2015 Missouri Tigers Preview: Big Changes Ahead

There were big changes in the offseason for the SEC East champion Missouri Tigers. Many of the big pieces of the 2014 squad were lost to the NFL Draft. Most notable among these was defensive end Shane Ray, the 1st-round pick for the Denver Broncos. Ray is not the only player gone to the draft, however. Also drafted was wide receiver Bud Sasser, an integral part of Mizzou’s aerial attack. Offensive guard Mitch Morse and running back Marcus Murphy were drafted as well.

Perhaps the biggest change is on a personnel front. The new defensive coordinator is Barry Odom, and his new scheme, combined with the fact that only four of last year’s front seven will be returning, guarantee that the defense will look quite different this year. Odom has shown great diversity in his schemes, but he seems to prefer a 3-4 scheme. If he does implement a 3-4, it could be perfect for the gem of Mizzou’s 2015 recruiting class.

That man is East St. Louis, IL defensive lineman Terry Beckner Jr. Beckner was rated as the top defensive tackle in the class and ranked as the #2 overall player by ESPN. Scouts have touted Beckner’s ability and versatility, allowing him to fit anywhere in a given scheme. Beckner should see starting time right out of the gate, but expectations should be tempered as he adjusts to college life.

Head Coach Gary Pinkel has done well this recruiting cycle. Outside of Beckner, Pinkel has signed multiple four star recruits, including City College of San Francisco transfer offensive tackle Malik Cuellar, Dublin, GA wide reciever Justin Smith, and Lee’s Summit quarterback Drew Lock. Pinkel has also plugged the hole left by Marcus Murphy at running back, signing Lee’s Summit product Ryan Williams and Hutchington, KS’s Chase Abbington. Pinkel also signed Stillwell, KS offensive guard AJ Harris, among others.

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Successful recruiting class aside, the success of the Tigers hinges on one person: starting quarterback Maty Mauk. He fits into offensive coordinator Josh Henson’s attack well. But the Tigers were 99th in offense and 101st in passing yards last season. With a 12th ranked recruiting class (although to be honest, this is the SEC, a 12th-ranked recruiting class here is better than most schools anywhere) the Tigers could fall behind this year if Mauk doesn’t step it up, especially now that his receiving corps is entirely new. The Tigers’ offense needs to be more efficient and a big part of that is Mauk being more accurate as a passer; Mauk threw 13 interceptions in 2014. That number is unacceptable if Mizzou is to get over the SEC East hump.

This is largely because of the general uncertainty that comes with a new defensive coordinator. Yes, Missouri was 21st in points against last year. Yes, the players are there that can fit in whatever scheme Barry Odom throws at them. But the Tigers can’t just rely on the defense to carry an offense that could very well take a step back this year, especially against teams like South Carolina and Arkansas that have been improving.

Furthermore, the Missouri Tigers lucked out with the scheduling this year. The Tigers get Arkansas and Mississippi State as their inter-division games, in lieu of Alabama, Auburn, or LSU. Even so this is an all-together easy schedule. The first four games seem to be rather easy; the season starts off with two FCS schools and Connecticut and Kentucky have never been football powerhouses (but neither was Indiana, mind).

Then things start to potentially get hairy. Florida could come back to avenge their 2014 loss, and the Tigers barely squeaked out a win against South Carolina last year. Then the Tigers face Georgia, who gave them a drubbing at home. This year’s game will be in Athens, which only compounds the issue. Vanderbilt should be of no problem for the Tigers; they dispatched the Commodores with ease by a score of 24-14 last year.

After Vanderbilt, the schedule picks up again, with the final four games being Mississippi State, BYU, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Of the four, Arkansas seems the most likely to trip the Tigers up (with all due respect to Mississippi State). State has struggled against the pass and lost many of its key players, especially on defense, while Arkansas has 14 of its starters returning.

For the Tigers, a return to the SEC Championship is far from guaranteed. Many of the teams in the SEC East have greatly improved, while Missouri could very well regress this year. But Missouri has a great recruiting class on its side. Those freshmen, along with Maty Mauk, will have to perform at their highest potential if the Tigers are to return to Atlanta.

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