Drinkwitz is in favor of tradition when it comes to SEC football
Oklahoma and Texas are en route to join the conference next year which has brought up much speculation about scheduling. Will there be an eight-game schedule with four non-conference opponents and an interdivisional matchup being the mainstay? In Mizzou’s case, it’s Battle Line Rivalry with Arkansas of the SEC West. Or will the nine-game schedule with three permanent opponents be the way things go?
Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz more or less said he likes how things are currently.
“Call me old fashioned or whatever,” Drinkwitz said. “I believe what makes the SEC great is establishment, southern traditions 一 it’s the passion that our fans have for the game, family, tradition and going out on Saturdays. So, I’m not as apt as some of the other ones in our league that think we have to go to every campus in the SEC. That might sell more tickets, but I am for keeping regional rivalries. I am for keeping the consistency of opponents. I think any time you have more sporadic opponents it’s tougher to gauge. You may have the best team you’d ever have but you're going against brand new opponents and there are a lot more variables there.”
Drinkwitz, who is an Alma, Arkansas native, believes this can impact recruiting and also can’t fathom some rivalries like Auburn-Alabama not being played yearly.
“I think when you can consistently recruit against permanent opponents you have a better chance to gauge how your program is growing and developing. I don’t speak for anyone else, but my personal view is I can’t imagine some of these SEC schools not playing each other every year as somebody who grew up in SEC country. … They say it would be played every two years and I’d like to say how’s that worked out for the Olympics? I don’t think it’s been a model that’s proved to be perfect there.
“I’m for permanent whether it’s eight or nine games I’m for some sort of permanent opponents.”
QB Jake Garcia is doing well, walk-on QB Dylan Laible has impressed
Since Sam Horn and Brady Cook have been limited or sidelined due to injury, Miami quarterback transfer Jake Garcia has taken the lion’s share of QB1 reps and has been doing well in that role. However, Drinkwitz was also happy by the performance of another transfer 一 Hutchinson C.C. (KS) transfer Dylan Laible.
“I’ve been pleased with Jake’s progression,” Drinkwitz said. “He’s got really good arm talent and does a nice job handling the offense. Obviously, there’s been good and bad days, but more good than not. I’ve been really impressed with Dylan Laible. He has taken advantage of every rep that he’s gotten since Sam is not full speed and he has played really well. He makes good throws and decisions. You can tell he played a lot of football and the speed of the game doesn’t bother him and he’s been able to quickly grasp our system. So, I’ve been very impressed with both of those guys.”
This is good for both quarterbacks. When a team brings on a walk-on they hope that player progresses into a valuable player. The obvious example is running back Cody Schrader, who went from the bottom of the depth chart this time last spring to leading the team in rushing and touchdowns.
Laible's progress through a handful of practices likely doesn’t put him ahead of Cook, Garcia or Horn, but with the injuries at quarterback he’s getting more looks and now Drinkwitz could have his eye on him more once the other quarterbacks due come back from injury.
It shouldn’t be taken as something too groundbreaking but because this story happened last year in the same backfield it’s something that has to be acknowledged.
Offensive line update
To me, the projected starters for the Tigers’ offensive line is Javon Foster, Xavier Delgado, Bence Polgar, Armand Membou and Marcellus Johnson. It’s really a toss-up at center. Connor Tollison could also be named the starter and it wouldn’t shock me.
EJ Ndoma-Ogar was someone who I thought would push more for the left guard spot, and Drinkwitz said last week that Ndoma-Ogar would be more involved once he’s a full participant. Well, he isn’t yet. So, Delgado likely maintains the left guard spot for now and probably throughout the spring if Ndoma-Ogar doesn’t come back.
The Tigers redshirted Valen Erickson, Curtis Peagler qnd Tristan Wilson last season, and on Thursday, Drinkwitz alluded to the improvement that the group has shown through the first four practices.
“I’ve been very impressed with Val, who is playing some really good ball at right tackle,” Drinkwitz said. "I think Tristan Wilson is developing at a rate that’s been very good. Curtis Peagler has come along.”
Drinkwitz was quick to point out that the offensive line still isn’t consistent enough at this point in time and that the defense has had its way with getting pressure on the quarterback.
He also said Tollison has had an issue with snapping the ball that they’re looking to correct.
He said right tackle Marcellus Johnson is having to get more comfortable being in a right-hand stance and doing everything on the right side as opposed to the left side. Drinkwitz did say he likes Marcellus’ approach to the game, the way he takes care of himself physically, studies film, does the extra work and does things with a purpose.
Drinkwitz believes Membou will have to get better footwork and move faster since he’s closer to the ball at right guard as opposed to right tackle. He believes that Membou is strong enough but has to develop the finesse aspect of the position but he thinks Membou will be a “big-time player” for the team in 2023.
Considering right guard was probably the position that struggled the most on the offensive line last season, it would be great for the Tigers to turn something from what it seems they believe to have been a net negative to a net positive.
