Going inside Missouri
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By The Lincoln Journal Star
Missouri averages
Points
Offense: 42.0
Defense: 25.0
Yards
Offense: 544.2
Defense: 434.5
Rush
Offense: 200.0
Defense: 158.8
Pass
Offense: 344.2
Defense: 275.7
Time
Offense: 26:54
Defense: 32:59
Base formations
Offense: Three-wide, one-back multiple no-huddle
Defense: 4-3
KEEP AN EYE ON ’EM:
MARTIN RUCKER
TE / Sr. / 6-6 / 255 pounds
Kid brother of former Husker All-American Mike is looking smart for bypassing the last NFL Draft. He’s toyed with linebacker coverage schemes to make 29 catches — the best four-game total for any tight end in the nation.
Carl Gettis
CB / Fr. / 5-11 / 200 pounds
It’s OK if you’ve never heard of Gettis, he’s about to make his first start for the Tigers, replacing the struggling Hardy Ricks. No doubt, Nebraska’s quest to run circles around the Mizzou secondary will start with him.
Tony Temple
RB / Sr. / 5-9 / 205 pounds
His productivity is really what sets the table for the spread offense. After being held by Illinois to 33 yards in the opener, the Big 12’s top returning rusher from 2006 has averaged 106.6 yards and has four TDs.
Quarterbacks (4 balls)
Gritty Chase Daniel is on his way to becoming the best quarterback to wear a Tiger uniform. He’s No. 5 nationally in total offense (averaging 356.8 yards per game). Daniel, who likes to get the ball out quick, had thrown 254 consecutive passes without an interception, but he’s been picked off twice in each of the last two games. He began his junior season by passing for a career-high 359 yards against Illinois, and was 6 yards shy of having seven straight 300-yard games. When his receivers are covered, he’s not bashful about running. Against Western Michigan, he had 39- and 36-yard scampers.
Running backs (2 balls)
Spread attacks aren’t known to feature particularly strong running games. Missouri’s is an exception. The Tigers are one of just three teams (Louisville and Kansas are the others) that are passing for at least 300 yards and also averaging 200 yards on the ground. Senior tailback Tony Temple, who had 194 yards in last year’s Sun Bowl, is the workhorse. He’s averaging 17 carries a game and 5.2 yards per attempt. Marcus Woods, however, may be ready to see more action. After missing the first three games with a sprained ankle, he gained 36 yards against Illinois State on just five carries.
Wide receivers (3 balls)
Versatile true freshman Jeremy Maclin is receiving a ton of attention for stepping in for the injured Danario Alexander. He’s second on the team in both receptions and rushing yardage. But speedy senior Will Franklin is the Tigers’ home-run threat. He leads the Tigers with four receiving TDs and has a team-best five catches of at least 20 yards. Alexander, who burned Illinois for nine catches and 82 yards before breaking his left wrist, will play for the first time since that game. Missouri’s other starting wideout, Tommy Saunders, is a threat to throw on an end-around, and also holds for extra points.
Offensive line (4 balls)
We’ll include Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman in this group, although the top two receiving tight ends in Missouri history rarely stay in to block. The other five linemen all tip in at 305 pounds or heavier. Some consider senior Adam Spieker, who’s started 40 straight games, to be the best center in the nation. Tyler Luellen, who’s started 30 in a row, is one of the Big 12’s top left tackles. Monte Wyrick, the lone lineman not from Missouri, and Ryan Madison alternate at left guard. The Tigers’ right side is short on experience, as guard Kurtis Gregory and former walk-on tackle Colin Brown are first-year starters.
Defensive line (1 ball)
If Nebraska can neutralize nose guard Lorenzo Williams, the Huskers should have a big day running the ball. Williams has started 29 straight games and ranks ninth at Missouri with 14½ sacks. The Tigers’ other interior presence is Ziggy Hood, who wasn’t as effective last year after breaking a foot and missing three games. He did have a big 2007 opener against Illinois, forcing two fumbles and recovering another. Mizzou’s ends have yet to distinguish themselves. Stryker Sulak is replacing the school’s all-time sacks leader, Brian Smith. Tommy Chavis, a 280-pounder, has four tackles in each of the last two games.
Linebackers (2 balls)
There isn’t a senior, or an all-league candidate, among this bunch, although first-year starting weakside backer Sean Weatherspoon, just a sophomore, ranks No. 3 in the Big 12 with 44 tackles. Brock Christopher is the only returning starter, and he’s at the middle spot after playing strongside in 2006. Christopher had 12 tackles and an interception against Western Michigan. Van Alexander has taken over Christopher’s old position. Those three guys don’t come out very often when the Tigers are in a 4-3 set. Connell Davis, a former tailback, is the top reserve.
Defensive backs (1 ball)
Strong safety Pig Brown saved the Tigers’ bacon against Illinois by recovering two fumbles, one of which he returned 100 yards for a score, and picking off a pass at the 1-yard line in the final minute. Free safety William Moore also had a fourth-quarter interception in that game. He’ll probably be keeping close tabs on true freshman cornerback Carl Gettis, who will be making his first start. The Tigers’ other corner, Darnell Terrell, had a team-high nine breakups last year and already has seven this season. Justin Garrett rotates in at safety and, along with Del Howard, sees a lot of time in nickel packages.
Special teams (2 balls)
In addition to his receiving duties, Jeremy Maclin has returned two punts for touchdowns and ranks No. 12 nationally with a 16.7-yard average. He’s also a deep man on kickoffs. Some snapping problems have led to senior punter Adam Crossett averaging just 36.2 yards. Worse yet, the Tigers rank next-to-last nationally with a net average of just 26.4 yards per punt. Jeff Wolfert, who made 18 of 20 field goals last season, including a 54-yarder just before halftime against NU, has hit just 3 of his last 7 attempts. Wolfert, a former diver at Missouri, has never missed an extra point (66-for-66).
SCOUTING REPORT
Illinois State, from the Championship Subdivision, formerly known as I-AA, was a two-point conversion away from beating Kansas State last year. But against Missouri on Sept.22, Denver Johnson’s Redbirds gave up a touchdown on the first play and never really recovered while losing 38-17.
Playing without its leading receiver, Illinois State still passed for 242 yards, and got a 116-yard rushing effort from Geno Blow. But after failing to convert a fourth-and-goal play from the Tiger 3-yard line early in the second quarter, the Redbirds gave up a 97-yard drive to fall behind 21-3.
“I’ve got to tip my hat to Missouri — they are a good football team,” Johnson said. “Playing a team like this, defensively, is like running a marathon. You’re just absolutely wasted after it’s over.
“They hit us with the man buster (to Will Franklin) on the first play of the game. They are hard to defend, schematically. They have great players.
“We wanted to try to shorten the opportunities they had. We moved the ball and took some time off the clock. We didn’t want to go three-and-out very often, I don’t think we did. (But) when you get down there (in scoring range) … field goals weren’t going to do us any good. If we wanted any chance at all to win the game, we were going to have to score touchdowns.
“I don’t believe in consolation or moral victories, but there were a lot of people coming into the game that thought they would hang a hundred (points) on us. They didn’t just run us out of the stadium. Our kids went out and competed. We had some opportunities.”
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