Missouri Football: What to watch in the Black and Gold game
On Saturday, the Missouri Tigers will get to play in its most meaningless game of the year, the spring Black and Gold game. While it’s meaningless from a win-loss perspective, it’s quite meaningful for personnel vying for more playing time.
The 2016 season was one many of us would like to forget, and maybe, depending on how the spring game goes, we can take something away that will leave 2016 a distant memory. While the spring game is a great way to ease back into a little football, take what is seen with a grain of salt.
Quarterback
All eyes will definitely be on this position, regardless of who’s under center. After last year’s display of quarterback Drew Lock, fans want to see the soon-to-be junior signal caller making better reads and accurately connecting with his receivers.
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Last year, Lock went 237 for 434, for a 54.6 completion percentage. He also passed for 3,399 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 10 picks, which earned him a 133.3 passer rating.
Lock has the experience and a third year in the Tigers’ system to grow. With the return of a few veteran receivers, and healthy running back play, Lock should show promise for the 2017 season.
Defense
Last year saw the seeming disappearance of “D-Line Zou.” Maybe not “seeming,” but more the literal disappearance of the defensive line.
The Missouri defensive line struggled mightily against top teams in 2016. The Tigers had a hard time pressuring quarterbacks, and defending against the pass.
In games where the opposition wasn’t as strong, the Tigers defense looked more vicious. After another offseason of conditioning and learning DeMontie Cross’s defense, the Tigers will be ready to roll in the fall.
The question on defense may not be answered until the fall, though, as the Tigers still have question marks on the defensive line, and recruits won’t join the team until over the summer.
Receivers and Backs
This area is always a point of contention for me. Will the running backs be used in receiving situations, will the offensive line open holes for them, or will they run a lot of hook routes?
I’m a huge fan of power running games. The fast-paced “scat back” is always a fun option, too, and when paired with a power back, it can make for a lethal combo against an opposing defense. But give me a power runner every day of the week.
Last year, the Tigers’ running backs were hot and cold. Some of that was due to injury, and other times it was due to better defensive play, but sometimes it was also nonexistent.
I will be watching to see how the offensive line works to set up the run, and how it protects the quarterback, as well as allowing the running game to gain positive yardage.
The wide receivers had a slight drop in production, but still managed 25 touchdowns on the season. A boon in touchdowns occurred during the game against Delaware State.
Late in the season, the running and receiving games improved for Mizzou. The spring game should also give us a better idea of how they have improved since November, and how they will look going into the fall.