March 27, 2002

Gary Pinkel loves competition. When Pinkel arrived at Missouri last November, he declared every position wide open for the taking. That has not changed heading into his second spring as the head coach of the Missouri Tigers, and it never will.

"Spring football is always about settling depth," said Pinkel. "All jobs are open. I would suggest that this spring will be more competitive than last year."

Last spring, the Missouri Tigers were learning Gary Pinkel's system. The system is now in place. Where as Pinkel was learning about his team in 2001, he now knows every strength and every weakness of his team heading into spring practices.

"We are developing the personality of the program," said Pinkel. "The environment is starting to look like it is supposed to. We're still a long ways away."

Two of the most important aspects that Pinkel felt the Tigers needed to improve on in the off-season were the physical capabilities of his team, and mental toughness.

"February was an important month for this football team," said Pinkel. "We made significant progress physically as a team and we made significant strides in developing the mental toughness of this team."

Missouri will look for improvement all across the board this spring, from offense to defense to special teams. The Missouri coaching staff will look to find the top 11 players on offense and defense, and fill the depth from there.

Offensively, Pinkel hopes to see significant progress in the passing game. The Tigers were ninth in the Big 12 in passing offense, a number that must improve.

"We need to throw the ball significantly better," said Pinkel. "We look to be balanced, but we have to be more efficient throwing the ball."

Pinkel is looking for all aspects of the defense to improve. Creating turnovers is the name of the game for the Missouri defensive system, a category the Tigers were last in the league in a year ago.

"We didn't turn the ball over last year, but we didn't get any either," said Pinkel. "That has got to change. Every part of the defense needs to improve."

Even though special teams improved compared to the past couple of seasons, there is still a lot to work on. Mizzou's special teams will we be more athletic in 2002, adding significant speed from the redshirt freshmen from a year ago. The Tigers also have gone out and gotten the personnel that they need to kick the ball better.

"We need to improve in every aspect of special teams," said Pinkel. "We need to punt and kick better, we need to return it better and we need to cover better. We are going to add a lot of athletes and a lot more speed to the special teams this year, which well help out significantly.

QUARTERBACK

The quarterback position will be like every other position on the gridiron this spring. The job is up for grabs, and Pinkel is expecting a great battle between senior Kirk Farmer and redshirt freshmen Brad Smith and Santino Riccio.

Farmer played an entire season for the first time in his career in 2001. He threw for 1,567 yards while rushing for 379. He was among the conference leaders in total offense. Farmer threw 13 touchdown passes, while be intercepted just six times.

"Last year was Kirk's first year going through an entire season," said Pinkel. "I think he learned a lot last year. We expect him to improve dramatically this spring."

Smith and Riccio guided the Missouri scout team offense last year and did a fantastic job. Smith is one of the best athletes on the team, combining outstanding quickness and speed with a big-time arm. Riccio is also athletic and possesses great arm-strength. One thing both young quarterbacks possess that Pinkel loves is their competitive nature.

"Brad and Sonny are two of the best competitors that I have ever been around," said Pinkel. "The competition is going to be fun to watch."

RUNNING BACK
The Tigers are putting together solid depth at the running back position. Junior Zack Abron was a third team All-Big 12 selection in 2001 and arguably the most improved player on the Missouri team. Abron rushed for 783 yards, averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He rushed for over 100 yards five times a year ago with two of those marks coming against two of the top 10 rushing defenses in the country in Texas and Kansas State.

"Zack made tremendous strides last year," said Pinkel. "We're expecting a great year from Zack."

Sophomore Tyrone Roberson got his feet wet last year. He rushed for 172 yards and averaged close to four yards per carry. Roberson brings an outstanding work ethic will be a much improved player this spring.

Pinkel is also excited about senior Tim Starks. Starks got off to a late start in 2001, missing nearly all of two-a-days due to transcript problems. Now with a full year under his belt in the Missouri system, Starks is looking good and will compete for playing time this spring.

Sophomore Chad Giffen, who lettered as a walk-on last year as a special teams player, moves back to running back after playing free safety last year. Giffen's hard work has caught the attention of the Missouri coaching staff.

WIDE RECEIVER
While first team All-Big 12 wide receiver Justin Gage returns, Pinkel is expecting some of the best competition of the spring to take place at the wide receiver position. Gage had an incredible season in 2001, one of the best in Mizzou history. With 74 receptions, Gage was second in receptions for a single season in Missouri history. With 920 receiving yards, Gage had the best single season in nine years.

