Sept. 11, 2006
Missouri Tigers (2-0) at New Mexico Lobos (1-1)
Sept. 16, 2006 -- University Stadium -- Albuquerque, N.M.
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TIGERS TRAVEL TO NEW MEXICO FOR FIRST ROAD TEST OF THE 2006 SEASON
The University of Missouri Tigers (2-0) hit the road for the first time this season, as they travel to Albuquerque, N.M. to take on the New Mexico Lobos (1-1). Kickoff for Saturday's game is scheduled for 7 p.m. (central), and while the game will be televised on the Mountain West Network, it will be simulcast to several stations in Missouri.
Mizzou is coming off an impressive 34-7 win over Mississippi last Saturday, where the Tigers outgained the Rebels by a margin of 471-to-162 in total offense. Mizzou's defense forced 3 Ole Miss turnovers, and the offense scored on its first two drives of the day to set the tone early.
New Mexico is coming off a 34-28 road win at rival New Mexico State. The Lobos rebounded from a season-opening home loss to Portland State (17-6 loss on Sept. 2), despite the fact that their starting QB, Kole McKamey, was lost early in the NMSU game to an injury that is feared to be of the season-ending variety.
TIGERS LOOK FOR 3RD-STRAIGHT WIN, AND REVENGE, TO BOOT, FROM NEW MEXICO
Mizzou heads to the southwest looking to continue building on its promising start to the 2006 season. The Tigers are 2-0 for the 3rd time under Head Coach Gary Pinkel, and are beginning to turn heads after a pair of impressive wins - a 47-7 season-opening triumph over Murray State on Sept. 2nd, followed by a 34-7 victory last Saturday against Mississippi.
The Tigers will likely have more on their minds than just improving to 3-0 on the year, though. A win Saturday would exact a measure of revenge on a New Mexico program that came to Columbia in the second game of the 2005 season and shocked the Tigers by claiming a 45-35 win.
This year's Tiger team looks to move to 3-0 for the first time since the 2003 Tigers started the year 4-0, on the way to an 8-5 record overall. That marked the best start to a season for Mizzou since the 1981 Tigers won their first five games, en route to a final mark of 8-4 that year.
The 2-0 start is the 20th time in the last 72 seasons (since 1935) that Mizzou has began a season with two straight wins. In all, it marks the 37th time since the program began in 1890.
Mizzou has started a season 3-0 11 times since 1935, and 21 times overall since 1890.
LAST WEEK REWIND: MIZZOU DOWNS OLE MISS, 34-7
Mizzou played host to its first SEC school since 1984, as it entertained the Ole Miss Rebels in Columbia last Saturday. The Tigers were inhospitable hosts, as MU rolled early and often on its way to a resounding 34-7 victory. As the final score would indicate, the Tigers were dominant in every phase of the game, outgaining the Rebels by a margin of 471-to-162 in total offense.
Sophomore QB Chase Daniel led a potent offensive attack that scored on its first two possessions for the second straight game. The first drive was a 10-play, 80-yard drive that culminated with his own 3-yard TD run to open the scoring. It was followed by a defensive stop by MU, and another long drive that made it 10-0 in favor of the Tigers.
The Mizzou defense was stifling all day long, as it allowed only one Ole Miss first down in the first quarter, and only four total in the first half altogether. Ole Miss' final output of 162 yards of total offense was the fewest in a game for the Rebels since 1998 when they had 134 against Auburn. Their only score of the day came on a short drive after MU fumbled away a punt on its own 35 yardline late in the 2nd quarter.
Daniel was impressive again in just his 2nd career start, as he completed 24-of-40 passes for 234 yards and 1 TD. He also proved to be a threat with his feet, as he carried the ball 13 times for a career-best 89 yards and 1 score.
Mizzou's defense, led by a stellar day from senior LB Marcus Bacon, who had a team-best 12 tackles (after coaches' film review) and added an interception and a forced fumble. Bacon and crew limited Ole Miss to only 72 yards rushing (on 28 carries, after they had rushed for 240 yards a week earlier in a win against Memphis) and just 90 yards passing, while they intercepted Rebel QB Brent Schaeffer three times on the day.
The 162 yards of total offense allowed to Ole Miss was the fewest given up in a game by a Mizzou defense since the Tigers gave up 142 in a 48-0 shutout win over Ball State during the 2004 season.
