May be some repeats of my post on Saturday prior to the first scrimmage, but we have a slightly better idea of the strengths and weaknesses with Missouri’s 2015 team. Here are some musings as preseason camp nears its end.
1. Can the wide-outs replicate? Missouri’s receivers had a fantastic first scrimmage, and now it’s about showing that performance wasn’t a fluke. Sure, there were a few drops and I’m sure more than few mistakes on routes. But, when the receivers were in positions to make big plays, they did that more often than not. The injuries to J’Mon Moore and Johnathon Johnson certainly muddy that picture a bit, but this is giving a chance to guys like Richaud Floyd, Thomas Richard (who is healthy again) and certainly freshman Justin Smith. If Johnson can’t avoid a redshirt because of that ankle injury, another strong scrimmage by Smith could all but lock-up a season in the rotation for the big freshman.
2. More consistency on the offensive line. Josh Henson said on Monday that he feels like there’s more stability and certainty with the offensive line now, compared to the spring. We didn’t see a lot of moves following the first scrimmage, one that was marred by penalties for the line. The big guys to watch are Malik Cuellar, who could get reps at both tackle spots (and maybe guard?) and how the snaps are divided between Taylor Chappell and Brad McNulty at left guard. Everything else seems, for the most part, set. So, avoiding penalties on Thursday will be a good sign in getting things fine-tuned for the season.
3. Mauk’s accuracy. Andy Hill has been about as vocal as any assistant I can recall in saying that Mauk’s accuracy isn’t going to cut it this season. He said it in the spring, and he’s said it more often so far this August. A look at Mauk’s career scrimmage stats at Missouri may show why. In 19 scrimmages, Mauk has completed 200-of-364 passes (54.9%) for 2,176 yards (5.98 YPA) with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. I didn’t look up rushing numbers, because those are, essentially, meaningless in a scrimmage where quarterbacks can’t be hit. Hill won’t say what completion percentage they want Mauk at, only that it’s “high” (and certainly higher than 50-percent). I’m not sure Mauk can combine a 60-percent passer, game in and game out (because at some point, given a large body of work in scrimmages and games, it is what it is), but that’s certainly the number you want him to hit in tomorrow’s scrimmage.
4. The situation at nickel. It sure SEEMED like Donavin Newsom was on the field more during the first scrimmage, but it’s hard to chart running stats and snaps. But Newsom has said he’s been told that Barry Odom thinks his athleticism can keep him on the field in sure passing situations, allowing Missouri to still have some beef with three linebackers remaining in play. I’m going to try to keep track of Newsom more tomorrow. Was Saturday an aberration because Tavon Ross and Ian Simon were both dinged? Or is Newsom changing the way Missouri handles its defensive sets? Another thing I’m watching is how Aarion Penton plays when he’s moved inside to nickel. That’s been going on since the spring, and Penton — known as a physical corner — appears to thrive on the inside.
5. The battle at left end. That’s between Walter Brady and Marcell Frazier, and Frazier jumped over Brady on the depth chart following the last scrimmage. Frazier certainly has the size you’d want to be paired alongside Charles Harris, but it will be interesting to see what Frazier does when he’s going more against the first and second-team offensive lines.
1. Can the wide-outs replicate? Missouri’s receivers had a fantastic first scrimmage, and now it’s about showing that performance wasn’t a fluke. Sure, there were a few drops and I’m sure more than few mistakes on routes. But, when the receivers were in positions to make big plays, they did that more often than not. The injuries to J’Mon Moore and Johnathon Johnson certainly muddy that picture a bit, but this is giving a chance to guys like Richaud Floyd, Thomas Richard (who is healthy again) and certainly freshman Justin Smith. If Johnson can’t avoid a redshirt because of that ankle injury, another strong scrimmage by Smith could all but lock-up a season in the rotation for the big freshman.
2. More consistency on the offensive line. Josh Henson said on Monday that he feels like there’s more stability and certainty with the offensive line now, compared to the spring. We didn’t see a lot of moves following the first scrimmage, one that was marred by penalties for the line. The big guys to watch are Malik Cuellar, who could get reps at both tackle spots (and maybe guard?) and how the snaps are divided between Taylor Chappell and Brad McNulty at left guard. Everything else seems, for the most part, set. So, avoiding penalties on Thursday will be a good sign in getting things fine-tuned for the season.
3. Mauk’s accuracy. Andy Hill has been about as vocal as any assistant I can recall in saying that Mauk’s accuracy isn’t going to cut it this season. He said it in the spring, and he’s said it more often so far this August. A look at Mauk’s career scrimmage stats at Missouri may show why. In 19 scrimmages, Mauk has completed 200-of-364 passes (54.9%) for 2,176 yards (5.98 YPA) with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. I didn’t look up rushing numbers, because those are, essentially, meaningless in a scrimmage where quarterbacks can’t be hit. Hill won’t say what completion percentage they want Mauk at, only that it’s “high” (and certainly higher than 50-percent). I’m not sure Mauk can combine a 60-percent passer, game in and game out (because at some point, given a large body of work in scrimmages and games, it is what it is), but that’s certainly the number you want him to hit in tomorrow’s scrimmage.
4. The situation at nickel. It sure SEEMED like Donavin Newsom was on the field more during the first scrimmage, but it’s hard to chart running stats and snaps. But Newsom has said he’s been told that Barry Odom thinks his athleticism can keep him on the field in sure passing situations, allowing Missouri to still have some beef with three linebackers remaining in play. I’m going to try to keep track of Newsom more tomorrow. Was Saturday an aberration because Tavon Ross and Ian Simon were both dinged? Or is Newsom changing the way Missouri handles its defensive sets? Another thing I’m watching is how Aarion Penton plays when he’s moved inside to nickel. That’s been going on since the spring, and Penton — known as a physical corner — appears to thrive on the inside.
5. The battle at left end. That’s between Walter Brady and Marcell Frazier, and Frazier jumped over Brady on the depth chart following the last scrimmage. Frazier certainly has the size you’d want to be paired alongside Charles Harris, but it will be interesting to see what Frazier does when he’s going more against the first and second-team offensive lines.
