Since the spring game was canceled for the public and moved indoors, Missouri held a scrimmage that was an hour and a half in real-time length. It didn’t have any tackling or game clock, but just a series of scrimmages with the offense trying to score or get first downs in a handful of plays.
No sign of OL coach Marcus Johnson
It was rumored yesterday that the Tigers assistant coach, run game coordinator and offensive line coach Marcus Johnson was headed to Purdue to join former Missouri defensive coordinator Ryan Walters’ staff. Although, it is yet to be confirmed it likely is a done deal with Johnson absent for the entirety of the scrimmage.
Below, are just some notes of key plays and notes from the scrimmage. After the scrimmage, running backs Cody Schrader and Nate Peat, defensive tackles Darius Robinson and Realus George, and wide receiver Mookie Cooper spoke to the media afterward.
Scrimmage plays
Garcia was the first one to start the drills although he was running with the second team offensive line and what appeared to be the second unit position players. Horn was second to go in the drills and he was with the first team offensive line and position players. However, it’s important to note some guys were coming in and out and working with both quarterbacks. So essentially, Garcia and Horn split first and second team reps. Dylan Laible was with the third team unit.
On Garcia’s second drive, wide receiver Micah Manning made a heck of a catch in traffic. In fact, Manning had a couple of nice in-traffic catches.
Sam Horn threw a nice 20-25 yard dime to wide receiver Luther Burden III across the middle early on in the scrimmage on what looked like a post route and Burden took it inside the 10.
Laible led a nice drive capped off by a touchdown to wide receiver Ja’Marion Wayne inside the 10. He throws a really nice spiral.
The offense played fast and played well for the first drive or two that each quarterback had, but then it was almost entirely the defense from that point on. So, about 20-25 minutes of real-time decent reps for the offense before the defense really held it down for the rest of practice.
Again, don’t be alarmed because it’s a new scheme and the defense has most of its defense and the entire coaching staff from last year.
Linebacker Triston Newson had an interception returned for a touchdown off of a Sam Horn pass. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz said earlier in the week he’s been really impressed by him this spring.
The run defense looked pretty good, especially inside the 10-yard line. I mean the run game couldn’t move anywhere.
Didn’t see Mekhi Miller. He could be one of a few nagging injuries but I don’t remember seeing him. Drinkwitz did say earlier in the week that some minor nagging injuries on the roster stopped them from having a draft of the players before the scrimmage. However, none of these injuries are severe or long-term. Also, I was in the opposite endzone of where the drives started, and with how the defense was playing the offense didn’t always get close to the endzone I was at. So, Miller could’ve been in and I couldn’t see him, but I don’t think I saw him.
Blake Craig made a 37-yard field goal, but then followed it up with a missed 32-yard field goal off the left crossbar.
Then practice started to really get fiery the last couple of possessions that each quarterback had. Not in a mean-spirited fighting way, but in a friendly competition way.
Johnny Walker had a “sack.” He contained the edge well. This is another guy Drinkwitz mentioned on Wednesday, who he thought was playing well.
False start on 4th and 8. Then a pass interference on cornerback Ennis Rakestraw in the end zone on Cooper. The penalty didn’t matter too much because the defense stuffed them with a goal-line stand.
Carnell had a pass breakup on Burden running a drag inside the 10.
At the end of everything, the defense won this scrimmage.
No sign of OL coach Marcus Johnson
It was rumored yesterday that the Tigers assistant coach, run game coordinator and offensive line coach Marcus Johnson was headed to Purdue to join former Missouri defensive coordinator Ryan Walters’ staff. Although, it is yet to be confirmed it likely is a done deal with Johnson absent for the entirety of the scrimmage.
Below, are just some notes of key plays and notes from the scrimmage. After the scrimmage, running backs Cody Schrader and Nate Peat, defensive tackles Darius Robinson and Realus George, and wide receiver Mookie Cooper spoke to the media afterward.
Scrimmage plays
Garcia was the first one to start the drills although he was running with the second team offensive line and what appeared to be the second unit position players. Horn was second to go in the drills and he was with the first team offensive line and position players. However, it’s important to note some guys were coming in and out and working with both quarterbacks. So essentially, Garcia and Horn split first and second team reps. Dylan Laible was with the third team unit.
On Garcia’s second drive, wide receiver Micah Manning made a heck of a catch in traffic. In fact, Manning had a couple of nice in-traffic catches.
Sam Horn threw a nice 20-25 yard dime to wide receiver Luther Burden III across the middle early on in the scrimmage on what looked like a post route and Burden took it inside the 10.
Laible led a nice drive capped off by a touchdown to wide receiver Ja’Marion Wayne inside the 10. He throws a really nice spiral.
The offense played fast and played well for the first drive or two that each quarterback had, but then it was almost entirely the defense from that point on. So, about 20-25 minutes of real-time decent reps for the offense before the defense really held it down for the rest of practice.
Again, don’t be alarmed because it’s a new scheme and the defense has most of its defense and the entire coaching staff from last year.
Linebacker Triston Newson had an interception returned for a touchdown off of a Sam Horn pass. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz said earlier in the week he’s been really impressed by him this spring.
The run defense looked pretty good, especially inside the 10-yard line. I mean the run game couldn’t move anywhere.
Didn’t see Mekhi Miller. He could be one of a few nagging injuries but I don’t remember seeing him. Drinkwitz did say earlier in the week that some minor nagging injuries on the roster stopped them from having a draft of the players before the scrimmage. However, none of these injuries are severe or long-term. Also, I was in the opposite endzone of where the drives started, and with how the defense was playing the offense didn’t always get close to the endzone I was at. So, Miller could’ve been in and I couldn’t see him, but I don’t think I saw him.
Blake Craig made a 37-yard field goal, but then followed it up with a missed 32-yard field goal off the left crossbar.
Then practice started to really get fiery the last couple of possessions that each quarterback had. Not in a mean-spirited fighting way, but in a friendly competition way.
Johnny Walker had a “sack.” He contained the edge well. This is another guy Drinkwitz mentioned on Wednesday, who he thought was playing well.
False start on 4th and 8. Then a pass interference on cornerback Ennis Rakestraw in the end zone on Cooper. The penalty didn’t matter too much because the defense stuffed them with a goal-line stand.
Carnell had a pass breakup on Burden running a drag inside the 10.
At the end of everything, the defense won this scrimmage.
