When the Defense Roars: Missouri Tigers Dynasty

[Kcordloh]

Miami (Ohio) almost upsets the Tigers

Everyone knows that you cannot underestimate any team, but Miami (Ohio) almost shocked the world. Maybe these Redhawks are going to go 11-1 this season, maybe they are great, but quite honestly all that their near victory over the #23 Missouri Tigers did was make everyone doubt the Tigers.

The Tigers started slowly, and their defense held, giving them a 3-0 lead after one. Then everything started going wrong as the Redhawks, led by Z. Dysert cut the Tigers for 217 yards passing and 21 points in the 2nd quarter.

Down 21-3 at the half the Tigers gave up a kick return for a TD to go down 28-3 mere seconds into the second half. Their defense settled down thanks to an amazing sack by MLB Will Ebner which forced a 2nd and 18 and the Tigers go rolling, scoring 14 in the 3rd and 14 in the 4th including a 40yd TD pass from Franklin to Wes Kemp with 39 seconds left to take a 30-28 lead. After the PAT the Tigers led 31-28 and it was all over.

Z. Dysert finished with 419 yards passing and 4 TD's and 1 INT for the Redhawks.
Will Ebner finished with 7 tackles, 1 FF, 1 sack, and 1 INT for the Missouri Tigers.

Kemp catches the game winning TD with under a minute left

Sep 3, 2011 - Miami (Ohio) at Missouri
TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Miami (Ohio) (0-1)	0	21	7	0	28
#23 Missouri (1-0)	3	0	14	14	31

Team Stats Comparison
487	Total Offense	317
68	Rushing Yards	103
419	Passing Yards	214
17	First Downs	8

Around the league

After #8 Boise State defeated UGA 57-34 in week 1 and #5 Oregon upset #4 LSU 34-29 week 2 was relatively quiet.

[Kcordloh]

#23 Missouri @ #25 Arizona State

Matchup Preview *|* September 9, 2011
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#23 Missouri Tigers (1-0, Away)		#25 Arizona State Sun Devils (1-0, Home)
Game Notes The #23 Missouri Tigers look to take down #25 Arizona State on the road, but the game does not look assured. After assurances from the coaching staff, people are inclined to let the narrow 31-28 victory over Miami Ohio slip from their minds as more of a San Diego State University game from last year where the mid-major was quite good rather than a sign the Tigers are doomed. Defensive coordinator Johnny Rock personally promised that ASU would not put up more than 20 points on the Tigers. As long as the MU offense can come through, if the defense lives up to the hype then it's a 2-0 Tiger team headed home to take on Hawaii next weekend.

[Kcordloh]

Tigers defensive woes continue

For some, the addition of Johnny Rock as DC was a sign of hope. He was signed from coaching high school football and was one of the best defensive minds that had never coached college ball. Well somehow that has gotten lost in translation to college football, but luckily he has another week to figure it out as the Tigers offense carried the load Friday night.

ASU got out to an early 7-0 lead and it turned into an offensive battle early, with the Sun Devils up 28-14 before the Tigers D stepped up and stopped ASU after the Devils started with amazing field position, but Wes Ebner once again came through with a crucial pick and returned it for 6, giving the Tigers all the momentum they needed.

Moe finished with just 9 catches but had 154 yards recieving and 3 TD's before he left the game. Wes Kemp also caught 7 passes for 2 TD's. Backup QB Ashton Glasser got in on the action with 19/29 passing for 211 yards and 2 TD's.

Wes Ebner's crucial 2nd quarter pick 6

Missouri (1-0) at Arizona State (1-0)
Sep 9, 2011 1 2 3 4 F #23 Missouri 7 35 14 14 70 #25 Arizona State 14 14 0 0 28 Top Performers Missouri J. Franklin: 20/27 for 299 yards, 5 TD W. Ebner: 4 TFL, 11 tackles, 2 INT, 1 FF, 1 defensive td Arizona State B. Osweiler- 34/51 for 367 yards, 4TD, 2 INT G. Robinson- 10 catches for 163 yards, 2TD	Team Stats Comparison MU ASU First Downs 29 16

[Kcordloh]

Around the league after week 2

Week 2 was not full of upsets, but unranked Penn State upset giant #2 Alabama 27-0.

NCAA Football Rankings - Coaches Poll - Updated: Sep 11, 2011
RK	TEAM (VOTES)	W	L	POINTS
1	Oklahoma (34)	1	0
2	Oregon (22)	2	0
3	Stanford (2)	2	0
4	Ohio State (2)	2	0
5	Oklahoma State	2	0
6	Boise State	1	0
7	Texas A&M	1	0
8	Florida State	2	0
9	LSU	1	1
10	Wisconsin	2	0
22	Missouri	2	0

Games to look forward to: Week 3
#1 Oklahoma (1-0) vs #8 Florida State (2-0): Battle of two top 10 teams, who will win?
#22 Missouri (2-0) vs Hawaii (0-2): Can Missouri's defense stop the aerial attack of the Warriors?

