We're definitely going to still have some college football in this post every week. But I'll also do ten thoughts on college football specifically every Sunday morning. So I guess I'll have to somehow come up with 20 thoughts a week. I'm not sure that's a thing I'm capable of to be honest, but I'll try. Here's the last pre-season edition.
1. Missouri's season starts Saturday. Kind of. I mean, let's be honest, the season shouldn't get even slightly interesting until Wyoming comes to town on Sept. 8, and even then it shouldn't really get interesting. I've long said, the only things you learn in season openers against blood donors are bad. If Missouri hangs 60 and the game is over at halftime, I'm not going to proclaim everything is good and the Tigers will be better than the experts say. That's exactly what they should do. A year ago, Missouri was losing to Missouri State at the end of a quarter and had given up 35 points at halftime. If you were one of those who was saying "Don't worry, it's just one game and they weren't up for it and the coaches weren't using the actual playbook and we're still gonna be really good," then you're either a liar or you just aren't very smart. Absolutely nobody should have watched that game and felt good about things. It was glaringly obvious there were some major problems on that team, specifically defensively. If Saturday's game is similar in any way, you should draw the same conclusion. If it's close, or even if it's not close, but the Skyhawks are moving the ball with ease, then Missouri ain't winning eight games, which is my bar for a successful season.
2. We expect to receive a depth chart tomorrow. I'm not sure if we'll get it before or after media day. Hopefully before, but we'll see. We projected what we expect in the Chamber on Friday. Only a few spots have any intrigue:
Backup QB--I'm pretty confident it will be Micah Wilson, but I don't think that means it's set for the season.
Second string OL--Ideally these guys won't play much as the season goes on, but it will be interesting to see who's there.
Defensive end--Chris Turner is going to start. At least three guys (Turner, Nate Anderson, Tre Williams) are going to play a lot and we expect Jatorian Hansford and Trajan Jeffcoat to see the field for at least the first four games (and probably more)
Backup weak side linebacker--We're not talking about when Mizzou goes to the nickel defense. In those situations, look for Christian Holmes to come in as a third corner. In some situations Tavon Ross or Ronnell Perkins could replace a linebacker as well. But when Mizzou has the second-team in the 4-3 look, it will be interesting to see who plays there. It may be Aubrey Miller, but it also could be Ross or Perkins.
Safety--Khalil Oliver, Joshuah Bledsoe, Cam Hilton and Tyree Gillespie are all going to play. Which two start? We really don't know for sure at this point.
Our answers will come tomorrow...at least for week one. Here is our schedule:
9 am--30 minutes of practice open for viewing
11 am--players and assistant coaches available for interviews for approximately 45 minutes
1150 am--Drew Lock press conference
1230 pm--Barry Odom press conference
We will provide video from some of the interviews we do early every Tuesday afternoon. We will have a complete notebook posted Tuesday evening and then will also have a couple of feature stories every week on Wednesday and Thursday.
3. The most interesting thing about this season is the new redshirt rule. For those who live under a rock, a player who has not used a redshirt season can play in up to four games and not burn that redshirt. So you're going to see a lot of guys play early who might not have played in the past. The first game will be a great opportunity for this. The second game, you'll see some of it. By game three, if guys are playing at Purdue, they're probably going to play all year. To help keep track of this, we are going to have a games played chart for everyone. We will post this every Sunday. Basically we'll just keep track of how many games each player has played in. Once they get to five games played, you know they aren't redshirting.
Here are players we expect to redshirt as true freshmen (which doesn't mean they couldn't play in the first couple of weeks, but we don't expect them to exceed four games): Chritauskie Dove, Xavier Delgado, Bobby Lawrence, Messiah Swinson (injured), Simi Bakare, Gerald Nathan Jr., Javon Foster, Chris Mills, Daniel Parker Jr., Chad Bailey, Cameron Wilkins.
Players we are on the fence about: Lindsey Scott Jr., Khmari Thompson, Kam Scott, Tyrone Collins, Jarvis Ware
Freshmen we expect to play all year: Jalen Knox, Nick Bolton, Dominic Gicinto, Tyler Badie
There are also some guys who are not freshmen, but still have a redshirt year available: Jordan Ulmer, Jamal Brooks, Kobie Whiteside, Markell Utsey. We expect those four likely to play. Brooks and Ulmer are almost certain special teams guys. But what if you get four games in and they're not really in the rotation? You could preserve a year for them if you want to.
4. Speaking of redshirts, USC and Nebraska are both starting true freshman quarterbacks.
You'll remember Martinez as a guy that was scheduled to visit Missouri until Josh Heupel left and Scott Frost offered him at Nebraska. First true freshman EVER to start for the Huskers. Will be interesting to follow.
Daniels is the second true freshman ever to start for USC, following Matt Barkley in 2009. Couple of big time programs going with the young guys.
5. Mizzou basketball had its elite camp yesterday.
We're trying to chase down Mario McKinney and Cam'Ron Fletcher to see what they have to say about their visits. But again, hoops recruiting is kind of in a holding pattern until the official visits start in September. We ran that all down in the Chamber on Friday so no need to repeat it here.
