Tigers’ defense should give MU fans reason to pause
ST. LOUIS | Well, we know what to think. The problem is, knowing what to feel.
The Missouri Tigers are going to take us on a wild ride this year. We know that. We experienced it Saturday night inside the Edward Jones Dome when the Tigers alternated between dazzling us and frightening us in their football season opener against Illinois.
There were stretches when the Tigers played like national-title contenders, and then there were the stretches in between, the times when Missouri’s cornerbacks ran like offensive tackles and showed the instincts of little-leaguers.
When the roller-coaster grinded to a halt, the Tigers held a 52-42 advantage and left the field feeling more relief than exhilaration.
“When you win, you enjoy the moment,” said Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel, who had to give his team a postgame pep talk. “Am I kind of glad they’re disappointed? Yeah. But when you win, you enjoy it.”
The Tigers were disappointed because they built a 45-20 lead and gave most of it away. They were disappointed because they made Illinois’ inconsistent thrower, Juice Williams, look like Brett Favre. They were disappointed because their best player, star receiver/return man Jeremy Maclin, finished the game standing along the sideline on crutches.
Like us, the Tigers didn’t know what to feel when it was over. Like us, they entered this season expecting a wild ride, but they expected to have more control over the outcome. This game raised as many questions as answers.
For the rest of this month, the ride will be safe. The sixth-ranked Tigers play host to three cupcakes — Southeast Missouri, Nevada and Buffalo — before entering conference play. Maclin, who twisted his ankle in the fourth quarter, should be ready by the time Missouri travels to Nebraska on Oct. 4. The X-rays on his ankle were negative, according to Pinkel.
But will Missouri’s defense be repaired by then?
The Fighting Illini exploited a weakness that might only be repaired by recruiting. Missouri’s defensive backs can’t play man-to-man. At least not based on what we saw Saturday night. Illinois’ receivers had no trouble blowing by Mizzou’s DBs.
Had Juice Williams been more accurate and composed, Saturday’s contest would’ve been a relay race with the last quarterback holding the baton winning the race. Instead, Williams made just enough mistakes to keep Missouri ahead.
With the Illini driving early in the fourth quarter with a chance to cut Missouri’s lead to three points, Williams took a bad sack and then tossed an interception on the next play. He uncorked a pick-6 later in the quarter.
Truth is, his spotty play was matched by Chase Daniel, the Heisman Trophy candidate. Daniel had an interception returned for six points, too. He threw 17 incompletions, a number ballooned by numerous drops by his receivers.
Missouri should’ve scored 70 points. Derrick Washington rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Chase Coffman caught nine passes for 120 yards and a score. Maclin returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. He tacked on a 46-yard punt return that put Missouri in position to score.
This should’ve been a laugher. The Tigers are significantly better than the 20th-ranked Illini. At least that’s what I think I think.
But Missouri’s defensive shortcomings will make any Big 12 opponent a dangerous threat. The Tigers are going to have to be careful about when they blitz. They can’t leave their corners naked. They’re going to have to play more zone defense than they showed in the first three quarters of Saturday’s game.
A savvier, more accurate passer than Juice Williams will annihilate Mizzou’s pass defense. Kansas’ Todd Reesing, Oklahoma State’s Zac Robinson and Kansas State’s Josh Freeman all qualify as better passers than Williams, who threw five TDs and for more than 450 yards against Mizzou.
Man, you want to enjoy Saturday’s wonderful ride. Maclin was incredible in the return game. Washington was promising in the run game. Coffman was thrilling after the catch. He hurdled one Illinois defender and barreled upfield for an additional 10 yards. Daniel wasn’t as sharp as he will be later this season, but he was still very, very good.
The Missouri offense reminded me of the St. Louis Rams offense that Dick Vermeil rode to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, the Missouri defense reminded me of the Kansas City Chiefs defense that rode Dick Vermeil back into retirement.
To reach Jason Whitlock, call 816-234-4869 or send e-mail to jwhitlock@kcstar.com. For previous columns, go to KansasCity.com
