MIZ-ZOU: 2008 Season
 

Read up on the 2007 Season: Missouri Tigers (5-6)

* 2007 National Champions *

defeated Florida St. 34-17

2007 Heisman Trophy Winner

QB Ethan Waddy {SR}
GP: 12 Att: 249 Cmp: 165 Pct: 66.2 Yards: 2753 Avg: 11.05 Lg: 72 TD: 30 Int: 6 Sck: 21 Yards: 133 Rate: 194.0

2007 Top Offensive Player

QB Ethan Waddy {SR}
GP: 12 Att: 249 Cmp: 165 Pct: 66.2 Yards: 2753 Avg: 11.05 Lg: 72 TD: 30 Int: 6 Sck: 21 Yards: 133 Rate: 194.0

2007 Top Defensive Player

S Frank Sexton {SR}
GP: 13 Tckl: 109 Asst: 41 Ints: 12 IRYd: 137 TD: 1 TkPct: 19.3

2007 Top Offensive Freshman

QB Curtis Sanford
GP: 12 Att: 448 Cmp: 271 Pct: 60.4 Yards: 3393 Avg: 7.57 Lg: 58 TD: 26 Int: 15 Sck: 39 Yards: 240 Rate: 136.5

2007 Top Defensive Freshman

ILB Lonnie Glover
GP: 12 Tckl: 85 Asst: 33 Sack: 3.5 TFL: 23 Hurr: 1 Ints: 2 IRYd: 13 TkPct: 19.5

These players have declared for the 2008 NFL draft:

G Spencer Benton
OLB Marshall Ford
OLB Joe Sinclair
ILB Jonnie Drake
ILB Burt Danner
K Torelli Ellis
OLB Tommie Holmes
G Casey Rivers

Missouri announced today that offensive coordinator Ardent Enthusiast would assume duties as recruiting coordinator as well. Enthusiast seemed really excited at the press conference.

"Basically, I'm here to help Coach Mizzourah," Enthusiast told reporters, "He's been doing a great job thus far. I'm really only helping to supplement our knowledge base and coverage of the local area."

"We'll leave no stone unturned," he went on to say, "If you have an athlete that can pop 1000 on the test score, and you live in Missouri, I'll be there. I promise. They might as well close the borders down. No top Missouri high school athlete is leaving the state. Period."

Missouri has improved their recruiting through the years, but has continually failed to bring in home state talent.


You're my boy, Todd! :)

2007 Coach of the Year:

Winston Melendez
Coach Melendez led Notre Dame to an 11-1 record this year, beating Air Force in the Sugar Bowl 38-3. In his 4 years at Notre Dame, coach Melendez has a record of 42-6, with 4 post-season appearances and 2 championships.

News and Notes:

Southern Mississippi has hired Corey Rayburn from San Jose State as its new head coach.

Southern Methodist has hired Edgar Hanson from San Diego State as its new head coach.

Fresno State has hired Andy Marin from Rice as its new head coach.

Oregon has hired Marlon Coleman from Miami of Ohio as its new head coach.

Miami has hired Joey Palomaki from Colorado State as its new head coach.


Team News:

Jonnie Drake, an ILB, has left your team because of last season's suspension.

Justin Tonkin, a DE, has left your team becuase of poor grades this year.

J.T. Devine, a RB, has left your team because of poor grades this year.

Darrin Madison, a G, has left your team because of last season's academic problems.

Norm Rust, a RB, has left your team because of last season's academic problems.

* Our team's prestige fell to (73)*

New Staff Hires

News and Notes:

Billy Clemons has been hired away from his position of scout, Mid-West region.

Miami of Ohio has hired Chirs Norton as its new head coach.

San Jose State has hired Blake Cusano as its new head coach.

Rice has hired Gilbert Osteen as its new head coach.

San Diego State has hired Byron Sutton as its new head coach.

Colorado State has hired Benjamin Pardo as its new head coach.

