Mizzou on the Mind

So here we are. Saturday brings answers to many questions for fans and Ron Zook, but most importantly, it ends the drought of Illini football. Last year's games ended a little sooner than most would have hoped for, but an off-season later, fans are ready to forget. The start of the new football year is always reason to get excited, but when your team has a chance to snap an annoying losing streak to a bordering rival... well it becomes reason to celebrate.

Illinois worked hard last year and put on an impressive indoor fireworks show. The offense came to play, but in the end it wasn't enough. It would be easy to say that we didn't show up on D, but watch some other highlights of the Mizzou offense running on all cylinders. It's impressive. We all know about the big three of Chase Daniel, Chase Coffman, and Jeremy Maclin, and we also know that none of them will be suiting up this weekend for the Tigers. So what do we know about the guys replacing them?

QB Blaine Gabbert. As the only Tiger on the roster with NCAA experience, Gabbert went into camp as the favorite to start. At 6'5" 240 lbs., Gabbert is a good size for the quarterback position. His arm is good enough to make all of the quick passes that make the spread so dangerous. No one will question his ability. The biggest knock on the sophomore is his lack of true game experience in meaningful games and especially under conditions like he will see this Saturday. He came out of high school rated as one of the top signal callers in the country. Choosing Mizzou over offers from Alabama, Tennessee, and Nebraska; Gabbert felt that his skills would be best utilized in the spread offense. He does not have good top end speed, but he is decently quick in getting out of the pocket. He won the 2009 Spring Team Most Improved Offensive Back Award.

WR Jared Perry. Replacing this year's 19th NFL draft pick Jeremy Maclin will be the 6'1" Senior. Perry was held out of contact drills during the spring, as he had acromioclavicular joint reconstruction surgery in the off-season on his right shoulder. The Missouri coaches say that he will be 100% ready to go. Only 450 yards away from Missouri's top ten receiving list, Perry will be looking to start the season with an exclamation point. With great speed and good cutting ability, Perry makes his living with the deep ball and short screen passes. The spotlight has been on Maclin, but Perry can get the job done. The leader of the Mizzou receiving corps will be ready to go on Saturday.

TE Andrew Jones. If you think Gabbert and Perry have big shoes to fill, then you will think the same about Jones. In 2007, Missouri's Martin Rucker was a consensus first team All-American. In 2008, Chase Coffman did the same thing but added in the Mackey award as the nation's top tight end. The 6'5" 245 lbs. sophomore played last year as a true freshman in a back-up role for Coffman. Late in the season Coffman missed time, and Jones gained valuable experience. I don't look for the tight end to play as big of a role this year as in the past two, but I do still see Jones getting some touches. The spread offense is more dangerous when you can use the TE as an additional receiver. To do this you have to trust your offensive line. Missouri's line has experience, and I expect them to use that tight end as a wide out.

So what does it all mean? The offense will not put up 50+ points on us again for one thing. For another, the experience is clearly on Illinois' side. The running back position will be the only skill position on offense where I feel Mizzou truly has an advantage. Next we will look more into the game, and I will give you my prediction.