2004 Spring Football Preview Article
3/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 4, 2004
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Columbia, Mo. - The Missouri Tigers enter the 2004 spring practice period in a much-welcomed new position, as they are coming off a winning season for the first time since 1998. Head Coach Gary Pinkel and his staff have turned Mizzou into one of the nation's up-and-coming programs, and this spring period will play a big role in helping the Tigers continue their charging momentum into the much-anticipated 2004 season.
Mizzou is coming off an outstanding 2003 campaign, as it recorded eight wins and appeared in a bowl game for the first time since 1998. The Tigers cracked the national rankings at one point during the season, and the excitement surrounding the program led to a school-record nine television appearances during the year.
The watershed moment likely came in an historic 41-24 win in October against 10th-ranked Nebraska - a win which marked MU's first over Nebraska since 1978, breaking a streak of 24 straight Husker wins. The win also marked MU's first win over a top-10 team since 1981, and helped propel the Tigers to an undefeated 6-0 mark at Faurot Field, which broke a school record for home wins in a season, as well.
Those achievements, while all noteworthy, are in the past now, and it is the focus of the coaching staff to take the spring period to build on that momentum and get a good feel for what they will have to work with when fall camp opens in August. Those outside the program are indeed taking notice of what's going on in Columbia, as several national prognosticators have already put the Tigers in their early 2004 pre-season top-25 polls.
And for good reason, as Mizzou returns a solid nucleus from last season, including All-American candidate quarterback Brad Smith, a junior-to-be who is firmly established as a Heisman Trophy candidate in virtually all national circles. Smith will be joined on the field by three other returning starters on offense (WR Sean Coffey, OL Tony Palmer and WR Thomson Omboga), but the cupboard isn't exactly bare on that side of the ball, as there are six other returnees who started at least one game in 2003 for an offense which set a school record with 399 points - OL Scott Paffrath (6 starts); OL Joe Gianino (4); TE Victor Sesay (2); WR Brad Ekwerekwu (1); TE Clint Matthews (1); and TB Damien Nash (1).
Defensively, Mizzou looks to be in excellent shape, as the Tigers return nine starters from a unit that was one of the Big 12's most improved in 2003. Headlining the group of returnees is senior All-America linebacker candidate James Kinney, who has ranked among the nation's top-20 tacklers each of the last two years. He'll be joined by returning starters Nino Williams II (S - 13 starts in 2003), Dedrick Harrington (LB - 13), C.J. Mosley (DL - 11), Zach Ville (DE - 11), Atiyyah Ellison (DL - 10), Brian Smith (DE - 9), Jason Simpson (S - 9) and Calvin Washington (CB - 8).
Additonally, seven other defenders return to the fold who started at least once in 2003 - DE Xzavie Jackson (4 starts), S David Overstreet (3), S Marcus Bacon (1), CB A.J. Kincade (1), CB Shirdonya Mitchell (1), DL Phil Pitts (1) and LB Henry Sweat (1). Also adding valuable experience and talent to the defensive group is junior safety Marcus King, who redshirted in 2003 after starting seven games in 2002.
So what is in store for the spring season? According to Head Coach Gary Pinkel, it boils down to more of the same that has made him a success everywhere he has been in his career - hard work, player development and personnel evaluation.
"We always go into every spring with offensive goals, defensive goals and team goals, things we definitely have to get accomplished," Pinkel said. "Obviously, one of those is always the depth, to sort out the entire depth chart - who is going to move up into the first and second team, any position changes that we have made, are they working okay, or in the process of the spring as it goes, will we make other position changes? Personnel issues are always something that you have to have as a top priority in the spring. Then we'll decide offensively the things we need to do, defensively the things we need to do and the kicking game," he said.
In spite of the success last season, Pinkel said that won't change the focus of what needs to take place this spring.
