Welcome to another Ask Tod, where fans are invited to ask questions that Missouri beat writer Tod Palmer answers in The Star’s weekly mailbag blog feature.
Not surprisingly, most of this week’s questions involved Maty Mauk’s suspension and Drew Lock’s first career start.
But a lot of those questions starting putting the cart a bit too far ahead of the horse. For instance:
@todpalmer I feel like coaches are not prepared for the post-Drew Lock era. Do you agree?
— Represent Mizzou (@RepresentMizzou) October 1, 2015
The post-Drew Lock era? The Drew Lock era literally hasn’t even started yet and it has at least two years remaining unless he gives up football to become a missionary. It might be too early to pronounce the Missouri program dead in 2018.
@todpalmer how good do you think Lock needs to be Saturday to keep the starting job?
— Stephen Bubalo (@crazyroyalsfan) October 2, 2015
Stephen, the first thing Lock needs to do is help Missouri win a football game. That’s the most important objective and, if he does that, he’ll have a chance to hang on to the starting job. Besides, Mauk’s suspension might linger past this week, so it could be a moot point.
If Lock leads the Tigers to a win in a game where the offense establishes a rhythm and puts some points on the board, it clearly becomes his job after the struggles shown the first four weeks under Mauk’s guidance.
That’s not to say the offensive woes were all Mauk’s fault or even mostly Mauk’s fault. But coach Gary Pinkel consistently has said that the best player will play and the player who gives Missouri the best chance to win will play. If Lock makes the offense hum and they win, it’s hard to argue he isn’t both of those things.
@todpalmer would Maty make a good reciever or running back?
— paul vollmer (@pvollmer52) October 1, 2015
Paul, pump the brakes. Even if Mauk doesn’t return as the starter, he’s still a valuable option as a savvy, experienced backup.
But if it’s just a thought exercise, I’d say slot receiver. He’s fast, knows the route tree and presumably how to get open. I don’t know how good his hands are, but I could see Mauk being a T.J. Moe type with enough reps.
Of course, he’s already been the team’s best running back this season, so that would be an option, too. It’s just one I don’t think ever goes past the “interesting thought” phase right now.
Does Drew Lock ever ponder the similarities of his name and position with NFL QB Andrew Luck? https://t.co/WZloBS24xr
— TJ Carpenter (@TJCarpenterWHB) October 1, 2015
TJ, I can’t speak to what Lock ponders, but I think Missouri be thrilled if he had the same success that Andrew Luck did at Stanford. Personally, I am not convinced Lock can grow a beard of Luck’s caliber, but also hope he takes better care of the football.
@todpalmer do you think Maty makes his bones from here out playing a Conner Shaw role as a change of pace back up?
— Rusty Huber (@RustyHuber) October 1, 2015
Rusty, when was Connor Shaw a change-of-pace backup? He was hurt and came off the bench against Missouri two years ago, but when he was healthy he was South Carolina’s starter.
Mauk’s days as a starter might not be over, though they certainly appear numbered, at the very least. Everything hinges on how Saturday’s game goes and how long Mauk is suspended. But yes, a veteran quarterback with his athletic ability and experience certainly has value moving forward no matter what the role.
@todpalmer Can we expect to see any changes on the O-Line of they continue to struggle?
— Brock Masters (@BrockMasters24) October 1, 2015
Brock, Pinkel hasn’t ruled out moving senior left tackle Connor McGovern, who started primarily at right guard the last seasons, back inside, but Mitch Hall hasn’t been the problem with Missouri’s offense. Besides, who are you going to put out at left tackle if you move McGovern?
If the Tigers had some incredible offensive lineman who could dominate at left tackle, he’d already be playing. Perhaps there will be a shakeup if things don’t get better, because the coaches are trying to send a message. But Missouri won’t start moving guys around just for the sake of moving guys around.
@todpalmer Which offense do you think will be better: the basketball team or the football team?
— Carrington Harrison (@cdotharrison) October 2, 2015
Carrington, that’s such a tough question to answer, because it’s different sports and we don’t know how Missouri’s freshman basketball class will play nor how Drew Lock responds to a starting role.
Let’s start with the premise that both offenses stink. The Tigers’ basketball offense was last in the SEC last season and the football team’s is last this season.
If Lock comes in and his accuracy makes Missouri roll on the gridiron, I think it’s a middle-of-the-pack SEC offense. A healthy Russell Hansbrough only makes that more true and easier to attain.
On the hardwood, the lack of size and a scoring presence on the interior, remains an issue for the Missouri basketball team. I think they’ll be better, but probably still in the lower half of the SEC offensively. So, the football team? Maybe that’s my answer.
@todpalmer Here’s a question: If a “reliable source” tells you why Mauk was suspended, is that something you will share with the readers?
— Mark Peavy (@mdpeavy) October 1, 2015
Mark, probably, but our definition of “reliable source” might differ.
Tod Palmer: 816-234-4389, @todpalmer
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