Defense could decide gunfight at Mizzou
By MIKE DeARMOND
The Kansas City Star
COLUMBIA | The expectation — not surprising considering Missouri averages 53.4 points a game and Oklahoma State 52.6 — is for a shootout.
At 7 Saturday night at Mizzou’s Memorial Stadium rather than the OK State Corral. MU’s Chase Daniel in the role of Wyatt Earp, Jeremy Maclin appearing as Doc Holliday. Oklahoma State’s Kendal Hunter as Ike Clanton and Dez Bryant as Billy Clanton.
But watch out for that guy over there with a carbine locked and loaded, lurking in ambush.
The defenses may well have the ultimate say in who wins this battle of unbeatens between No. 3-ranked Missouri and No. 17 Oklahoma State.
Despite, and perhaps because of, seasonlong criticism of the big plays given up by the Tigers’ secondary, Missouri’s defenders believe they have an edge.
“Man, it always gets old, but we’ve been hearing that for a while now,” said linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. “Me, William Moore and Ziggy (Hood) talk about the naysayers and how we want to prove them wrong.”
Missouri’s defensive reputation took a hit in the season opener against Illinois. Illini quarterback Juice Williams repeatedly lofted pass completions deep on MU’s cornerbacks and safeties. Illinois gained 451 yards through the air, and Williams threw five TD passes.
Missouri ranks fifth in the Big 12 yielding only 20 points a game, but the Tigers still rank last in the Big 12 in pass defense, giving up an average of 282.2 yards.
ESPN “College GameDay” commentator Lee Corso, before MU’s 52-17 victory at Nebraska on Saturday, called the Tigers’ defense “lousy.”
Linebacker Brock Christopher admitted the label rankled.
“We sit in our hotel all day and listen about how good our offense is, and they are, but how we aren’t,” Christopher said.
Hood contends he takes such comparisons in stride.
“It may just look like the offense is doing their thing, but it really doesn’t matter,” Hood said, “because everybody is getting the win.”
But what Oklahoma State has done best on offense — run the ball — Missouri has proved the most adept at stopping.
The Cowboys, with Hunter averaging 141.6 yards a game, come in averaging 315.2 yards rushing and 6.1 yards per rush.
The Tigers have yielded only 94.4 yards a game, No. 15 nationally, and just 2.7 yards a carry.
So, perhaps this Midwestern shootout will be decided by that sniper on the rooftop, the defense that is able to stop the opposing offense just one or two more times than the other defense. The defense that is able to force more turnovers.
Oklahoma State forced five turnovers in the first half in Saturday’s 56-28 victory over Texas A&M.
Missouri already has six interceptions, four of them returned for touchdowns by linebackers Weatherspoon (2), Jeff Gettys (1) and Christopher (1).
Last season, Missouri’s defense stole the show in what was expected to be a shootout with Texas Tech.
Tech ran for a minus-9 yards, threw for 397 but suffered four interceptions. The Tigers sacked Tech quarterback Graham Harrell three times.
Missouri won 41-10.
To reach Mike DeArmond, Missouri reporter for The Star, call 816-234-4353 or send e-mail to mdearmond@kcstar.com
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