"We're in the player development part of our program, and instead of talking or thinking about how good we might be, my suggestion to our football team is to focus on working hard," said Pinkel. "We have to focus on getting stronger, faster, quicker, and tougher, all those things. We have a two-month period of time that we can do this prior to the spring that we can make remarkable gains there. They can do some skill improvement on their own, but for the most part, that's where our focus has to be - on what we can do in this segment of the program to become a better football team. Then, when we get into spring football, obviously we have to get fundamentally better with the skill part of our game. Nothing has changed, we just want to work hard, raise our numbers up in all of the strength and speed categories so that it helps us be a better team next September," he said.
With that assessment, here is a look at each area of the squad heading into the 2004 spring period...
THE OFFENSE
As noted previously, Mizzou returns four primary starters, and six others who started at least one game in 2003 from an offense which was one of the most prolific in school history. The Tigers scored a school-record 399 points in 2003, and led the Big 12 Conference, while ranking 6th nationally, in rushing, with an average of 237.46 yards per game.
A trademark of Gary Pinkel-coached teams revolves around the issue of ball security, and the 2003 team led the nation in fewest turnovers (13 in 13 games) and also ranked 10th nationally with a turnover margin of +0.85 per game.
The one area in which the Tigers can look to improve in 2004 would have to be the production of the passing attack. Mizzou's per-game average dropped to 166.00 yards per game in 2003, after averaging 203.20 in 2002.
"Obviously, we were one of the best running teams in the nation a year ago," said Pinkel. "I was disappointed with our production passing-wise, and that has to change. So, that without question, is a primary goal is to work on our passing game, to get our passing game to a higher level of effeciency," he said.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Lettermen Lost Lettermen Returning (6 w/45 2003 starts) (4 w/20 2003 starts) Rob Droege****(WT-13) Tony Palmer**(WG-10) A.J. Ricker****(C-13) Scott Paffrath**(ST-6) Cliff Young***(SG-12) Joe Gianino**(WG-3,SG-1) Steve Sanchez* (ST-7) Zach Strom** Scott Sells*** Howard Brown*
The area which faces the biggest rebuilding task due to personnel losses is clearly the Tiger offensive line. With the loss of all-league center A.J. Ricker (13 starts in 2003 and an MU-record 47 consecutive starts) and tackle Rob Droege (13 starts in 2003), in addition to key contributors Cliff Young (12) and Steven Sanchez (7), a lot of experience has departed the ranks from a line which paved the way to Mizzou leading the Big 12 Conference, and ranking 6th nationally in rushing in 2003.
However, expectations are still high for the line, as three proven competitors return to lead the way. Junior Tony Palmer, who started 10 games in 2003 at guard, is the focal point of the line, and is an all-league candidate who will be looked upon to solidify things up front. Joining Palmer with outstanding experience are seniors Scott Paffrath and Joe Gianino. Paffrath started six games in 2003 at tackle, while Gianino made four starts at guard, and could move over to center during the spring as the Tigers look to replace Ricker. Waiting in the wings to make an impact is a solid group of veterans along with some very talented redshirt freshmen who hope to get their first game experience in 2004. Leading candidates among those with the most experience include senior tackle Tony Clinker and sophomore guard Mike Cook, who both saw action in four games in 2003. Sophomore tackle Joel Clinger played in two games in 2003, and is a prime candidate to compete for significant playing time, as well. Additionally, senior Howard Brissette hopes to earn a spot in the rotation this spring.
A talented group of redshirt freshmen point to a promising future for the Tiger front line, and they will have a chance to contribute immediately. Tyler Luellen, Marty Raab, Adam Spieker and Monte Wyrick all gained a valuable redshirt year in 2003 and are now looking to compete for playing time this fall.
"I think the offensive line is certainly an area that has to get sorted out - when you lose three starters and five players that played significantly, there is reason to be concerned," said Pinkel. "I do feel pretty good because we have Paffrath who has played and started a bunch, Palmer who has played and started a bunch, Gianino is the same way, so we have three players who have played a significant amount of time. The rest of it is going to be a competition between all of the other guys, and it will be interesting to see what happens," he said.
QUARTERBACK
Lettermen Lost Lettermen Returning (1 w/0 2003 starts) (1 w/13 2003 starts) Sonny Riccio* Brad Smith** (13)
Much to the delight of the Tiger Nation, and much to the dismay of opponents, Mizzou's quarterback position is in solid hands for another two years as record-setting signal caller Brad Smith will return for his junior season in 2004.
