Missouri Football: Apparently, Drew Lock has to prove he’s an SEC quarterback
Today’s theme is respect. Missouri football receives none; a storyline which has lingered since the Tigers joined the SEC in 2012.
Earlier today, the Missouri basketball program found itself ranked in the middle of a preseason conference power ranking, which is fair, considering the program’s track record over the last three years.
As usual, the Missouri football program continues its plight from doubters who don’t believe that the Tigers are worthy of being in the SEC. This afternoon, the tables may have turned, ever so slightly in Missouri’s favor, as quarterback Drew Lock was rated an average quarterback.
Considering the amount of doubt which has been cast upon Missouri, Lock ranked at No. 7 isn’t bad. It’s not indicative of his talent as much as it is his execution.
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In 2016, Lock lead the SEC East in passing, with 3,399 yards. A non-conference opponent in Delaware State certainly didn’t hurt to pad those stats a little, but at the end of the day, Lock did the work he was expected to do, regardless of the opponent.
"7. Drew Lock, Missouri – The leap from Lock’s freshman season to sophomore season was massive. Another step forward could put him near the top of this list. He’s part of an offense that returns 10 starters including all of its offensive line so there’s a real chance that Lock commands one of the SEC’s most explosive offenses."
This is the year where Lock has to step-up and show that he has improved his ability to read defenses, work through his progressions, and make more accurate plays with the ball. Missouri is in a unique position, as it returns 10 talented players on offense for the starter in his second full season to work with.
There’s really no reason fans shouldn’t expect to see vast improvement from Lock, who spent parts of his summer working with his receivers.
Next: Missouri projected to finish last in SEC East
At this point, being the seventh-rated quarterback in the SEC is a fair assessment. Lock is very talented and has the intelligence to morph into the best quarterback in the conference, and be top-five in college football.