know your enemy

[dtbugeater]

Chase Daniel leads the way for Mizzou

By Vahe Gregorian

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

10/02/2007

Chase Daniel sprints

Chase Daniel sprints during an afternoon football practice.

(Ben Fredman)

 

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Shortly before he leaves the house he shares with two teammates and heads for a 9 a.m. biology lab last Thursday, Chase Daniel roams to his room for a backpack.

 

His tidy lair is adorned with mementos, awards, a computer station and a Nebraska football DVD that reinforce his identity as the exceptional junior quarterback for the University of Missouri. Among the paraphernalia hanging on the walls are a plasma television, posters of Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson and a framed print bearing the slogan "Winners don't wait for chances. They take risks."

 

A keepsake suggests that's no idle prattle: a "First Jump Certificate" for skydiving.

 

The skydiving scoop is mildly disconcerting to MU offensive coordinator and assistant head coach Dave Christensen, who joked that he might jump out of a plane without a parachute if Daniel ever did it again.

 

 

Then again ...

 

"Anyone who's going to jump out of an airplane has to have a lot of guts," Christensen said, "and he does."

 

VITAL PIECE

 

As Mizzou pursues its first conference title since 1969, no player is more essential than Daniel.

 

The hubbub is at a pinnacle this week as the 17th-ranked Tigers (4-0) prepare to play host to No. 25 Nebraska (4-1) Saturday before a sellout crowd of about 70,000. If the Tigers can beat Nebraska for the third straight time in Columbia and muster a win the following week at No. 10 Oklahoma, Daniel's name may surface in discussion for the Heisman Trophy.

 

Daniel is fifth in the nation in total offense (375 yards a game) and capable of breaking many of the single-game and single-season MU records he set as a sophomore a year ago. He is crucial not only to MU's offense but also to its overall play.

 

"He has the 'it' factor; he walked in here with it," said MU coach Gary Pinkel, who has tutored future NFL quarterbacks such as Chris Chandler and Mark Brunell. "It's contagious. Players feel it on both sides of the ball."

 

Pinkel said that in nearly 30 years, he has coached no player with more compelling leadership skills. Daniel demonstrated that demeanor when he said he remains miffed with himself for missing a play after being knocked woozy against Illinois. To the best of his recollection, it's the only time in his career he had to be attended to on the field.

 

"I'm 225 pounds," the 6-foot Daniel said. "I can absorb hits."

 

Other elements of the right stuff, according to Pinkel: Daniel's ability to cope with pressure and adversity, a boundless work ethic, perfectionism and an innate capacity to make others follow, perhaps encapsulated in the hugs he gives each offensive lineman before every "team" session of practice.

 

"It" also stems from the fact that Daniel has been ingrained in the fundamentals of MU's spread offense since junior high school.

 

His comfort with a system that requires dozens of reads within seconds on virtually every play is reminiscent of Russell Crowe's visions in "A Beautiful Mind." And it's part of the reason Christensen finds himself scheming new plays, say, on a waiter's note pad over dinner with his wife, Susie.

 

"Hell, she wants to help draw 'em," said Christensen, who has taken to calling Mizzou's ever-morphing system the "Space Odyssey" for both its array and his intent to use all space on the field.

 

MU also can be enterprising because, Pinkel insists, Daniel is the most consistently accurate passer he ever has been around. That can mean intentionally cushioning the impending impact by lasering it to the target's backside armpit or near the ground instead of exposing his rib cage.

 

All things considered, Pinkel says, "I'd clone him for the rest of my career if I could."

 

'HIGH VALUES'

 

As for the original himself, Daniel foremost is the product of deeply devoted parents. His father, Bill, is a Southlake, Texas, businessman whose penchant for detail and urgency to get things done now were absorbed by the son. Daniel's mother, Vickie, is a flight attendant who infused him with self-esteem and what he called "that loving side."

 

"I think I was held a lot as a baby," he said, smiling.

 

All of which has left Daniel quite secure with himself, as well personable, responsible and mannerly — enough so to rustle up scrambled eggs and bacon for a visiting reporter and be concerned about how they came out. (Very good, thanks).