Smith's accomplishments in his two years directing the Tiger offense are too many to detail in this brief outlook, so we'll let it suffice to say that he is one of the nation's top returning players who will begin the year on the short list of many listings for Heisman Trophy candidates.
While the top spot is solidified, one of the most highly-anticipated things to watch for in the spring period will be the development of sophomore Brandon Coleman. Tiger coaches expect him to blossom into a game-ready quarterback, and the spring practice period will be a critical phase in the process. Coleman's development becomes even more important to the cause, as MU lost a talented backup quarterback in Santino Riccio, who chose to transfer to the University of Delaware in the off-season.
"Obviously, Brad wants to improve himself just like any player," said Pinkel. "Our big thing right now for Coleman is, can he run the offense, can we win with him? He's a great athlete, he's a great kid, he's worked hard, and hopefully we're going to say yes, and we'll be disappointed if we say no, but there's a sense of urgency on him now to get himself ready to play. And knowing him, he's excited about the opportunity," said Pinkel.
TAILBACK
Lettermen Lost Lettermen Returning (1 w/12 2003 starts) (3 w/1 2003 start) Zack Abron****(12) Damien Nash*(1) Tyrone Roberson*** Beau Viehmann*
In most situations, when a school loses its alltime leading rusher, uncertainty would likely follow. But despite losing standout tailback Zack Abron (MU's career leading rusher with 3,198 yards) to graduation, the backfield situation appears to be in good shape heading into the spring.
Most of the high hopes here are centered around junior Damien Nash, who flashed his big-play potential all throughout the 2003 season in a backup role to Abron. In just 89 attempts, Nash rushed for 462 yards and five touchdowns, giving Tiger fans much to be excited about. He also caught 11 passes out of the backfield for 105 yards, including a dazzling 48-yard catch and run that he took the distance for a score at Colorado.
Veteran Tyrone Roberson and Marcus Woods are expected to challenge for playing time this year, along with Nash. Roberson will miss the spring period due to a knee injury he suffered in practice prior to the 2003 Independence Bowl, but he will be back in time for the season. Roberson played in 12 games last year and had a team-best 7.6 yards per carry average, carrying 13 times for 99 yards. Woods looks to get a lot of carries in the spring, and Tiger coaches are excited about his potential, as he opened eyes almost daily going against the top defense in practice in 2003.
Senior Beau Viehmann returns to the mix here, as well, and will provide more quality depth in the Tiger backfield. Viehmann was used primarily as a blocking back in 2003, and also carried once on the year.
"We feel pretty good about where we're at here," said Pinkel. "We've lost Roberson, he's certainly part of that group, but with Nash and Woods, I think that there's pretty good depth. Viehmann has experience, we're pleased about having him back. Now we just want to have those guys play at a high level and get Roberson healthy and back for the fall," he said.
WIDE RECEIVER
Lettermen Lost Lettermen Returning (3 w/14 2003 starts) (3 w/24 2003 starts) Darius Outlaw****(13) Sean Coffey**(13) Marcus James****(1) Thomson Omboga***(10) Perry Purnell* Brad Ekwerekwu*(1)
The passing game for Missouri dropped slightly in production in 2003, so there will be many eyes turned to a talented group of receivers as they work during the spring to make a bigger impact in the air.
Key losses to the unit include Darius Outlaw, who led Mizzou with four touchdown catches in 2003, and Marcus James, who was a dependable pass-catcher and superb return man on special teams.
But coming back to the mix is a solid core of receivers with experience, and some exciting newcomers who have a chance to contribute immediately.
Leading the returnees is senior Thomson Omboga, who was MU's top receiver in 2003 with 52 catches for 466 yards and one touchdown. He ended the season with a career-best eight catches for 63 yards in the Independence Bowl against Arkansas. Junior Sean Coffey is also back after he ranked third on the squad with 27 catches in 2003 for 341 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore Brad Ekwerekwu returns after he caught 11 passes for 128 yards in nine games as a true freshman in 2003. Other veterans include juniors Arnold Britt and Chris Crosby. Crosby caught one pass in 2003 for 11 yards, but will miss the spring as he recovers from a knee injury suffered during off-season conditioning drills.
