A myriad of issues have contributed to Missouri’s 3-4 record and 0-4 start in the Southeastern Conference. How did the Tigers reach this point? Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of the team through seven games.
####Quarterbacks: C-
Injuries, porous blocking and an average receiving corps have complicated matters for junior James Franklin and redshirt freshman Corbin Berkstresser, but neither signal-caller has done much to write home about this season.
The two are a combined 127-242 for 1,432 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions through seven games. Franklin amassed more than 300 yards of offense in five of Missouri’s 13 games last season. Through seven games this season, the most a Tiger quarterback has totaled in a single game is 294 yards. And that was against Georgia, a game when a pair of fourth-quarter turnovers by Franklin crippled his team’s chances.
Berkstresser managed the Arizona State game well enough for the Tigers to win — an impressive feat for someone in his first career start against what is now a top-25 team. But he was dreadful in relief of Franklin against Vanderbilt, a showing that might very well cost this team bowl eligibility.
Franklin has had his fair share of ups and downs, but seems to have regressed from his standout sophomore season. His status for next Saturday’s game against Kentucky remains unclear.
If the Tigers are to make an eighth consecutive bowl appearance, Franklin needs to stay healthy and likely steal a win on the road with a big-time performance.
####Running backs: B
The nation’s 103rd best offense’s best unit has also been its most sparingly used. Combined, senior Kendial Lawrence and redshirt sophomore Marcus Murphy average more than 6 yards per carry. But the two only run the ball 16.4 times per game.
Lawrence has shown newfound elusiveness and said he feels faster this season than in past seasons. A more north-south running style has paid dividends as well.
“Coming into the SEC, we know the defenses play more downhill with big linebackers so it’s important for us to hit the hole and try to eliminate all the dancing and just get what we can get on the ground,” Murphy said.
Running back was a question mark heading into the season with junior Henry Josey’s absence, but Lawrence and Murphy have done a fine job when the ball has been in their hands.
####Receivers: C
Back in fall camp, offensive coordinator David Yost compared this team’s group of pass catchers to the prolific 2007 Missouri squad that had Danario Alexander, Chase Coffman, Jeremy Maclin and Martin Rucker among others.
Uber recruit Dorial Green-Beckham has made more noise off the field than on. Senior T.J. Moe, two seasons removed from catching 92 passes, is on pace for 44 grabs this season. The team’s leading receiver, junior Marcus Lucas, lost his starting spot due to drops. Junior Eric Waters has ended Missouri’s run of outstanding tight ends.
Senior Gahn McGaffie, junior L’Damien Washington and redshirt sophomores Bud Sasser and Jimmie Hunt have each shown flashes.
But collectively as a group, the wideouts have underachieved. They’ve struggled to create separation and glimpses of game-breaking ability have been scarce.
Perhaps a healthy Franklin is all they need. Time will tell.
####Offensive Line: D
This injury-plagued group has allowed 17 sacks through seven games. That’s less than 2.5 per game and that’s also the same number the Missouri defense has recorded.
Yes, Georgia’s Jarvis Jones and South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney absolutely dominated Missouri’s front-five. But most teams struggle with those two freakish athletes.
Yes, the center-to-quarterback exchange has been abysmal. And that’s unacceptable. But with a former walk-on starting at right guard, a true freshman at left guard and other players playing out of position, struggles are to be expected.
The big question: how does a relevant program like Missouri end up with such feeble depth in the trenches?
####Defensive Line: B+
For as much grief as junior defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson received for his now infamous “old-man football” comments before Georgia visited Columbia, it should be noted he’ll likely be one of the few Tigers to play football as a grown-man after college. The 300-pounder leads Missouri with 52 tackles. That’s remarkable. Richardson also leads the Tigers with 7.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.
Defensive ends Kony Ealy, Brad Madison and Michael Sam have combined for 10 sacks and provided a consistent pass rush. Richardson’s fellow interior lineman, Matt Hoch, has been a complete non-factor, though.
The defense is on pace to record more sacks this year than last year, and that’s impressive considering the superior quality of offensive lines in the SEC.
####Linebackers: B
Downhill, hard-hitting linebackers Will Ebner and Andrew Wilson seemed better suited for the physical SEC than the more finesse Big 12 Conference. The two have quietly done a solid job in the middle of defensive coordinator Dave Steckel’s defense. The two are second and third on the team in tackles, and excluding last Saturday’s Alabama game, have done a superb job in run support.
“He’s been doing some really great things on a consistent basis,” coach Gary Pinkel said. “He’s been hurt so much in his career — it’s nice for him to finally be able to go out and play so we can see what kind of player he really is.”
Senior Zaviar Gooden has been dealing with a hamstring injury, which has kept him out of two games. He’s been pedestrian in the five he has played. Reserve Donovan Bonner has done an impressive job filling in for both games Gooden missed as well as the game Ebner missed.
####Secondary: C-
Junior corner E.J. Gaines has zero interceptions and is on pace for half as many pass breakups as he had last year. Fellow corner Kip Edwards is the only Tiger with multiple interceptions but has been lacking in the tackling department.
Aside from senior Kenronte Walker’s late-game heroics against Arizona State, the safety trio of Walker, Braylon Webb and Matt White hasn’t made much noise.
Completion percentage for Tiger opponents has increased from 62 percent last year in the pass-happy Big 12 to 66 percent this year in the more rugged SEC.
The unit’s support has also been lacking. Gaines has 7.5 tackles for losses. The other three starters have a combined 5.5.
####Specialists: B-
Marcus Murphy’s four return touchdowns have him in All-American discussions. He’s been phenomenal and is carrying this unit’s grade.
The Tigers have half as many touchbacks as their opponents. Redshirt senior punter Trey Barrow has been erratic and has seen his average decrease, and that’s when Missouri has been able to get the punt off.
Redshirt freshman place kicker Andrew Baggett is four of eight on attempts of 30 yards or more.