Missouri football will kick off their 2023 season at 7 p.m. on Thursday night as they host the South Dakota Coyotes. South Dakota is far from the biggest challenge Missouri will face this season, but there are still a handful of players and position groups whose performance against the Coyotes could be indicative of future results. Here are three keys to the Tigers starting off the season on the right foot: 

Consistent Quarterback Play: 

After months of speculation from fans on who will win Missouri’s starting quarterback job, head coach Eli Drinkwitz revealed last week that both incumbent starter Brady Cook and redshirt freshman Sam Horn will receive playing time in the season opener. Drinkwitz was reluctant to disclose exactly how that playing time would be split between the two, but he was certain that both would see the field on Thursday. 

It’s difficult to determine what the Tigers truly have in Brady Cook, who played through a majority of the 2022 season with a torn labrum. The labrum tissue is located in the shoulder, which is a fairly important ligament to have intact when throwing a football. Passing-wise, the effects that the shoulder injury had on Cook’s arm were easy to see. He struggled with accuracy on most intermediate and deep passes, holding back the offense’s playmaking potential. One thing that is undeniable about Cook’s game, however, is his rushing prowess. He added 585 yards and six touchdowns on the ground last year. A fully healthy Brady Cook should look much different from what fans saw in 2022. 

Despite many fans’ passionate requests for Horn to replace Cook in the second half of the 2022 season, the coaching staff favored the more experienced player in Cook. A former four-star recruit, Horn has a cannon for a right arm and the potential to be an elite SEC quarterback. 

Another important factor in the passing game is new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kirby Moore. After being handed the play calling duties by Drinkwitz over the offseason, Thursday should provide a good look at what his pass-heavy and up-tempo offense can do for Missouri’s quarterbacks.

The most desirable outcome is for the Tigers to come away from Thursday night’s game with a clear winner of their QB competition. While there’s certainly a chance the two will still be even heading into their second game against Middle Tennessee State, having either Cook or Horn emerge as the clear-cut starting QB early on would be huge for a Missouri squad that is entering a season that will dictate the direction of the program. That all starts with consistent and smart football against the Coyotes.

Replacing Chad Bailey: 

After suffering a soft-tissue injury early in fall camp, inside linebacker Chad Bailey underwent a procedure last Friday that will keep him out for 21 days. 

While Ty’Ron Hopper will still be guarding the middle of the field at linebacker, the absence of Bailey leaves a significant hole in Missouri’s second line of defense. Drinkwitz named Dameon Wilson and Chuck Hicks as two players who will be expected to step up without Bailey on the field. Wilson, a sophomore, was the main backup at inside linebacker last year and has received a majority of starting snaps in fall camp practices since Bailey was injured. Hicks, a graduate student, missed most of last year due to injury.

Linebackers are asked to wear a lot of hats in defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s defense. The versatile skill sets of both Hopper and Bailey allow Baker to be equally as versatile with his play calls. That becomes a little more difficult without Bailey on the field, and while Wilson and Hicks probably won’t be asked to do anything too complex on Thursday, it will still be interesting to see how Bailey’s absence affects Missouri’s defense. 

When previewing the Coyotes, Drinkiwitz mentioned that the South Dakota offense uses a diverse, or “multiple,” rushing attack that will most likely be a focal point of their game plan. Bailey’s replacements must be able to diagnose the many different running schemes presented by South Dakota and avoid missed tackles in order for the Missouri defense to succeed in week one.

Improved Offensive Line Play: 

One of the weakest position groups for Missouri in 2022 was the offensive line. Allowing 102 pressures on the year, the lack of security in the pocket made Cook appear skittish and severely limited  the offense’s downfield receiving game. 

Thankfully, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic that the group will take a step forward in 2023. On Friday, Drinkwitz said “the offensive line has been the most improved unit in our football program.” 

The team added two transfers, Cam’Ron Johnson from Houston and Marcellus Johnson from Eastern Michigan, who both appear to be instant impact-players. Additionally, sophomores Armand Membou and Connor Tollison have reportedly taken big strides over the summer. 

With the South Dakota defense featuring two preseason all-conference linebackers in Stephen Hillis and Brock Mogensen, Missouri’s improved offensive line will have their work cut out for them on Thursday. A solid  performance against South Dakota will provide Horn and Cook with confidence with their security in the pocket before they have to face some of the more dangerous front sevens in the SEC. Thursday’s season opener is an important game for the offensive line to set the standard for this season.

Copy edited by Sterling Sewell