The Tigers were able to redshirt the talents of Greg Bracey and Jason Ray in 2003, and both should challenge for playing time in their second go-arounds in the program. Bracey is one of the fastest players on the team (who was clocked in the off-season at 4.29 seconds in the 40-yard dash), while Ray is an athletic receiver who can serve a number of roles in the passing game.
"This is another area to sort out a little bit, it will be interesting," said Pinkel. "We lost Marcus James and Darius Outlaw, both who made significant contributions, Marcus actually more as a kick return specialist, and Outlaw as a receiver. But Brad Ekwerekwu has played a lot, Omboga maybe had his best game in the last game of the year in the bowl game, Coffey has done some real good things and we're looking for more consistency there. Then you look at the Bracey's, the Ray's the Britt's. Crosby was hurt, he'll miss the spring but hopefully we'll get him back later on. We have a lot to sort out. Ekwerekwu has run in the 4.3's, Bracey has run in the 4.2's, so a lot of things are happening there and we should have some good competition here," he said.
TIGHT END
Lettermen Lost Lettermen Returning (2 w/11 2003 starts) (2 w/3 2003 starts) J.D. McCoy****(11) Victor Sesay*(2) Mau Uiagalelei* Clint Matthews**(1)
Competition at tight end should prove to be quite interesting in the spring. Mizzou lost the services of veteran J.D. McCoy (11 starts in 2003) to graduation, so finding the primary replacement will be an important part of the spring period.
Talent at the position runs pretty deep, though, as three veterans and a handful of talented newcomers will look to compete for playing time. One of the most likely candidates would have to be senior Victor Sesay, who caught 15 passes for 154 yards and was second on the team in 2003 with three receiving touchdowns. His 2003 season ended prematurely in game number nine at Colorado due to a knee injury, but he is expected to be ready to go in the spring. Others with playing experience include senior Clint Matthews and sophomore DeQuincy Howard. Matthews played in all 13 games in 2003 and had four catches for 15 yards, while Howard saw action in nine contests and caught two balls for 14 yards, including a touchdown grab at Kansas State late in the season.
Tiger coaches are eager to see the development in the spring of redshirt freshman prospects Martin Rucker and Josh Barbo. Both are very talented and athletic and have a chance to make solid contributions this year.
"Sesay has played a lot, Matthews played quite a bit, and you look at DeQuincy Howard who got hurt and played a little bit at the end and did some good things, he's a redshirt sophomore and we expect him to mature," said Pinkel. "Sesay is going to be back, we expect him to develop into a high-level player. Rucker and Barbo are two real good-looking freshmen, so there will be a lot of competition," he said.
THE DEFENSE
While the Mizzou offense might have garnered more headlines in 2003 with its record-setting feats, it could be argued that the improvement that the Tiger defense showed last year was just as much responsible for MU's success as anything.
The 2004 season should provide more of the same from the defensive side of the ball, as Mizzou returns nine starters from last year's squad, and another eight players who have started in the past.
"We made a lot of strides from one year to the next, we took over seven points off per game, and I'm very pleased with that," said Pinkel. "I think the thing we need to do, without question, is to become a better rush defense. That isn't just the front four, that comes from every position. We also have to be able to pressure the quarterback more, and we've been able to get 24 turnovers two years in a row, but we need to get the turnovers in the 30's. That's something that is going to help change games. Certainly, we had some big turnover games against some good teams that really helped - Texas Tech, Nebraska, Texas A&M - but overall, 24 isn't good enough. So, overall, we're pleased with the progress, but now we have to take it to another level, take the next step," Pinkel said.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Lettermen Lost Lettermen Returning (3 w/5 2003 starts) (7 w/46 2003 starts) Russ Bell**(DT-5) C.J. Mosley**(DT-11) Kene Chukwuanu* Zach Ville*(DE-11) Rusty Groth* Atiyyah Ellison**(DT-10) Brian Smith*(DE-9) Xzavie Jackson*(DE-4) Phil Pitts***(DE-1) Fabian Bean*
Depth should not be a problem in the trenches for Mizzou this season, as the Tigers return all four primary starters on the defensive line for the 2004 season, as well as two others who started at various points during 2003.
