Mizzou Doomed?

[typ3kal]

Taken From ESPN: Doomed history no longer repeating itself at Missouri, Pat Forde, Aug 31

 

"ST. LOUIS -- The football world is officially and completely off its axis when the Missouri Tigers beat a ranked opponent and major rival by 10 points -- and are mad afterward.

 

That's what happened here Saturday night. After America's most entertaining team outdazzled Illinois in a 52-42 track meet, coach Gary Pinkel went into his locker room and was greeted by widespread disappointment.

 

"That upsets me a little bit," Pinkel said. "When you win, you enjoy it."

 

Pinkel packs the perspective his young players lack. He remembers double-digit losses to Bowling Green and Troy and New Mexico. His first four years in Columbia, his record was 22-25 -- and that was pretty good compared to his predecessors. Missouri had just two winning seasons between 1984 and 2002.

 

At Mizzou, enjoyment historically has been distributed with an eyedropper.

 

But Missouri has won 13 of its past 15 games, and Sudden Entitlement Syndrome has afflicted much of the Show-Me State. After finishing 2007 in the top five and starting 2008 ranked sixth in the AP poll -- highest preseason ranking in school history -- the Tigers apparently now fancy themselves USC of the Midwest.

 

From that warped new worldview, scoring the most points in school history against a ranked opponent elicits no giddiness. Hanging the most points on Illinois in its last 30 games -- three more than the Trojans scored in the Rose Bowl last January -- doesn't move the needle on the Joy-O-Meter. Watching your Heisman Trophy-candidate quarterback rack up 323 passing yards, 46 rushing yards and three passing touchdowns produces no overt fawning.

 

Chase Daniel

Illinois couldn't get a hold of Chase Daniel and Missouri's offense.

"That just comes with the expectation level around here," QB Chase Daniel said.

 

Those expectations made this the biggest season-opener in school history. And the current Tigers should know their history.

Yo, guys: you're Missouri. Teams get five downs against you. Teams kick balls in the air and catch them for the winning touchdown against you. Your last conference championship was in 1969.

 

So soak that up and celebrate for a minute.

Of course, tempered enthusiasm is understandable for a couple of reasons: the Tigers nearly blew a 25-point second-half lead; they gave up 451 passing yards and five passing touchdowns to a quarterback who has never come close to producing numbers like that; and they lost crazy-fast receiver/return man Jeremy Maclin in the fourth quarter to a left ankle injury.

 

That injury appeared especially grave when Maclin was carted to the locker room in tears midway through the final period. But X-rays were negative, and Maclin returned to the sideline with dry eyes, a pair of crutches and a bag of ice taped to the outside of the ankle.

 

"I'm going to be all right," Maclin said. "I'm OK."

 

Maclin's teammates went so far as to assert that he'll be on the practice field Tuesday, ready to go. That remains to be seen -- and truth be told, there is no reason to rush him back.

 

Missouri's three September opponents are Southeast Missouri State, Nevada and Buffalo. Given what a lingering ankle sprain can do to a guy who relies heavily on speed and quickness, the prudent thing would be a patient rehab that has him 100 percent by the time the Tigers travel to Nebraska to open Big 12 play Oct. 4.

 

And even with Maclin accumulating 234 all-purpose yards and returning a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, it was clear Saturday how many other weapons Missouri possesses.

 

In his first start, sophomore running back Derrick Washington ran for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Backup Jimmy Jackson added 46 yards on just five carries. Five Tigers besides Maclin caught passes -- including tight end Chase Coffman, a 255-pound stud who hurdled Illinois cornerback Dere Hicks on one eye-opening play.

 

With this offense, it could be anybody's night.

 

--Tommy Saunders

 

It all revolves around Daniel, who has complete mastery of Missouri's no-huddle spread offense.

 

When Daniel has the Tigers really stepping on it in their "Superfast Ball" offense, they're clicking off plays at an astonishing pace. Daniel said they want to be snapping the ball with 30 seconds on the play clock, which can result in eye-blink drives -- like when Mizzou squeezed off 10 plays in 2 minutes and 25 seconds late in the first half, covering 87 yards for a touchdown.

 

"We need to do more of it," Daniel said.

 

That pace is difficult for defenses to contend with. So are the variety of options at Daniel's disposal.

 

"A lot of guys can make some plays," Pinkel said. "It's kind of fun to see it."

