The Sports Xchange
NCAAF Team Report – Missouri – INSIDE SLANT
Tigers get a taste if their years in the Big 12
Missouri faces Tennessee for the first time in school history. While the opponent may be unfamiliar, their offensive style isn’t.
For the first time this season, the Tigers’ defense faces an offense that is reminiscent of the high-scoring, all-pass attacks from the Big 12.
This season, one of Missouri’s nine opponents threw the ball more than 40 times. That came in a non-conference game, against UCF.
A year ago, six teams threw 40 or more passes against the Tigers. In total three opponents this season have thrown more than 30 passes, compared to nine a year ago.
The Volunteers have had six games with more than 40 passing passes, and lead the SEC with 323 yards passing per games. QB Tyler Bray leads the conference in passes per game, passing touchdowns (25) and yardage.
“He’s very impressive throwing,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said of Bray. “He’s got great accuracy, he can extend the play, he can get rid of the ball. He’s a very impressive player. It’ll be different because they actually get the ball downfield.”
It’s not only Bray who makes Tennessee hard to cover.
Bray’s life is made easier by wide receivers Justin Hunter and Cordarelle Patterson, who have combined for 92 receptions, 1,423 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.
Missouri faced two receivers who rank in the top 10 in the SEC for receiving yardage over the first nine games. Vanderbilt’s Jordan Matthews had nine catches for 91 yards, and Georgia’s Tavarres King had two catches for 41 yards.
Both Hunter and Patterson also rank in the top 10.
“That makes for a very scary Saturday for a secondary coach,” Missouri cornerback coach Cornell Ford told PowerMizzou.com.
Missouri actually recruited Patterson out of junior college in 2011, so the staff is somewhat familiar with him. However, it doesn’t make the secondary’s job any easier.
After having a relatively easy go through nine games, Missouri’s defensive backfield knows the burden is on them come Saturday.
“I just get excited for it,” Missouri cornerback EJ Gaines said. “It kind of takes me back to the Big 12 a little bit as far as them passing the ball. We haven’t really gotten that this year, being in the SEC.
“It kind of takes us back to the Oklahoma, Oklahoma State days.”
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NCAAF Team Report – Missouri – NOTES, QUOTES
–Missouri put up its best time-of-possession effort this season against Florida, holding onto the ball nearly eight minutes more than the Gators. That was by design. Missouri almost exclusively runs a no-huddle offense, but it has varying paces. Against Florida, Missouri offensive coordinator David Yost said the team didn’t go to its quickest tempo until the two-minute drill in the fourth quarter. A big reason for the lack of pace was to be able to use motion before the snap, showing which defense the Gators would run. Even though the pace wasn’t as fast as usual, Missouri still ran 86 plays on the day.
–It’s no secret that Missouri’s defense has exceeded expectations in its first year in the SEC. One big reason for that is the Tigers’ ability to get opponents off the field on third down. Opponents are converting 28.2 percent of third downs against Missouri, and South Carolina is the only team to break the 50 percent mark. That third down rate puts Missouri eighth nationally.
–Quietly, Missouri P Trey Barrow is putting together a solid senior year, especially after his job was opened up for competition early in the season. Now, Barrow leads the SEC with 22 punts downed inside opponents’ 20-yard lines. Against Florida, Barrow had punts downed at the 11, eight- and six-yard-lines.
SERIES HISTORY: First meeting between Missouri and Tennessee.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: Despite the loss to Florida, Missouri’s offense showed life and appears to be trending in the right direction. In Gainesville, Missouri posted its most total yards and yards-per-play in nearly a month. While QB James Franklin’s four interceptions doomed Missouri, the staff said those mistakes were a sign of rust, as Franklin finally gets healthy. Offensive coordinator David Yost said Franklin’s injured left knee stood up to hits and running during the game, and Franklin was imploring the staff to let him run more late in the game. With no setbacks to his health following that game, Franklin’s leash will be loosened from the pocket against a porous Tennessee defense. The read-option has been absent from Missouri’s offensive plan since Franklin sustained a knee injury, but expect it to make a return against the Volunteers.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Missouri’s defense continues to impress, but the Volunteers’ passing game presents a challenge that the Tigers haven’t seen since the loss to Georgia in the second week of the season. Missouri’s corners haven’t been tested much since then, but that will change in Knoxville on Saturday. More of an onus, however, may be on Missouri’s defensive line. Tennessee has allowed only four sacks all season, which is an incredible total considering it’s tied for the league lead in passing attempts.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I believe in him.” — Missouri coach Gary Pinkel, on his support for embattled QB James Franklin.
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NCAAF Team Report – Missouri – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
THIS WEEK’S GAME: Missouri at Tennessee, Nov. 10 — It’s a throwback to the Big 12 for Missouri, as the Tigers take on Tennessee’s very potent passing attack. The Tigers’ defense has done well mainly against ground-based attacks, but now the secondary will be tested for the first time since week two.
KEYS TO THE GAME: There hasn’t been much pressure on Tennessee QB Tyler Bray this year, but he’s still thrown 10 interceptions in nine games. He’s shown that he’ll force some throws. However, Missouri has five interceptions this season, and only one over the last six games. For Missouri to stop Tennessee’s potent offense, it has to rattle Bray and capitalize on his mistakes.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
CB E.J. Gaines — Gaines has been solid this year, but hasn’t been as spectacular as he was in his first-team All-Big 12 year from 2011. He’ll be counted on to have his best game against Tennessee’s explosive passing offense.
QB James Franklin — How does he respond from a four-interception day against Florida? He says he’s healthy. If so, he should be able to move Missouri’s offense easily against Tennessee’s struggling defense.
RB Kendial Lawrence — Tennessee’s rushing defense is one of the worst in the SEC, and Lawrence has been solid this season. But, if Missouri wants to slow down Tennessee’s offense, the best way is to hang onto the ball on offense. Lawrence could get his number called often to do just that.
ROSTER REPORT
–RT Justin Britt will undergo surgery for a torn ACL next week and will be out of the year, coach Gary Pinkel said. The extent of the injury is not known, but will be discovered during surgery.
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