Gage enters the 2002 campaign in fourth place all-time at Missouri in both receptions (118) and receiving yards (1,629). As good as Gage has been the last two seasons, Pinkel believes he can be that much better.

"Justin has a lot of room to improve," said Pinkel. "He is an outstanding receiver, and his goal this spring needs to be to make his weaknesses into strengths."

At least seven other wide receivers will compete for the top three receiving slots this spring. Junior Marcus James and sophomore Thomson Omboga saw significant playing time last year and will compete to hold onto their spots on the depth chart. Junior Tay Jackson is a veteran player who has improved, as has junior speedster Shirdonya Mitchell. Mitchell is the fastest player on the team (4.32 in the 40-yard dash) and has had a great off-season. Junior Brandon Severino also made great strides a year ago and will compete this spring.

Pinkel is also excited to see three redshirt freshmen in action this spring. Chris Crosby and Sean Coffey are big, athletic receivers who will look to climb the depth chart, while speedy A.B. Britt will also push the veteran receivers.

"It is going to be neat to see how it all unfolds," said Pinkel. "There are some awfully good receivers in this group and they will all be pushing one another."

TIGHT END/R-BACK
Missouri lost a great tight end in Dwayne Blakley, a player that may very well play in the NFL next season. Pinkel will look at several people to fill Blakley's shoes.

Senior Ben Frederickson had a very good 2001 campaign, catching eight passes, two of them for touchdowns. Frederickson is a big, strong athlete who will be a much improved player this spring.

Redshirt freshman Earl Stephens will compete with Frederickson. Stephens is a talented tight end who has added a significant amount of size and strength to go along with his athletic ability.

The Tigers have a lot of experienced depth at R-back and expect that position to be hotly contested this spring. Senior Joe Chirumbolo played in every game last season and caught two touchdown passes. He is the type of player who makes things happen when he touches the ball. Junior J.D. McCoy has had an exceptional off-season and is expected to push Chirumbolo this fall, as will senior T.J. Leon, who makes the move to R-back from tailback in 2002. Leon is an experienced player with a great work ethic.

OFFENSIVE LINE
There will be plenty of competition among several good athletes this spring on the offensive line. The Tigers must replace three All-Big 12 offensive linemen in Justin Bland, Aaron Crittendon and Mike Hayes.

Two starters return on the offensive line, including junior center A.J. Ricker, a nominee for the Rimington Award that is given to the best offensive center in the nation. Ricker was a third team All-Big 12 selection last year and could very well emerge as the best center in the league in 2002.

Junior Rob Droege made significant strides last year and will be a much improved player this spring. Droege, one of the best athletes on the line, will be stronger and even quicker in 2002.

"We need Ricker and Droege to play at a higher level this season," said Pinkel. "They will be the leaders of this offensive line, so they need to step up their play."

Junior Cliff Young improved a lot last year and saw action in the Tigers final two games. Like Ricker and Droege, Young is a year older and much stronger and quicker.

Several young players will compete for jobs on the offensive line this spring. Sophomores Tony Clinker and Joe Gianino have great work ethics and will look to climb the depth chart, as will junior Scott Sells, who made great strides a year ago as Ricker's backup. Seniors Wes Wilson and J.P. Hall will also compete this spring, along with sophomore Scott Paffrath, who has really worked hard to get bigger and stronger. Junior Howard Brown has moved to the offensive line from the defensive line and will compete this spring.

Pinkel is also excited to see redshirt freshman Tony Palmer and Jason Rhodes compete for jobs. Both offensive linemen are very talented and will compete hard this spring for playing time this fall.

"Positions aren't the big thing on the offensive line," said Pinkel. "We're looking for the top 10 linemen out of the group, and we will find a place on the line for them."

DEFENSIVE LINE
Where there was very little experience on the defensive line in 2001, the Tigers return a significant number of players who saw action last year. Second team All-Big 12 lineman Keith Wright had a very impressive season last year and can play either defensive end or defensive tackle. Wright is much stronger than a year ago which will make him that much tougher to handle.

Senior defensive end Antwaun Bynum led the Tigers in quarterback sacks with seven and will once again be a force. Like Wright, Bynum is much stronger heading into the spring.

Another senior, Cedric Harden, has been a mainstay on the defensive line the last three years. Harden brings experience, size and speed. Sophomore Nick Tarpoff saw significant playing time last year and fellow sophomore Terrell Mills returns after an early season injury last year.