 

Said receiver Tommy Saunders, whose two touchdown catches doubled his season output of '07: "With this offense, it could be anybody's night."

 

Despite that, only a dimwit wouldn't do everything in his power to limit Maclin first and foremost. Which brings us to Illinois coach Ron Zook, who made the odd decision to repeatedly kicking the ball to Maclin. The sophomore left burn marks across the Edward Jones Dome turf on that kickoff return touchdown.

 

From 1982 until last year, Missouri went a Buccaneers-ish 25 years without a kickoff return for a touchdown. Then Maclin put on a black-and-gold uniform, and now the Tigers have two kickoff TDs in their last five games.

 

So that was just Zooker being Zooker by giving Maclin that chance to score. But coaching gaffe aside, Illinois has a pretty impressive team. Certainly more impressive and talented than the six FCS opponents who played Top 10 teams Saturday and were summarily pounded. There was much more to be learned from this game than from those seal clubbings.

 

Jeremy Maclin

Jeremy Maclin's 99-yard yard kickoff return gave Missouri the lead for good.

"We didn't play some average team today," Pinkel said. "They're a real good football team."

 

Illinois was good enough to expose the Missouri secondary, repeatedly getting receivers loose on deep routes. The Mizzou defense was billed as massively improved, but that looks a bit like false advertising today.

 

What rings true at Mizzou is the ancient belief that if the Tigers can simply seal off their borders in recruiting, they should always be among the best teams in the Big 12. One of the most mysterious elements of Missouri's historic ineptitude has been the fact that it is the only FBS school in a state with major metropolitan anchors on the borders, Kansas City and St. Louis.

 

Now we know what a roster laden with homeboys can do. Eight offensive starters are from Missouri, and every skill player who touched the ball besides Daniel and wideout Jared Perry are in-state products.

 

You would think all those guys who grew up in Missouri would know their Tigers history. And if they know that bleak history, they're awfully happy to be 1-0 today."

[motorboatjonesNU]

Missouri won't win the MNC. Any defense that allows +40 pts. in any game is not of the caliber needed to win national titles.

 

No team that's won the BCS/MNC ever since '93 (and probably before - but that's all my recent memory can go back to) has allowed 40 or more in any one game during their title run.

 

The closest exception to that would be Miami of 2002. They allowed 40 to VT - and lost to OSU in the MNC due to what some consider a phantom penalty.

[huskernumerouno]

Our D will need to come of age to deal with them that is for sure

[melscott62]

first game of the year fellas..... it means nothing. its a long season

[papersun87]

All this article makes me do is fear for when we play them . . . they're obviously working their fingers to the bone to be the best team they can be if they're disappointed blowing out a team that played in the Rose Bowl last year.

 

Frankly, a lot of Illinois' scores last night were deep balls on blown coverage. Typical week-one, not having your assignment straight type of stuff. When they get that hammered down, they'll be a better defense.

[Scratchtown]

LSU gave up 48 points to kentucky last year and 50 to Arkansas and they won the national title......

 

 

not trying to defend Misery but someone just didn't remember the horrible year last year that was 2007.

[melscott62]

trying to make a judgment about a team after one game is almost as silly as trying to make a judgment about a team based on how they were last year. there is a ton of football left to be played.... and stuff happens... injuries, and guys just catching on and getting experience and confidence.

[motorboatjonesNU]

LSU gave up 48 points to kentucky last year and 50 to Arkansas and they won the national title......

 

 

Ah, yes... that was on OT game, however. So I'll change that to 40+ in regulation.

[jayhawk]

Game 1 is tough to make big judgements on and they did manage to win. I did not think KU looked great in game 1 either, but I would take a win on a neutral site over Illinois. I am not predicting Mizzou wins the national title, but they might....

[huskerswrkhavoc]

.......Pinkel said. "They're a real good football team."

 

wait, who is coaching mizzou this year?

[NUpolo8]

Missouri won't win the MNC. Any defense that allows +40 pts. in any game is not of the caliber needed to win national titles.

 

No team that's won the BCS/MNC ever since '93 (and probably before - but that's all my recent memory can go back to) has allowed 40 or more in any one game during their title run.

 

The closest exception to that would be Miami of 2002. They allowed 40 to VT - and lost to OSU in the MNC due to what some consider a phantom penalty.

 

 

LSU last year I'm sure had 40 hung on them a few times. But Mizzou's defense looked awfully suspect. They will be pressed to be OU