Junior tackle C.J. Mosley returns from a season which saw him earn 2nd-team All-Big 12 honors after starting 11 games and amassing 67 tackles, including a team-best 16 tackles for loss. Also returning after making 11 starts at end in 2003 is junior Zach Ville, who had 50 stops last season, including 11 for loss. Senior tackle Atiyyah Ellison is another all-star candidate who had 72 stops in 2003 (14 for loss) and earned 3rd-team All-Big 12 honors. Sophomore rush end Brian Smith also returns after starting nine games in 2003 and racking up a team-best and NCAA freshman leading eight sacks.
Two others return to the mix to provide quality depth, including sophomore end Xzavie Jackson and senior Phil Pitts. Jackson was one of only two true freshmen to play for MU in 2003, and he racked up 34 tackles in just nine games, starting four in all. Pitts is a very valuable part of the line who can play either inside or outside, as evidenced by his one start in 2003 coming at end. Other linemen with prior experience include Fabian Bean, Earl Stephens and Elgin Childress.
Newcomers to the line include redshirt freshman Lorenzo Williams, who moved from linebacker a year ago, and freshmen Gartrell Cooper and Phinney Troy, both of whom were originally part of the 2003 recruiting class who delayed their entry into school until this January.
"We have a lot of guys that have played here," said Pinkel. "You take Ville, Ellison, Pitts, and Mosley. Mosley and Ellison are our all-conference guys. Bean didn't play a lot but he's a sophomore and is a good prospect. Jackson and Brian Smith give us talent that we haven't had since we've been here so that's encouraging. Now, what is going to happen with a Stephens competing, what's happening with Cooper and Troy, they're in there. Childress, who was hurt, he's run in the 4.6's, he's 245 and a defensive end. Lorenzo Williams, we redshirted him a year ago, he's 265 and running in the low 4.8's now, so there's a lot of good things happening there and that is going to be fun to watch all of this sort itself out," he said.
LINEBACKER
Lettermen Lost Lettermen Returning (2 w/13 2003 starts) (5 w/26 2003 starts) Brandon Barnes***(13) Dedrick Harrington*(RV-12, DE-1) Ryan Binkholder* James Kinney***(12) Henry Sweat**(1) Doc Gooden** Derrick Ming**
Getting the most athletic players possible at the crucial linebacker position was an emphasis of the coaching staff in the off-season, and a couple of key moves have been made in order to do this, thus giving the linebacker position a different feel heading into the spring period.
But first off, returning to the mix is senior All-American candidate James Kinney. Kinney has ranked in the nation's top-20 tacklers each of the last two years, and with 322 career tackles, he needs just 94 more to break DeMontie Cross' career record of 415 (from 1994-96). Also returning with 23 games of experience under his belt is senior Henry Sweat, who has started one game each of his last two years at linebacker. Juniors Orlando "Doc" Gooden and Derrick Ming have been special teams standouts the past two seasons, and should see their playing time opportunities grow on the defensive squad this year. Sophomore Emmett Morris, Jr., is a hard-hitting linebacker who hopes to contribute after dealing with nagging injuries that have limited him recently.
The big additions to the linebacking pool that will draw the eyes of many observers during the spring include standout athletes Dedrick Harrington and David Richard. Harrington was a member of the Big 12 All-Freshman team in 2003 after a redshirt freshman season that saw him rack up 64 tackles, including 11 for loss, to go with two sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception while playing at the rover position. Richard sat out last season and took reps at running back after transferring from Michigan State, where he led the Spartans in rushing as a true freshman. He made the decision to move to linebacker in the off-season.
