground game. His impact on the offense was noticeable, however.
“The biggest thing is probably James’ leadership,” Kendial Lawrence said. “Just knowing everything that’s going to happen on each play.”
“I think anytime you bring that in it gave our offense a lift,” Pinkel said. “It’s natural. It’s nothing against Corbin, it’s just natural.”
The decision to leave Franklin in, even after the game was no longer in doubt, was also a tough call. But Pinkel said he wanted his junior quarterback to get more confidence after an injury-laden start to the season.
“We decided to keep him in, even though the score was the way it is, just to get him some reps and confidence back,” Pinkel said.
Going forward, it appears that Franklin will regain his starting status as long as he’s healthy. Franklin said he was about 90 percent health-wise against Kentucky, and he didn’t get hit during his time in the game. Now, Franklin will try to regain some of his explosiveness that made him such a dangerous weapon in 2011.
But the first step is over. Franklin is back on the field.
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NCAAF Team Report – Missouri – NOTES, QUOTES
WHAT’S AHEAD: The difficult stretch for Missouri’s season begins on Saturday with a road game against Florida. Three of the last four games are on the road, including the season finale against explosive Texas A&M.; To become bowl eligible, Missouri has to at least split those four games. Luckily, starting QB James Franklin said he’s almost completely healthy from a knee injury.
–Missouri forced two fumbles against Kentucky, pushing its season total to 14. That leads the nation. The Tigers have forced a turnover in 26 consecutive games, and now have 19 defensive turnovers in eight games this season.
–After using the read-option to great effect in 2011, it was a staple of Missouri’s offense at the beginning of the season. However, the Tigers have now largely ditched that play, focusing instead on designed runs to the running backs. In the first four games, Missouri’s quarterbacks carried the ball 65 times. In the four games since, Missouri’s quarterbacks carried the ball just 29 times. On Saturday, Missouri’s running backs combined for 38 carries.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Missouri may have shown how it intends to move the ball on offense going forward. In the second half against Kentucky, especially once Franklin entered the game, Missouri ran a good number of plays out of a pistol formation with a tight end attached to the line of scrimmage. The run game became more effective from that point. In a season where the offense hasn’t done much particularly well, that could become a staple to churn yards and the clock to end the year.
LOOKING GOOD: RB Kendial Lawrence continues to prove he can handle a heavier workload in the backfield. He once again set a career high in carries, running the ball 23 times for 108 yards and two touchdowns against Kentucky. It’s the third time he’s gone over 100 yards this season, and his stop-and-start running style makes him a good fit for Missouri’s offensive line, which has struggled with consistency this year.
STILL NEEDS WORK: Missouri’s receiving corps has loads of talent but continues to disappoint this season. WR Marcus Lucas dropped the first pass of the day on a play that could have gone for big yardage — he was that wide open. Missouri’s leading receivers from a year ago were TJ Moe, Lucas and L’Damian Washington. That trio combined for two catches for 15 yards on the day.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I know I’m 100 percent sure, unless I get hit by a car or something, that I’ll be playing next week.” — Missouri QB James Franklin.
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NCAAF Team Report – Missouri – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER NOTES:
–Freshman WR Dorial Green-Beckham set a career high with seven receptions against Kentucky. He only finished with 25 yards, however.
–PK Andrew Baggett made both of his field-goal attempts, extending his streak to seven consecutive successful kicks after a 1-for-4 day against Arizona State in Week 3.
–LB Will Ebner added 3.5 tackles for loss on Saturday, increasing his season total to 11. That ranks second in the SEC among linebackers.
ROSTER REPORT
–Redshirt sophomore LT Anthony Gatti split time with starter Elvis Fisher on Saturday. Gary Pinkel said the move is to keep Fisher fresh, and also to get Gatti more experience.
–As expected, C Mitch Morse returned to the starting lineup on Saturday after missing the Alabama game with a strained MCL.
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