 

Pinkel and others also point to his integrity, and his presence at MU is testament to that.

 

The lifelong University of Texas fan was crushed when the Longhorns snubbed him. He committed to Missouri and stuck with the Tigers even though Texas came sniffing around after his senior season, in which he threw for 4,617 yards and 70 touchdowns, rushed for 1,425 yards and led Southlake Carroll to a state title.

 

"You don't get many people who do that these days," Daniel said, "but I come from a high-values family."

 

EAGLE EYE

 

The clock is winding down and Daniel's first option is covered. Unruffled and without hesitation, he scans through his progressions and again finds no opening. Then, out of the corner of his peripherally conditioned eye, he sees it: someone pulling out of a parking space across the street.

 

He executes a U-turn and swoops into the space, pauses to point out how perfectly the wheels aligned into the spot and arrives in class moments before 9 a.m.

 

With only two classes on this day during a bye week (the other is marketing), the business major has time to return a rented movie ("Next") and eat lunch at Chipotle in downtown Columbia.

 

By 1:30 p.m., Daniel is checking in at MU's gleaming, sprawling new $16 million football facility for film study and conditioning.

 

Nine days before the Tigers will take on the Cornhuskers, the buzz for the game already is palpable. Daniel bumps into Christensen in a hallway, and they immediately launch into brainstorming over the Cornhuskers.

 

That mental preparation will peak the morning of the game, when quarterbacks coach Dave Yost and other MU quarterbacks will enter Daniel's hotel room. With the lights off and eyes closed, each quarterback lying down, the only noise will be Yost slowly reading each of the first 50 plays on MU's script as each quarterback pictures how to proceed against multiple defensive possibilities.

 

Until then, Daniel will watch vast amounts of film on Nebraska, beginning on this day with footage of last season's 34-20 loss in Lincoln. While he says "I'm not a big believer in just critiquing myself all the time," there's plenty of self-analysis at play.

 

Daniel has completed 63.5 percent of his passes at MU (441 of 694), but he vigilantly scrutinizes his technique for false moves: not setting his shoulders, bad footwork, hopping or shooting too finely as he did one on potential touchdown against Nebraska last season.

 

"I tried to aim it; I air-mailed that out of the end zone," he notes.

 

As he watches Nebraska film, though, Daniel is just as intent on what he can learn about the 'Huskers as himself.

 

After reviewing one play perhaps 15 times, he yells, "Coach C, come look at this real quick." Christensen comes in the room, observes what Daniel is pointing out verbally and with a laser pointer and starts drawing on a grease board.

 

"Oh, I like it a lot," Daniel says. "They can't defend that. There's no way."

 

With Daniel believing that, the coaches expect the team to follow. "Our guys," Pinkel said, "would jump off a building for him."

 

A leap of faith that Daniel inspires by example.

 

vgregorian@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8199

[808Husker in KCMO]

I think they can defend it.

[I Bleed RED]

One issue in that is the confidence I feel they have and we lack. I hope this game changes that.

 

GBR!!!!!!

[BIGREDIOWAN]

Definately agree with you. We need to get that swagger back on defense and even on offense a little bit. I mean our offense should be able to line up across from any defense and say "Hey were going to run this play try and stop it!" Our defense should be able to say......."I don't care what your going to run because I'm going to be in the backfield tackling your QB before it gets going!" Man I miss that swagger.........

[TrumanBD]

One issue in that is the confidence I feel they have and we lack. I hope this game changes that.

 

GBR!!!!!!

 

As a Mizzou fan I can tell you that the confidence and attitude this team plays with is so drastically different to what we are used to. I think it started last year, and hopefully is even better this year. We certainly have some great individual talent as does Nebraska, but I think our team is really playing like a "team" and I hope that gives us the edge.

[Eric]

I miss the swagger too. A few years ago, before the ball was hiked, I would think 'Here comes a sack or a turnover!' Now I just think, 'Gee I hope this next play is under 10 yards'

 

Where is Terrell Farley, he should come give some lessons.