Oklahoma and Texas are en route to join the conference next year which has brought up much speculation about scheduling. Will there be an eight-game schedule with four non-conference opponents and an interdivisional matchup being the mainstay? In Mizzou’s case, it’s Battle Line Rivalry with Arkansas of the SEC West. Or will the nine-game schedule with three permanent opponents be the way things go?
Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz more or less said he likes how things are currently.
“Call me old fashioned or whatever,” Drinkwitz said. “I believe what makes the SEC great is establishment, southern traditions 一 it’s the passion that our fans have for the game, family, tradition and going out on Saturdays. So, I’m not as apt as some of the other ones in our league that think we have to go to every campus in the SEC. That might sell more tickets, but I am for keeping regional rivalries. I am for keeping the consistency of opponents. I think any time you have more sporadic opponents it’s tougher to gauge. You may have the best team you’d ever have but you're going against brand new opponents and there are a lot more variables there.”
Drinkwitz, who is an Alma, Arkansas native, believes this can impact recruiting and also can’t fathom some rivalries like Auburn-Alabama not being played yearly.
“I think when you can consistently recruit against permanent opponents you have a better chance to gauge how your program is growing and developing. I don’t speak for anyone else, but my personal view is I can’t imagine some of these SEC schools not playing each other every year as somebody who grew up in SEC country. … They say it would be played every two years and I’d like to say how’s that worked out for the Olympics? I don’t think it’s been a model that’s proved to be perfect there.
“I’m for permanent whether it’s eight or nine games I’m for some sort of permanent opponents.”
QB Jake Garcia is doing well, walk-on QB Dylan Laible has impressed
Since Sam Horn and Brady Cook have been limited or sidelined due to injury, Miami quarterback transfer Jake Garcia has taken the lion’s share of QB1 reps and has been doing well in that role. However, Drinkwitz was also happy by the performance of another transfer 一 Hutchinson C.C. (KS) transfer Dylan Laible.
“I’ve been pleased with Jake’s progression,” Drinkwitz said. “He’s got really good arm talent and does a nice job handling the offense. Obviously, there’s been good and bad days, but more good than not. I’ve been really impressed with Dylan Laible. He has taken advantage of every rep that he’s gotten since Sam is not full speed and he has played really well. He makes good throws and decisions. You can tell he played a lot of football and the speed of the game doesn’t bother him and he’s been able to quickly grasp our system. So, I’ve been very impressed with both of those guys.”
This is good for both quarterbacks. When a team brings on a walk-on they hope that player progresses into a valuable player. The obvious example is running back Cody Schrader, who went from the bottom of the depth chart this time last spring to leading the team in rushing and touchdowns.
Laible's progress through a handful of practices likely doesn’t put him ahead of Cook, Garcia or Horn, but with the injuries at quarterback he’s getting more looks and now Drinkwitz could have his eye on him more once the other quarterbacks due come back from injury.
It shouldn’t be taken as something too groundbreaking but because this story happened last year in the same backfield it’s something that has to be acknowledged.
Offensive line update
To me, the projected starters for the Tigers’ offensive line is Javon Foster, Xavier Delgado, Bence Polgar, Armand Membou and Marcellus Johnson. It’s really a toss-up at center. Connor Tollison could also be named the starter and it wouldn’t shock me.
EJ Ndoma-Ogar was someone who I thought would push more for the left guard spot, and Drinkwitz said last week that Ndoma-Ogar would be more involved once he’s a full participant. Well, he isn’t yet. So, Delgado likely maintains the left guard spot for now and probably throughout the spring if Ndoma-Ogar doesn’t come back.
The Tigers redshirted Valen Erickson, Curtis Peagler qnd Tristan Wilson last season, and on Thursday, Drinkwitz alluded to the improvement that the group has shown through the first four practices.
“I’ve been very impressed with Val, who is playing some really good ball at right tackle,” Drinkwitz said. "I think Tristan Wilson is developing at a rate that’s been very good. Curtis Peagler has come along.”
Drinkwitz was quick to point out that the offensive line still isn’t consistent enough at this point in time and that the defense has had its way with getting pressure on the quarterback.
He also said Tollison has had an issue with snapping the ball that they’re looking to correct.
He said right tackle Marcellus Johnson is having to get more comfortable being in a right-hand stance and doing everything on the right side as opposed to the left side. Drinkwitz did say he likes Marcellus’ approach to the game, the way he takes care of himself physically, studies film, does the extra work and does things with a purpose.
Drinkwitz believes Membou will have to get better footwork and move faster since he’s closer to the ball at right guard as opposed to right tackle. He believes that Membou is strong enough but has to develop the finesse aspect of the position but he thinks Membou will be a “big-time player” for the team in 2023.
Considering right guard was probably the position that struggled the most on the offensive line last season, it would be great for the Tigers to turn something from what it seems they believe to have been a net negative to a net positive.
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