Tigers get offensive
By Shawn Davis, 9/7/05

After a disappointing 2004 season, the Missouri Tiger football team has been working hard all summer gearing up for another year. Hopefully, some better results will lead the Tigers to their second bowl game in three years.

“I am worrying about Mizzou going out and playing at a high level during every game.” head coach Gary Pinkel said. “I am not worried about what anyone else is doing.”

Despite success on the defensive side last season, the Tiger offense appeared both predictable and one dimensional at times. The offense, led by All-American and Heisman hopeful Brad Smith, has made many changes to ensure success.

The Tigers return three big-play wide receivers in senior Sean Coffey, junior Brad Ekwerekwu and sophomore William Franklin. Tight end Martin Rucker has been added to the pre-season watch list for the 2005 John Mackey Award, which is given to the best tight-end in the country, also returns to his starting role. With a fine-tuned passing game, the Tigers will be able to run the ball like they did in 2003 when they finished eighth in the nation in rush yards per game, but that success will most likely start with the offensive line.

“We have a lot more experience on the line,” Pinkel said. “We have Adam Speiker who is 6 feet 3 inches, 303 pounds and Tyler Luellen listed at 6 feet 7 inches, 295 pounds, who have both improved since last year. Joel Clinger has also made strides at the tackle position, so with the added experience and some things that we are doing scheme-wise we should be much better on the line this year. ”

Despite the experience on the offensive line, they are still young and still getting used to playing together as a unit. For leadership the group will turn to senior Tony Palmer.

“Tony Palmer is a returning starter and a key part to our line,” Pinkel said. “He is obviously an All Big-Twelve candidate and an All-American candidate.”

The starting tailback position has been a hard one to fill for coach Pinkel and his staff since the departure of All-Big Twelve performer Zach Abron to the NFL. Last year Damien Nash and Marcus Woods split the starting job, but some off-field troubles from Nash led to Tony Temple getting some snaps and burning his red shirt. This year, Woods and Temple expect to split time at tailback although Woods holds the number one spot on the depth chart. Woods and Temple have similar running styles, both are small, quick backs who specialize in making people miss.

“The new offense is a spread, big play offense,” Woods said. “It is going to be real fast paced to wear out defenses.”

With the offense making strides, the Tigers will rely on the defense to play as well as they did last year. Senior safety and All-American candidate Jason Simpson will lead the veteran unit. The linebacking crew has improved with the additions of Marcus Bacon and Derrick Ming with veteran Dedrick Harrington anchoring the middle.

“Most of the players on this years team have impressed me,” Woods said. “Especially the freshmen.”

Van Alexander is one of those freshmen that will play onto the mix at linebacker. Coming off delicate foot surgery, Alexander is a hometown hero out of Rock Bridge high school, and has moved up to the number two spot on the depth chart behind Harrington.

Despite the strength at the linebacker position, the departure of C.J. Mosley and Attiyah Ellison to the NFL leaves to 300-pound holes to fill in the defensive line. To fill these holes, Pinkel has turned to Sophomore Lorenzo Williams and Senior Earl Stephens. With Xavie Jackson and Brain Smith on the ends, the defensive line should once again be one of the best in the Big 12.

Special teams are another cause for concern for the Tigers this year, as last year the Tigers had arguably the worst special teams in the Big 12. Punter Matt Hoenes has improved drastically over the off-season.

“I want our special teams to be good.” Pinkel said. “I want other teams to put a circle around one of our guys and say, ‘that guy can make a play’.”

There has been a showdown at kicker in pre-season practices. Adam Crossett, who handled the kicking duties last year is still number 1 on the depth chart but had to fight for it against red-shirt freshman Scott Russell.

With a revamped offense and improved special teams the Tigers will look to win the Big-12 north, as it seems as wide open as ever, with no clear cut favorite. The Tigers, the favorite from last year will seek redemption this year.

“I’m definitely looking forward to the first game against Arkansas State,” Woods said. “I just want to take it one step at a time.”

 Although expectations are lower for this years team, the Tigers have a very favorable schedule, with its two toughest games against Texas and Nebraska being played at home, the Tigers will once again challenge for the Big-12 north title and a chance to play in the Big-12 championship game and another bowl bid.

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