GatewayRedbirds.com

I don't think this thread exists yet.

Anyway, College Football News has Mizzou at #5. Interesting.
http://cfn.scout.com/2/1092054.html

CFN seems to love Mizzou every year for some reason. I don't think they'll be Top 5 good, but they could find themselves in the Top 5 very quickly if they make it through Norman unscathed. Not a lot of people realize that Mizzou became a ball control team over the course of last season, and with the defensive talent returning and Franklin's added dimension in the running game it should stay that way. If I had to pick some keys, they'd be

- Franklin obviously. Can he make the reads and the deep throws to keep teams from loading up on screens and zone reads
- The receivers. Someone needs to get open deep more often. Jackson and Kemp being incumbent don't inspire much, but guys like Lucas could break through.
- The secondary. Replacing Gettis/Rutland won't be without problems, but the linebackers and Jackson help, and Gaines/Edwards have the ability. Hopefully Richardson shows up and makes the line a dominant force, which would help the CBs get traction more quickly.

Given the talent that's there and the confidence I have in Franklin, I'll be disappointed with less than 9 wins. OU, OSU, aTm, and Texas are all games I'm very worried about, and I could see us dropping a game to ASU, Baylor, or Tech. But I'll be disappointed if they can't to better than 3-4 against that slate with what they have. If they make it to 4-0 though, the sky is the limit.

I'm very interested to see what Franklin can do with the offense for a whole game.

I can't wait. It's a bit of a bummer to start the season off against anyone but Illinois. That game was such an easy way to get excited about the season.

I really have no idea how they'll do this year. In the old Big XII, I'd assume 9 or 10 wins with an outside shot at 11. But with the new Big XII schedule, and a non-con game against ASU, there's just no telling.

Franklin and the secondary are really the only question marks and in both cases, it's more about a lack of experience than it is talent.

JL21 wrote:I can't wait. It's a bit of a bummer to start the season off against anyone but Illinois. That game was such an easy way to get excited about the season.

I really have no idea how they'll do this year. In the old Big XII, I'd assume 9 or 10 wins with an outside shot at 11. But with the new Big XII schedule, and a non-con game against ASU, there's just no telling.

Franklin and the secondary are really the only question marks and in both cases, it's more about a lack of experience than it is talent.

I think w/ Mizzou's Defense, then can resonable expect to win 10. Below 9 would be disapointing. Got to beat Texas while their down!

Mizzou cam escape Norman? What are the chances of that?

Faceman wrote:Mizzou cam escape Norman? What are the chances of that?

Quite low. But they did beat OU last year, and their last trip to Norman was a close game til the very end, so it's not some sort of unprecedented mountain in front of them.

Transmogrified Tiger wrote:

Faceman wrote:Mizzou cam escape Norman? What are the chances of that?

Quite low. But they did beat OU last year, and their last trip to Norman was a close game til the very end, so it's not some sort of unprecedented mountain in front of them.

Right, they need to win the games they should win(including ASU), and then win one of the following:
at Oklahoma
at Texas A & M
Texas

If they do that, they're 10-2, which would be a nice season. One hickup or a swwep of the three above, 9-3, still pretty good.
8-4 doesn't look so hot though.

Uh oh. I'm starting to feel really optimistic about this MU team. Of course this means a swift kick to the nuts is imminent.

#Mizzou team spokesman Chad Moller confirms that Sheldon Richardson has been cleared academically and will practice Thursday

https://twitter.com/#!/Dave_Matter

Mind=Blown