Nice schedule, we get better teams as the season progresses. My prediction is (8-3).

Todd

2008 Preseason Roster:


Coaches, do your thing.

Todd

When head coach, Todd Volmert was asked about Ardent taking on a role as recruiting coordinator, he said, "Ardent has grown up here his whole life and well, I could use the help." "If anyone knows how to go into a recruits home and get him to sign a letter of intent, it's Ardent." laughed the Missouri head coach.

Todd recruited not one Missouri senior last year and Kansas City and St. Louis have been known to take the state's top recruits.

In other news, Blade got shafted.... :)

You get Arizona. :)

"Blade will do some scounting on the West side", said head coach Todd Volmert. "He has his defense locked in and I don't anticipate him spending too much time on the recruiting trail."

:)

Update:

G Spencer Benton was signed by Tennesse to a 1yr/$270,000 contract.

SLB Marshall Ford was signed by Chicago to a 1yr/$270,000 contract.

SLB Joe Sinclair was signed by Oakland to a 1ry/$270,000 contract.

WLB Tommie Holmes was signed by Dallas to a 1yr/$270,000 contract.

MLB Jonnie Drake was signed by Philadelphia to a 1yr/$270,000 contract.


Other News:

LT Mo Cable will make his first start in Miami as their starter is out with an injury.


Hopefully things will work out for these Missouri graduates.

Coaches, what are your roster recommondations? The season is upon us and I would like to hear what you have in mind.


Todd

Here's what I'm thinking for the offense:


New Mid-West scout, Mike Burgess, seems to think Strother isn't as good as once scouted. I still think he should start, but Harris will be fighting to prove he can lead this team if Strother stumbles.

We are deep at RB and with our pathetic OL, this is much needed.

Hines came to camp in great shape and I hope his fumble in the K-State game is behind him.

Donovan is a great TE and Andersen is an excellent backup. I hope he can develop true to form this year.

Doran and Boyd will man the receivers spot, while Connell and Rivera will assume backup roles.

Kemp will start at C and the rest of the line is below average, so expect us to run the ball a lot. After looking at the OL again, I do see some progress in the forth coming years. [T] T.J. Doyle has a lot of room to develop and with this being his last year, a redshirt is in order.

Copeland is back at Punter and, oh what a relief it is.

Brady is the full time kicker and I hope he can provide those much needed 3 pointers this year. I really think he can decide some games this year.


That's my outlook on the offense and Ardent I'm open to your comments. The defense is Blade's, so I'll let him post his plan for 2008. I'm a little concerned about Strother's evaluation, but hoopefully our scout is wrong.


Todd

Team Captains: CB Bernie Moss gets the first captain spot based squarely on being by far the most talented graduation player on defense. ILB Herb Pearson and DE Al Stone both were pretty close talent wise, but herb has played better and gets the 2nd nod. Looking over the roster there are some guys who are graduating after next season who could be the captains now, but im not going to buck the trend. Both Moss and Pearson have stared for a few seasons now, and lets hope they go out on a high note.


My god this spot is cursed i swear. The #2 DE always blows the #1 away in performance...Brown was the #2 last year and rocked, but for the first time the #2 and #1 just switch instead of the #1 graduating. Stone was a monster 2 years back, and Brown was last year....maybe we can get them both to perform. Little Anderson and Del Greco will be solid back-ups and from a great depth position. terrance will RS, and lyle is the team waterboy.


Timberlane....the injury that killed the team last year. He is arguably our best defensive player, and he will be a huge rock in our 3-4. Right now all signs point to him being captain next year, and hopefully a key cog in a Big-12 title team. Rs Page and Plangeard, allowing crappy conn and headrick to back up...my god i hope timberlane doesnt get hurt again...


Pearson is great, but the question comes in with who will play opposite him...Burke needs to RS, and im not quite sre Hernandez is ready to start....with the wealth of talent at OLB, this is certainly a potential roster move waiting to happen. Drake was slotted to start looking amazing after during his RS year, but somehow got into the NFL early and will be playing for the eagles on sundays...


