Missouri 2015 Preview: QB Controversy Brewing?

September 2, 2015 Alex Haddon

We hadn’t heard of Drew Lock before we listened to the excellent Missouri-dedicated podcast ‘Mizzodcast’, but everything’s going to be pretty interesting under center if he continues his off-season challenge to QB Maty Mauk.

Last season Missouri – in another stunning season – won the SEC East and was then brutalized in the SEC Championship Game by Alabama.

OFF-SEASON

The biggest story was very nearly a tragic one. Defensive lineman Harold Brantley was caught in a car crash that seriously injured him. Thank God he’s still alive. He’s done for the season, but not for life.

Aside from that, the team lost defensive co-ordinator Dave Steckel, who went to coach Missouri State. Pinkel hired Memphis DC Barry Odom to fill the position. They also lost excellent DE Shane Ray and WR Bud Sasser to the NFL.

Recruiting-wise, the biggest pick-up was DL Terry Beckner Jr, who’s a monster.

SO WHAT ABOUT THIS QUARTERBACKING CONTROVERSY?

If we heard the guys on the ‘Mizzodcast’ correctly, Drew Lock has been kicking ass in practice while incumbent Maty Mauk has merely been struggling. We loved Mauk in 2013, but he struggled in 2014 behind a pretty poor offensive line and some bad decision-making. While he threw for over 2,600 yards and 25 TDs, his INT count rose from 2 in 2013 to 13 in 2014.

Although Lock was officially named back-up for the Tigers for this year – a decision by Pinkel to burn his player’s first year of eligibility on potential benchwarming – our feeling is that if Mauk has some awful moments (like he did against Indiana), Lock would come in as a potential cover. And if he succeeded, it might well be Mauk who would find himself out of a job.

If the Tigers start slowly, this could get interesting.

NOW, ABOUT THAT DEFENSE….

Defenses aren’t normally high on the list if you’ve read our previews, but this Missouri team is built on a great defense….and has won back-to-back SEC East titles. Anyway, this year DEs Ray and Markus Golden left, meaning that a lot of pressure’s going to be on Charles Harris (there would have been Marcus Loud, but he was booted in March). 5-star Beckner will be one of the defensive tackles alongside and starting as a freshman, so expect the drumroll for him, too. Expect Walter Brady to step up at DE – although he’s never played a college snap in his life.

This unit will be good – but not as great as previous years.

AND THE OFFENSE?

We mentioned a lot about Mauk and what might happen, but there are also some other things to think of. Bud Sasser leaving takes 1,000 yards and 12 TDs off the table (He’s actually been released by St Louis Rams and hasn’t found a job since). If Dorial Green-Beckham had remained a senior, he would have been a frightening prospect for secondaries to face.

On the floor, RB Russell Hansbrough will be expected to pick up a lot of the workload. Ish Witter and Morgan Steward will provide the back-ups.

THE SCHEDULE

http://www.rockmnation.com/mizzou-news/2015/7/30/9072329/missouri-football-defense-barry-odom-charles-harris-rocel-mcwilliams

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