"We made a couple of moves here, with David Richard moving to linebacker and Dedrick Harrington moving to inside linebacker," said Pinkel. "We did this because that's where Dedrick's best position is going to be and we finally are able to get him there. Athletically, he'll be at the highest level. David Richard is certainly a guy we expect to come around strong. There's a lot of competition there between Sweat, Kinney, Ming, and Morris along with Harrington and Richard. Talk about upgrading a position athletically, that's changed significantly. That's good, those are the kind of athletes we need in there, and guess what? The best guys will play and the competition will take care of itself," he said.
ROVERS
Lettermen Lost Lettermen Returning (None) (3 w/9 2003 starts) Jason Simpson**(WH-9) Quincy Wade** Josh Hibbets*
The rover position, which is a hybrid of linebacker and safety in the Missouri defensive system, has been vacated by Dedrick Harrington, who moved to linebacker in the off-season. But there is plenty of experience coming back to make this a strong point in the defense once again.
Junior Quincy Wade played in 11 games last season at the rover position, and really developed into an impact player as the season went along. He registered 45 tackles on the season, and will be full strength in the fall after missing the spring due to elective knee surgery in the off-season. Junior Jason Simpson is moving over from the whip position to try his hand at rover, and he'll bring plenty of experience with him. Simpson has 18 career starts under his belt at the whip, and in 12 games last season, he ranked fourth on the team with 81 tackles.
Competing for playing time with that duo will be sophomore Josh Hibbets, who excelled on special teams last season as a redshirt freshman, and freshman Lareno Seymour, a talented prospect who was able to redshirt in 2003.
"Quincy Wade will miss the spring due to knee surgery, but he'll be fine for the season," said Pinkel. "We have Simpson moved over to the rover position along with Hibbets and Seymour and Quincy Wade will go back to that spot. Simpson did a lot of good things last year, and we feel like he can be an impact player here," said Pinkel.
SECONDARY
Lettermen Lost Lettermen Returning (4 w/17 2003 starts) (8 w/27 2003 starts) Michael Harden****(CB-13) Nino Williams*(FS-13) Terrence Curry***(CB-4) Calvin Washington**(CB-8) Daniel Nutter* David Overstreet*(WH-3) Richard Willis* Marcus Bacon*(WH-1) A.J. Kincade**(CB-1) Shirdonya Mitchell***(CB-1) Justin Scott** Ryan Edwards*
The secondary, which by definition includes cornerbacks, free safeties and whips, loses the services of corners Michael Harden (28 career starts) and Terrence Curry (8 career starts), but will still be long on returning experience, as six players return who started at least once in 2003, with a seventh who redshirted in 2003 after starting multiple games in 2002.
Leading the way will be senior Nino Williams II, who was MU's most valuable newcomer defensively in 2003, as the junior college transfer ranked third on the squad with 105 tackles in 13 starts at free safety. Williams proved to be a big playmaker, as he tied for the team lead with three recovered fumbles, and ranked second on the squad with nine passes broken up. Competing for playing time at safety with Williams will be junior Justin Scott and sophomore Brandon Massey. Scott has been a special teams standout for two years, and Massey will be eligible for the first time after sitting out the 2003 season after he transferred to MU from Michigan State, where he saw action in seven games as a true freshman in 2002.
The whip position looks to be a competition between sophomores David Overstreet and Marcus Bacon. Overstreet switched to defense from quarterback in the spring of 2003, and became a quick study as he ended up starting the last four games of the season at the whip position. He ended the year with 44 tackles. Bacon excelled on special teams primarily in 2003, but did get some quality time during the year at whip, and started once, while recording 16 tackles in 12 games total.
Despite losing Harden, the cornerback position should be in good shape for Mizzou in 2004. Junior Calvin Washington is MU's most experienced returning corner, as he recorded 52 tackles, six passes broken up, two fumble recoveries and one interception last season in 13 games, including eight starts. Junior A.J. Kincade is a speedy back who has 24 games of experience under his belt at corner, including three career starts. Kincade had a career-high 23 tackles in 2003, and closed the year strong by breaking up two passes in MU's Independence Bowl game against Arkansas. Senior Shirdonya Mitchell, who is MU's fastest player at 4.29 seconds in the 40-yard dash, made steady improvements during the 2003 season at corner, after having played wide receiver for his previous two years.