We lose both starters here to the NFL, and our top back-up....my god we were loaded at LB last year since we had 4 guys go pro and get contracts from this spot. Bridges will start opposite Shull, who has never quite developed as planned and has lost a lot of his luster..Downs and Giron will back-up, unless a guy like downs wants to switch to ILB to maybe start. Stackhouse is a potential roster cut, and Britt will RS.


Moss will be the shut down corner this year, while Flannery should start opposite him again. Almeida and Harrison will start in a season or two by the looks of things, and Sampson will RS. Sheckton will be the 5th man here, and since he is a 5th year S he could be moved somewhere.


Streb is a solid guy, but glover kicked his ass last year. Do you play the hot hand glover, or do you let wheeler start? Id say streb and glover, with wheeler the top back-up. Owen is certainly a nice #4, and spencer and nice #5 to be sure...Wheeler could be a possible ILB move or something...i dont know...i cant quite solve the ILB spot...but i have ideas:

Roster Moves(some ideas):

DT: Can you say Del Greco??? a 5th year who is talented, but logjammed behind other younger talent. Could potentially make the move, and we only need 1 year with page coming up.

ILB: Heres the problem one...we have CBs, Ss, OLBs, and maybe even a DE who could move here and not hurt the other spots really. Possibles: Del Greco(if not to DT)...Downs or maybe even stackhouse(maybe before cutting him move him and see if he fits better elsewhere)...Sheckton could try, as well as wheeler...i just dont know here...

Red-Shirts:


Those should all be solid moves....None are really needed, so we should be fine RS them all

Recruiting Needs:

DE: Justus should be the future here, and Brown still has 3 more years...Stone will graduate, but anderson should step in...1 or 2 this year or enxt...not a need too much...

DT: We have two young studs, so we dont need anyone here...we just need them to develop...stud rule obviously, but thats a given.

ILB: Drake leaving for the pros put us in quite a pickle...we went from set solidly to needing at least 1...this is our thinnest position, in both numbers and talent...biggest need on defense this year in my mind.

OLB: We could use 1, but it can come next year...certianly more pressing needs

CB: We will need 1 or two more, but we have some solid young talent...whoever you recruit probly wont play for a few years, but we still need one.

S: 1 would be nice, and 2 would be great...We are still set with streb for 3 years, so we can wait here....GO RECRUIT ILB!!!

Very nice writeup!

My thoughts:

I like the Del Greco move to DT. We need a backup for Timberlane, and with his major injury last year, he might not be able to carry the load this year.

ILB: How about Shull? His ratings for man-to-man defense are a bit better than Downs and Herb Pearson needs more help at ILB than Leslie Bridges does at OLB. Either guy is fine with me, you make the call.

Stackhouse is still on the team because he has terrific aspiration and very good intelligence. The coaches really like him because he also has a great attitude and well liked on the team.

I'll post the breakdown of the defense as soon as we decide on the ILB spot. Everything else looks great.


Todd

I cant see the bars, so however you think would be best there. Just know whoever we switch might tank, hence i was taking the back-up in downs instead of shull who should start this year. Your call in the end, as either is fine by me.

Move Del Greco...Timberlane actually might still be injured since he got like a 27 week injury, so check his status. Stackhouse suddenly looks alot better too ;)

I'll post my thoughts soon.

I think Payne should get the nod, but you're the man with the clipboard. Strother should get the shot should Payne falter. Last season we basically rotated, so it was kind of obvious we were not happy with either. I'd prefer to give the job to the guy with more talent.

I would bother redshirting Baladaty or Allman. Neither are going to contribute to the program that much. I'd hope you can get them into one game each season just so it eats up their eligibility and sends them on to their respective law schools.

I know, I'm shrewd. I love it.

I can agree with the rest of the evaluation.