[Kcordloh]

Hawaii (0-2) @ #22 Missouri (2-0)

Matchup Preview *|* September 17, 2011
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Hawaii Warriors (1-1, Away)		#22 Missouri Tigers (2-0, Home)
Game Notes The 2011 Missouri Tigers defense has appeared uninspired so far this season, giving up nearly 800 yards passing and 56 points to two teams that are not known as offensive power houses. Hawaii is well known to be an offensive juggernaut, so the question is can #22 Missouri stop Hawaii's famous Run-and-Shoot offense or will it be up to James Franklin and his receiving corps once again to save the day. DC Johnny Rock stated that Missouri is ready for Hawaii, he has fixed some personnel issues and more importantly learned critical bits of information about his own coaching style that needs to change to be effective in college football.

[Kcordloh]

Hawaii puts up 45 on Tigers Defense: Rock's job in jeopardy

The Hawaii Warriors walked into Faurot Field in Missouri and put up 45 points on the Tigers Defense. Not only that, but they had two guys pass for over 100 yards.

Bryant Moniz set the tone early, driving Hawaii 84 yards on the opening driving to go up 7-0. Franklin threw a INT on the first play of Missouri's opening drive, and then a key fumble on the ensuing kickoff put Hawaii in position to go up 21-0 with Missouri having had one offensive play.

James Franklin responded, and Missouri got on the board. Missouri then went into full out defensive attack, sacking Moniz 4 times, including a key hit that forced a fumble and put Moniz out of the game entirely.

Resonno putting Moniz out of the game on a 3rd and long with a crushing hit, also forcing a fumble

Shane Austin stepped in and carried the Warriors offense, racking up 331 yards. Hawaii rushed the ball 3 times the entire game, gaining 5 yards and 1 TD. Their potent aerial attack had them ahead 45-34 with just 1:32 left but Missouri scored a TD and got the two point conversion and thanks to a timely interception by Kip Edwards they got in range to score a 37-yard field goal with 0:03 left to take the victory.
Grant Ressel kicked 4 field goals on the day for Missouri.

Kip Edwards saving the day by intercepting a wild pass from Austin

Sep 17, 2011 - HAW at MU
TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Hawaii (0-2)	28	7	7	3	45
#22 Missouri (2-0)	14	10	13	11	48

Team Stats Comparison
HAW		MU
436	Total Offense	548
5	Rushing Yards	150
431	Passing Yards	398
14	First Downs	25

Hawaii POTG: Steve Austin: 23/49 for 331 yards and 4 TD, 2 INT
D. Bright: 7 catches for 158 yards, 1 TD

Missouri POTG: James Franklin: 30/54 for 398 yards and 3 TD, 1 INT
Wes Kemp: 10 catches for 144 yards and 1 TD



Meanwhile people must wonder what this means for Rock's defensive coaching career. Hawaii is a very well rounded offensive juggernaut, but Missouri has given up over 1200 passing yards already, and well placed sources suggest if the Tigers allow more than 2400 passing yards total this year Rock's career is in jeopardy.

Up next is offensive powerhouse and #1 Oklahoma. If anyone had been hoping for another victory over the Sooners you gotta bet they don't expect one now.

[Kcordloh]

Week 3's results
#1 Oklahoma slaughtered #8 Florida State 33-17.

NCAA Football Rankings - Coaches Poll - Updated: Sep 18, 2011
RK	LW	TEAM (VOTES)	W	L	POINTS
1	1	Oklahoma (31)	2	0
2	2	Oregon (21)	3	0
3	3	Stanford (4)	3	0
4	4	Ohio State (3)	3	0
5	5	Oklahoma State (1)	3	0
6	6	Boise State	2	0
7	7	Texas A&M	2	0
8	10	Wisconsin	3	0
9	12	Auburn	3	0
10	11	Alabama	2	1
21	22	Missouri	3	0

Games to watch
#21 Missouri (3-0) at #1 Oklahoma (2-0)
#5 Oklahoma State (3-0) at #7 Texas A&M (2-0)
#17 Arkansas (3-0) at #10 Alabama (2-1)

Matchup Preview *|* September 24, 2011
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#21 Missouri Tigers (3-0, Away)		#1 Oklahoma Sooners (2-0, Home)
Game Notes In 2010 the #1 Oklahoma Sooners faced the #16 Missouri Tigers and walked away with a loss to a surprisingly very good Tigers team. Fast forward a year and it's the #21 Missouri Tigers vs the #1 Oklahoma Sooners. Do not expect history to repeat itself though, as the Tigers defense has yet to shut down anyone, allowing 101 points and over 1200 passing yards. The Tigers are not expected by anyone to win except the most devoted followers and the players and coaches. It will be a long day for the Tigers defense, and they have to hope that James Franklin and his receivers come through if they want any chance of victory. Projection: Oklahoma 45, Missouri 13

[Kcordloh]

Apologies for the rapid fire updates, but I just got invited for a 5 day trip to Milwaukee, so I want to get everything posted I have played so far before I take off, so when I get back I can start playing and posting right after the games and not way after.

I have the OU and KSU games left to post (so 3 weeks total). I will post them tomorrow.

Apologies, thanks for reading, and I'll be back next Friday!