1. Missouri's season starts Saturday. Kind of. I mean, let's be honest, the season shouldn't get even slightly interesting until Wyoming comes to town on Sept. 8, and even then it shouldn't really get interesting. I've long said, the only things you learn in season openers against blood donors are bad. If Missouri hangs 60 and the game is over at halftime, I'm not going to proclaim everything is good and the Tigers will be better than the experts say. That's exactly what they should do. A year ago, Missouri was losing to Missouri State at the end of a quarter and had given up 35 points at halftime. If you were one of those who was saying "Don't worry, it's just one game and they weren't up for it and the coaches weren't using the actual playbook and we're still gonna be really good," then you're either a liar or you just aren't very smart. Absolutely nobody should have watched that game and felt good about things. It was glaringly obvious there were some major problems on that team, specifically defensively. If Saturday's game is similar in any way, you should draw the same conclusion. If it's close, or even if it's not close, but the Skyhawks are moving the ball with ease, then Missouri ain't winning eight games, which is my bar for a successful season.
2. We expect to receive a depth chart tomorrow. I'm not sure if we'll get it before or after media day. Hopefully before, but we'll see. We projected what we expect in the Chamber on Friday. Only a few spots have any intrigue:
Backup QB--I'm pretty confident it will be Micah Wilson, but I don't think that means it's set for the season.
Second string OL--Ideally these guys won't play much as the season goes on, but it will be interesting to see who's there.
Defensive end--Chris Turner is going to start. At least three guys (Turner, Nate Anderson, Tre Williams) are going to play a lot and we expect Jatorian Hansford and Trajan Jeffcoat to see the field for at least the first four games (and probably more)
Backup weak side linebacker--We're not talking about when Mizzou goes to the nickel defense. In those situations, look for Christian Holmes to come in as a third corner. In some situations Tavon Ross or Ronnell Perkins could replace a linebacker as well. But when Mizzou has the second-team in the 4-3 look, it will be interesting to see who plays there. It may be Aubrey Miller, but it also could be Ross or Perkins.
Safety--Khalil Oliver, Joshuah Bledsoe, Cam Hilton and Tyree Gillespie are all going to play. Which two start? We really don't know for sure at this point.
Our answers will come tomorrow...at least for week one. Here is our schedule:
9 am--30 minutes of practice open for viewing
11 am--players and assistant coaches available for interviews for approximately 45 minutes
1150 am--Drew Lock press conference
1230 pm--Barry Odom press conference
We will provide video from some of the interviews we do early every Tuesday afternoon. We will have a complete notebook posted Tuesday evening and then will also have a couple of feature stories every week on Wednesday and Thursday.
3. The most interesting thing about this season is the new redshirt rule. For those who live under a rock, a player who has not used a redshirt season can play in up to four games and not burn that redshirt. So you're going to see a lot of guys play early who might not have played in the past. The first game will be a great opportunity for this. The second game, you'll see some of it. By game three, if guys are playing at Purdue, they're probably going to play all year. To help keep track of this, we are going to have a games played chart for everyone. We will post this every Sunday. Basically we'll just keep track of how many games each player has played in. Once they get to five games played, you know they aren't redshirting.
Here are players we expect to redshirt as true freshmen (which doesn't mean they couldn't play in the first couple of weeks, but we don't expect them to exceed four games): Chritauskie Dove, Xavier Delgado, Bobby Lawrence, Messiah Swinson (injured), Simi Bakare, Gerald Nathan Jr., Javon Foster, Chris Mills, Daniel Parker Jr., Chad Bailey, Cameron Wilkins.
Players we are on the fence about: Lindsey Scott Jr., Khmari Thompson, Kam Scott, Tyrone Collins, Jarvis Ware
Freshmen we expect to play all year: Jalen Knox, Nick Bolton, Dominic Gicinto, Tyler Badie
There are also some guys who are not freshmen, but still have a redshirt year available: Jordan Ulmer, Jamal Brooks, Kobie Whiteside, Markell Utsey. We expect those four likely to play. Brooks and Ulmer are almost certain special teams guys. But what if you get four games in and they're not really in the rotation? You could preserve a year for them if you want to.
4. Speaking of redshirts, USC and Nebraska are both starting true freshman quarterbacks.
You'll remember Martinez as a guy that was scheduled to visit Missouri until Josh Heupel left and Scott Frost offered him at Nebraska. First true freshman EVER to start for the Huskers. Will be interesting to follow.
Daniels is the second true freshman ever to start for USC, following Matt Barkley in 2009. Couple of big time programs going with the young guys.
5. Mizzou basketball had its elite camp yesterday.
We're trying to chase down Mario McKinney and Cam'Ron Fletcher to see what they have to say about their visits. But again, hoops recruiting is kind of in a holding pattern until the official visits start in September. We ran that all down in the Chamber on Friday so no need to repeat it here.
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