It's my anniversary. :)

Happy Anniversary!

You thoughts sound fine to me. I really like Strother in at QB though, he was the one at the helm in the K-State game last year. :)

Todd

Downs just has a tad bit more potential, but heck that doesn't always mean much. We'll go with Downs as Shull has more experience at OLB than Downs does.

All players are healed, so Timberlane is fine. I just wonder with an injury like he had, if he'll be at 100% this year.

I'll post the 2008 Season roster with these and the offensive changes tonight when I get home. Hopefully I can get the Nevada game in as well.

GO TIGERS!!

Todd

Your 2008 Missouri Tigers:

Downs has been switched to ILB.
Del Greco has been switched to DT.

Strother will get the start against Nevada and we'll go from there.
Payne is a career 113.6 and Strother is at 118.3.

This is one feature I wish TCY had (the ability to swich QB's in the middle of the game). :(


My prediction: A 6-0 start, only to finish at 7-4 and a bowl game.

Preseason : Top 25
Up Next: Nevada, Ranked #116
Dynasty Series: (0-0)

Week 1: Nevada (0-0) at #48 Missouri (0-0) (-11) [TV5]

VS

Very nice performance, even against Nevada. I was curious to see how the offensive and defensive would play as units.

We have a strong running game and Mussorgsky makes us a double threat with Prior in both rushing and receiving.

The defense looked good and Downs played well in his new position. We have a few injuries I'm concerned of with Michigan State coming up.


Injuries:

Week 2 : Top 25

Up Next: Michigan State, Ranked #69
Dynasty Series: (1-2)

We tried to run the Okie Doke with Mussy. It worked.

Week 2: Michigan State (0-0) at #13 Missouri (1-0) (-3) [TV5]

VS

I'll say it again, we CAN run the ball and it showed today. Amazing what a good running game will do for you. The defense played great once again and so far, I'm happy with everything... although my coordinators will tell you different. :)


Injuries:

Week 3 : Top 25
Up Next: at Independence (0-0) Ranked #112
Dynasty Series: (1-0)

Week 1:


Week 2:

2008 Season Standings, Big Twelve - North

Im currently working on my brief reviews of the first two games, but one thing that might be nice is a look at how our alumni look in the pros. Like i know 4 lbs from our squad last yearhave contracts, but are any going to play or even activated. Not overboard, but a little detail wouldnt be bad. Kinda like BYU has in his(but that might be too much to ask)

Game 1: Brown had 1.5 sacks to lead the pass rush, while stone helped from the other side with another .5 sacks...the real story was the pass defense, which had 4 INTs, suprisingly 3 from the LBs. Glover stepped up and earned his starting spot for another week, while besides pearson's 1 INT, he was much worse then back-up hernandez. Timberlane controlled the run, and im happy with him holding down the middle. Our corners didnt do much, but rarely did the ball get past our LBs it would seem. Downs is certianly not having any problems adjusting to his new spot, as he is playing great and really making me proud...hell, Del Greco even played well in mop-up duty.

Game 2:What to say...a better team and we turned up the heat. If that trend continues we could be up there with colorado and nebraska when all things are considered. Moss had 8 solo tackles and an INT, so he certianly is playing like a captain in my mind. Streb showed up too, with 9 total tackles. Those two werent there in game 1, and now they lead the team...good...Pearson got 9 as well, and im just wondering where these guys were in game 1??? Almost our entire d played excellent, and i have to give it up to the pass rush...6 sacks...Timberlane got 2 sacks and 6 tackles, brown 1.5 sacks and 4 tackles, New ILB downs got .5 to go with his 6 tackles, and an injured stone got 2 sacks to go with his 5 solo tackles. Im stoked, and this kind of performance the rest of the year would win us a big-12 north title....

Would you like to see the current year class tracked or previous years as well?

Wouldn't be hard to start playing the NFL games as the College games play.. ex-week 1, week 2, etc..

