The boo birds and naysayers are out in full force. I guess it’s only fitting that with Halloween fast-approaching, unfaithful Mizzou Tigers (3-4) fans are disguising themselves as the football team faces a nightmare in its first season in the SEC. Despite the success of the former Big 12 mates at Texas A&M (5-1), Tiger nation is still lamenting the big bad SEC and cowering in fear at its power.
If you recall, before the season I wrote an article calling the SEC overrated. Is the SEC the toughest conference in college football? Yes. Do I still feel they’re overrated? Absolutely. Inter-conference numbers don’t lie. When you compare the SEC vs other large conferences, in the words of my co-worker Kenya Vaughn, their record is “regular.” Take a look at the BCS Top 25 and the SEC holds seven positions in the top 25, undoubtedly impressive. What about the Big 12? Seven. Of course the boys from down South are more top heavy in the rankings. As I said, the SEC is the best conference; it’s just not leaps and bounds above everybody else despite the ESPN hype machine.
I know what you’re thinking. If the SEC isn’t as good as everybody thinks, then why are the Tigers so terrible? I’ll happily eat my plate of crow considering I thought Mizzou would fare much better in its inaugural season in its new league. But while the talent in the South is as rich and full as a freshly baked pan of New Orleans style bread pudding, the Tigers’ stumbles have as much to due with injuries as the lack of adjustments.
Think about it, the team’s offensive line has been a revolving door. The unit lost an astounding five players before the season began and continues to shuffle injured players in and out the lineup eliminating any chance of consistency. If the line woes weren’t bad enough, starting QB James Franklin has also been unable to remain healthy. After injuring his shoulder in the preseason, Franklin aggravated it early in the season and has also been forced to sit recently due to a bum knee.
Whether it was the lack of offseason practice, lack of confidence in his shoulder, ailing injuries or the shoddy offensive line play, Franklin has not been the player he was the second half of the season last year. Tentative play won’t get the job done, especially in a spread offense. Of course we clamored for the backup, Corbin Berkstresser. He was healthy and looked good enough in spot duty. But there’s usually a reason that backups are backups (remember the Keith Null experiment Rams’ fans?). Berkstresser is like a pitcher in the major leagues who made it solely on his 100 mph fastball. Until he learns how to throw off-speed, he’ll have long days at the park. Berkstresser zips everything. Short passes. Deep passes. Screen passes. He even guns it when throwing the ball out of bounds. Makes you wonder how different the season might have been if Tyler Gabbert had stayed on board.
Oh and did I mention that last year’s leading rusher Henry Josie was also lost for the season? So let’s recap: decimated offensive line, injured QB replaced by redshirt freshman, injured RB.
Please don’t think I’m taking the coach off the hook. Pinkel can be stubborn and resistant to change. It took a few seasons for him to embrace the spread offense that ultimately helped Mizzou transition from an easy win for opposition to a perennial Top 25 team. He still seemingly refuses to install plays from a pro style, short yardage plays other than quarterback sneak. It also seems like instead of tailoring his game plan around his players’ talents, he’d rather game plan first and force players into roles for which they are not well suited.
In the end, the injury bug has done far more damage to the Tigers than the big bad SEC. Name a team than can jump leagues, lose its offensive line, quarterback and tailback and still finish at the top of the standings. I’d venture out to say the team would have the same record if it had stayed put in terms of conference affiliation. During the successful runs in the Big 12, Mizzou fielded Brad Smith, Chase Daniel and Blaine Gabbert, all of whom suit up on Sundays. Once Pinkel finds or develops another Sunday-bound signal caller, the Tigers will get back on track. Sadly, it doesn’t look like that train is coming anytime soon, but hey, there’s also basketball season.