The corners will also be bolstered by the return of junior Marcus King, who redshirted in 2003 after playing each of his first two years in the program at safety. He recorded 48 tackles as a true sophomore in 2002 and has made the move to corner. Another newcomer, of sorts, to the corner position will be redshirt freshman Alex Woodley, who switched to cornerback in the off-season after taking reps as a scout team running back during the 2003 season.
"We have Overstreet and Bacon at the whip, those two guys are going to compete there," said Pinkel. "At free safety, we have Williams, Scott and Massey competing there. You've got the four corners in Washington, Mitchell, Kincade and King. We were able to redshirt King last year, which was huge for us. We moved Woodley from tailback over to corner, so we feel that's a good move for him and our defense. Washington has played a lot, Kincade and King have played a lot, Mitchell and Williams have played a lot. Scott has played a lot on special teams, Overstreet started a few times, Bacon has played a lot on special teams and so on. It's definitely far better from where we were when we got here," said Pinkel.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Lettermen Lost Lettermen Returning (2 w/14 2003 starts) (1 w/12 2003 starts) Mike Matheny**(PK-13) Brock Harvey***(P-12) Todd Gohsler*(P-1)
Overall, the special teams proved to be a solid aspect of the program in 2003. The punt return and kickoff return teams consistently helped positively impact field position, with the punt return team ending the season ranked fourth in the nation, with an average return of 14.9 yards.
The return game will be in a state of transition in 2004, as standout Marcus James, who holds MU's career record for total return yardage, is gone. The Tigers will benefit from the return of senior Shirdonya Mitchell to handle kickoff returns again, after leading MU with an average of 24.1 yards per kickoff return in 2003. Mitchell, with his 4.29 speed, is a threat to go the distance each time he gets the ball, and he could also handle punt return duties. Looking to potentially join Mitchell as return weapons include redshirt freshman speedsters Marcus Woods, Alex Woodley and Greg Bracey.
Likewise, the place kicking will be in new hands in 2004, due to the graduation of two-year starter Michael Matheny. Matheny was a very steady presence for Mizzou the past two years, and his replacement will likely come from a pool consisting of sophomore Alex Pettersen, senior Pat Velten and redshirt freshman Adam Crossett. Pettersen would seem to have the edge heading into the spring, as he is the only kicker with game experience to date.
After a down year in 2003, the punting game looks to return to the form that saw it rank among the nation's top 20 in 2002. Senior Brock Harvey is the leading candidate to perform the duties once again, and he hopes to regain the swing that saw him average 42.5 yards per punt in 2002. Walkons Derek Randall (redshirt freshman) and Matt Hoenes (sophomore) will look to handle the punting duties during the spring, as Harvey will be out of action after having surgery on his kicking foot during the off-season.
Senior lineman Zach Strom returns as MU's primary deep snapper to give the Tigers dependability at that vital position.
"There's one area we were very poor in, and that was the punting game, and that's got to change," said Pinkel. "We went from the first year being poor to top 20 in the nation the next year, back to being poor again. We have to work that out, whatever it is, it has to change. If you look at the other areas of our kicking game we were pretty sound, some were outstanding. Our kickoff return at times was exceptional in big games - it gave us field position and we just want to get more consistent there. If you look at our punt return, we were in the top five in the nation and were pretty darn good with Marcus James back there. Our kicker, Mike Matheny, was very solid, we were just so efficient in the red zone for the most part that we didn't need to kick a lot of field goals," he said.
"Pettersen, Crossett, and Velten are all competing for the number-one kicking job, and it's a case of may the best man win. Harvey will be out for the spring, but certainly will be expecting to be competing, get back to 100% this summer and get going. We've got Randall and Hoenes who will be doing most of the punting and maybe some others during the spring," he said.
"Marcus James provided such an impact with the return game and field position, but you take guys like Woodley, Woods, Mitchell and Bracey, and it will be really interesting to see how the whole thing sorts out. I don't know, but I think we have a chance to really help ourselves by getting a little more kick scoring," he said.