I know I want to shorten it up a bit and simplify some of these reports. BYU has a really nice simple layout and I try to perfect some of these reports from year to year. I've added the Big 12 north standings this year.

It wouldn't be hard to search each team and report on who's doing what, but I'm leaning on doing just the year at hand, which would make it easier.

Todd

I just want better offensive linemen.

lol, crazy ardent...i dont want to really see week by week...just maybe a before season preview of all our alumni, and an end of season review of what they did...if that would be too hard i perfectly understand. I just think that would be a nice feature.

I kind of did that with the update posted earlier in the thread, that listed all of are alumni and who signed them... but I think I see what you are getting at. I think an update here and there would be nice as well. Although there's not much to post so far. :D


Todd

kinda like say, Mo Cable looks like he will be the top back-up this season, and could get some playing time. He still has a lot of potential and certainly looks like a future starter.

Joe Sinclair isntgoing to see the field much for denver this year, as he is buried on the depth chart and doesnt show much room for growth. He is great at man-to-man though, so who knows

SLB Marshall Ford
Cap Cost: $270,000
Draft: Undrafted
Exp: 1
CE/FE: 18/28

Notes: Signed as a free agent, Ford made the team and is currently 3rd in the depth chart at outside linebacker. Might see a play here and there or if and injury occurs.

WLB Tommie Holmes
Cap Cost: $270,000
Draft: Undrafted
Exp: 1
CE/FE: 8/35

Notes: Holmes is a roster filler for the Cowboys. Signed as a free agent, I doubt he'll see any playing time this year or in the future.

LT Mo Cable
Cap Cost: $430,000
Draft: 7th Round, 2007, pick 21
Exp: 2
CE/FE: 23/37

Notes: Due to an injury to starting LT Leonard Davis, Cable has been the starter the first two games of the season for Miami. He's 0-4 in KRO's and has allowed 1 sack. Saw limited time in 3 games last year and I think his future is that of a backup role.

SLB Joe Sinclair
Cap Cost: $270,000
Draft: Undrafted
Exp: 1
CE/FE: 14/23

Notes: Sinclair was signed as a free agent and is currently 4th in the depth chart for the Raiders. He's never played a down in the NFL yet and I don't expect much from him career wise in the NFL.

MLB Jonnie Drake
Cap Cost: $270,000
Draft: Undrafted
Exp: 1
CE/FE: 11/31

Notes: Drake was a free agent signee as well and is 3rd in the depth chart for the Eagles. He's played a few downs in two games and has no stats thus far. He could possibly develop into a steady backup player.

LG Spencer Benton
Cap Cost: $270,000
Draft: Undrafted
Exp: 1
CE/FE: 19/33

Notes: Benton was signed as a free agent and is the lone reserve at the guard spot for the Titans. Although not a lot of potential, he could play a role off the bench for Tennessee this season. He has only touched the field during practice so far.


Current Free Agents:
RG Eddie Finch (3) (6/13)
RG Casey Rivers (1) (7/18)
K Ellis Torelli (1) (10/23)
MLB Burt Danner (1) (11/26)
SS Lester Diaz (2) (14/22): Played in 16 games for Cincinnati last year and had 14 tackles and 3 assists.

(X) = Experience
(XX/XX) = Current Est./Future Est.

Week 3: #33 Missouri (2-0) (-2) at Independence (0-0) [TV5]

VS

Yikes... :eek:

I have no idea what in the {censored} just happened. All of a sudden Strother has no clue how run this team. Two missed FG's by Dennis... and in a real sloppy game, we can't find a way to beat a mediocre team? I'm at a loss for words.

During the ride home, I run the game over and over through my mind wondering where we go from here. This is a HUGE loss and I know I have some long days ahead of me in what was supposed to be a light week with the bye.

Payne's going to get some playing time in the near future.


Injuries:

2008 Season Standings, Big Twelve - North

Week 4 : Top 25
Up Next: BYE
Dynasty Series: NA