On the interior, Pinkel and the staff are excited to see junior college transfer Atiyyah Ellison perform this spring. At 6-4, 290, Ellison, a sophomore, is a huge, athletic defensive lineman who will look to get the Missouri defensive scheme down this spring. Sophomore Phil Pitts got his feet wet last year and is a much improved player, and junior Rusty Groth makes the switch from offensive line to defensive line this spring. Groth has had a fantastic off-season and runs very well.

LINEBACKERS
The Tigers return two talented linebackers in senior Sean Doyle and sophomore James Kinney. Doyle recorded 131 tackles a year ago, a total that ranked among the top 20 in college football. He is hard-nosed and will be one of the leaders of the defense this spring.

Kinney started the final three games for the Tigers in 2001 and played at a very high level. He is good athlete who continues to get stronger and faster.

Several other young linebackers will compete this spring. Sophomore Henry Sweat has had a good off-season will compete this spring, as will three talented redshirt freshmen: Brandon Smith, Derrick Ming and Elgin Childress.

"These three guys are great competitors and will be fun to watch this spring," said Pinkel. Ming and Childress both had surgery last year, but both have made significant strides and will be ready to go this spring."

DEFENSIVE BACKS
While there are five positions in the defensive backfield in the Missouri defense, Pinkel will group all of the defensive backs together this spring and find the best of the bunch to fill in the depth chart. Where the Tigers lacked depth last year in the defensive backfield, several young players, many of whom redshirted a year ago, will step in and compete for spots on the depth chart.

"The five best players out of this group will play in the secondary," said Pinkel. "We've got some excellent athletes, and we need to get our best athletes on the field."

Senior Tauras Ferguson was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection last year at outside safety and will look to lock down the rover position this spring. Ferguson, who played on the defensive side of the football for the first time in his career a year ago, was third on the team in tackles with 71. He recorded six tackles for losses, two quarterback sacks, and recovered two fumbles.

Senior Gary Anthony and junior Marcus Caldwell will compete at the outside safety positions. Both players have significant experience. Redshirt freshmen Justin Scott, Orlando Gooden and Quincy Wade will also push the Mizzou veterans this spring. All three players have improved in the off-season and all three are very talented athletes.

Pinkel has moved three players into the free safety position this spring to compete for that job. Sophomore Marcus King saw time on special teams last year and practiced at cornerback. King has good size and speed and is a great competitor. Redshirt freshman Jason Simpson was an outside safety last year. Simpson is a physical player with a great motor.

One of the most significant moves in the off-season was moving junior Brandon Barnes from wide receiver to free safety. Barnes has excellent size and was a standout defensive back in high school.

"Good athletes are critical in this defensive structure," said Pinkel. "

Missouri has a lot of experience at the cornerback spots. Seniors Antoine Duncan and R.J. Jones are good cover corners with excellent speed. Both players had two interceptions each in 2001. They will be pushed by junior Michael Harden and sophomore Calvin Washington, along with redshirt freshman A.J. Kincade. Washington and Kincade have had fantastic off-seasons.

Junior Terrence Curry will also be back on the gridiron this fall after sitting out the 2001 campaign with a knee injury. Curry probably won't be 100 percent until the summer, but he is a veteran who will eventually enter the competition.

"I think the defensive back position, like all of the other positions, is starting to show a semblance of order in the depth," said Pinkel. "We are not there yet by any means, but it is getting better."

SPECIAL TEAMS
Special Teams will be a major area of concentration this spring. The Tigers will be looking to get better in every aspect. The coaching staff will be taking a long look at everything from punting to snapping to holding.

The competition at punter will be between sophomore Brock Harvey and junior college transfer Todd Gohsler. Harvey battled inconsistency as a redshirt freshman a year ago, but Pinkel is quick to point out that Harvey has worked extremely hard this off-season. Gohsler, from Mesa College in California, will push Harvey this spring.

Long-snapping will be a point of emphasis after losing both Sean Ain and Ben Davidson to graduation. Sophomores Zack Strom and Nick Tarpoff and junior Scott Sells will compete, while Pinkel plans on trying out a number of other players.

"Like everything else, snapping is important, and these guys have been working on it every day," said Pinkel.

Redshirt freshman Ben Lambert will get a long look this spring at place kicker, while the Tigers plan on bringing in several other walk-ons to compete with Lambert.

All three quarterbacks, Farmer, Smith and Riccio, will challenge to be the holder in place-kicking situations. Missouri also plans on trying several players out for the return teams.

"We'll evaluate the return teams as we go along this spring," said Pinkel. "We have several candidates, and it is part of the game that we need to improve."