[BIGREDIOWAN]

I miss the swagger too. A few years ago, before the ball was hiked, I would think 'Here comes a sack or a turnover!' Now I just think, 'Gee I hope this next play is under 10 yards'

 

Where is Terrell Farley, he should come give some lessons.

Every time I see a QB drop back I think "Oh god please no!!!"

[Hunter94]

I miss the swagger too. A few years ago, before the ball was hiked, I would think 'Here comes a sack or a turnover!' Now I just think, 'Gee I hope this next play is under 10 yards'

 

Where is Terrell Farley, he should come give some lessons.

Every time I see a QB drop back I think "Oh god please no!!!"

 

 

oh how things have changed.

[BIGREDIOWAN]

I miss the swagger too. A few years ago, before the ball was hiked, I would think 'Here comes a sack or a turnover!' Now I just think, 'Gee I hope this next play is under 10 yards'

 

Where is Terrell Farley, he should come give some lessons.

Every time I see a QB drop back I think "Oh god please no!!!"

 

 

oh how things have changed.

Yeah I know...............before I was like "Are you sure you want to do that??? Okay you asked for it......"

[HuskerFan505]

Definately agree with you. We need to get that swagger back on defense and even on offense a little bit. I mean our offense should be able to line up across from any defense and say "Hey were going to run this play try and stop it!" Our defense should be able to say......."I don't care what your going to run because I'm going to be in the backfield tackling your QB before it gets going!" Man I miss that swagger.........

 

Agreed.

 

Our Defense needs to regain it's confidence and it's swagger. Our Offense should be able to move the ball against their (Mizzery) defense.

 

 

GO BIG RED

[huskernation20]

I miss the swagger too. A few years ago, before the ball was hiked, I would think 'Here comes a sack or a turnover!' Now I just think, 'Gee I hope this next play is under 10 yards'

 

Where is Terrell Farley, he should come give some lessons.

Every time I see a QB drop back I think "Oh god please no!!!"

 

 

oh how things have changed.

Yeah I know...............before I was like "Are you sure you want to do that??? Okay you asked for it......"

 

 

I miss that so bad, I just want to CRY.

[NoNeedForThat]

One issue in that is the confidence I feel they have and we lack. I hope this game changes that.

 

GBR!!!!!!

 

As a Mizzou fan I can tell you that the confidence and attitude this team plays with is so drastically different to what we are used to. I think it started last year, and hopefully is even better this year. We certainly have some great individual talent as does Nebraska, but I think our team is really playing like a "team" and I hope that gives us the edge.

 

I totally agree. When Brad was here, it seemed like our players just hoped to God that he would carry us. Now, the whole offense plays with an incredible amount of confidence, like they just know what's coming, and that it's going to be big. Defensively, I'm not going to say the same thing.

 

I have a feeling this MU team is going to be as amped up as in 2003. You could see the enthusiasm difference on both teams: the MU sideline was going nuts, and the NU sideline was listless. NU needs to bring that confidence from the beginning of the game, because we (MU) have started hot in most of the games. As a fan on either side, this would be something I would look for right at the start. If NU doesn't have it, they're not going to win, and it's not going to be competitive. If they do, it's going to be a 3 point game that could go either way.

[captain obvious]

I can't believe nobody has made a booger joke yet.

[TX-Husker-2011]

One issue in that is the confidence I feel they have and we lack. I hope this game changes that.

 

GBR!!!!!!

 

As a Mizzou fan I can tell you that the confidence and attitude this team plays with is so drastically different to what we are used to. I think it started last year, and hopefully is even better this year. We certainly have some great individual talent as does Nebraska, but I think our team is really playing like a "team" and I hope that gives us the edge.

 

Not to mention, Chase Daniel has gone on a booger eating diet, making him that much more mobile and able to get outside of the pocket to make big time throws. I just wouldn't want to catch it after he touched it...ewww.

 

[TX-Husker-2011]

I can't believe nobody has made a booger joke yet.

Gotcha covered. See above post.