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MIZZOU BIG 12 DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK |
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| Date | Tiger | Position | Opponent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/11/06 | Marcus Bacon | LB | Ole Miss | |
| 10/10/05 | Brian Smith | DE | Oklahoma State | |
| 9/28/02 | R.J. Jones | CB | Troy State | |
| 11/1/99 | Jeff Marriott | NT | Texas Tech | |
| 11/9/98 | Wade Perkins | CB | Colorado | |
| 10/19/98 | Wade Perkins | CB | Oklahoma | |
| 11/22/97 | Barry Odom | LB | Tulsa | |
| 11/24/96 | Joe Love | LB | Kansas | |
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Marcus Bacon NAMED BIG 12 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior WLB Marcus Bacon has been very impressive to open the 2006 season, as he leads the Tiger defense through 2 games with 24 total tackles (adjusted after film review). On Monday, Bacon was named the Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in leading Mizzou to its impressive 34-7 win over Ole Miss last weekend.
In the game, Bacon led Mizzou with 12 tackles, as the Tiger defense stifled the Rebels all day long, holding them to a total of just 162 yards of offense - Ole Miss' lowest single-game output since 1998. Bacon, a Houston, Texas native, also forced a fumble, grabbed an interception that he returned 52 yards, and broke up a pass on the day.
It is the first time since 1997 that a Tiger linebacker has won the league's weekly award - since current Director of Football Operations Barry Odom won the award on Sept. 22, 1997 for his play in an MU win at Tulsa. This is the 8th time overall that a Tiger defender has won the award, with details listed at right.
For the record, Tigers have won Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors 10 times previously (6 by Brad Smith, 2 each by Corby Jones and Devin West) and 4 times have won league Special Teams Player of the Week honors (2 by Marcus James, 1 each by Adam Crossett and Brad Hammerich).
QUICKLY ABOUT MIZZOU
Mizzou posted a record of 7-5 in 2005 - which was just the fourth winning season for the program since 1983. Under Head Coach Gary Pinkel, the Tigers have gone 22-16 over the past four years (8-5 in 2003, 5-6 in 2004, 7-5 in 2005, and 2-0 in 2006).
Entering Saturday's game at New Mexico, Pinkel has now won 10 of his last 15 games, dating back to the 2004 season finale.
The 2006 Tigers return 17 starters from last year, but that number jumps to 19 when you factor in those who started in the Independence Bowl (including the positions of placekicker and punter).
Even with so many experienced players returning to the fold in 2006, the Tigers still have the look of a youthful squad with plenty of upside. Of the 22 starters from the 2006 season opener against Murray State, only 8 were seniors, with 8 being juniors, and 6 being sophomores in standing.
Of the 45 players listed in the two-deep for the Murray State game, (three were listed at tailback), the breakdown included: Seniors - 11; Juniors - 11; Sophomores - 14; Freshmen - 9.
MIZZOU-NEW MEXICO SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's meeting will mark the third time that Mizzou and New Mexico have squared off on the gridiron. The winner will walk away with bragging rights for the series, as the teams have split the previous two matchups - with both coming in Columbia previously.
The first meeting between the two schools was a single game that was played at Mizzou in 1980. That game was won going away by the Tigers, by a score of 47-16.
The schools signed a home-and-home series for the 2005 and 2006 seasons, and the Lobos came to Columbia last year and pulled the 45-35 upset to even the series record at one win apiece.
LAST YEAR REWIND: NEW MEXICO 45, MIZZOU 35
New Mexico used a punishing offensive attack and took advantage of key Tiger turnovers, and the Lobos parlayed that into a 45-35 upset win in Columbia in the second game of the 2005 season.
Mizzou quarterback Brad Smith had a record-setting night, but it went for naught, as the Tigers could not hold onto a second-half lead.
Smith had 413 yards of total offense on the night, throwing for 248 and 1 TD while rushing for 165 more and 3 TDs. His passing yardage gave him enough to break the MU career record of 6,969 held by Jeff Handy, while his rushing total pushed him past the school career record of 3,198 held by Zack Abron. Smith broke both records in the third quarter, as MU rallied from a 21-14 deficit to take a 28-21 lead.
After the third of Smith's rushing TDs put the Tigers up 28-21 with 6:02 left in the third, MU's defense forced a New Mexico punt, and the Tiger offense drove to midfield, appearing on the verge of breaking the game open. The drive stalled out, however, and a 15-yard punt followed by a 30-yard pass on the Lobos' ensuing play seemed to kickstart New Mexico, as it scored 14 straight points to regain the lead, 35-28.
Smith engineered a game-tying drive, as he hit a streaking Chase Coffman in the endzone for a 13-yard TD with 7:58 left in the game to make it 35-35.
But the Lobo offense responded with a 10-play, 57-yard drive that ended with a 40-yard field goal to take a 38-35 lead with 4:22 left. The Tiger defense had the Lobos backed up with a 3rd-and-11 situation on New Mexico's own 19-yardline, but Lobo QB Kole McKamey scrambled on a play that the Tigers had well-covered, and he got 12 yards for a first down to keep what proved to be the game-winning drive alive.
Mizzou had one more chance to win or tie, but on its ensuing possession, Smith was intercepted by UNM's Gabriel Fulbright. That set up a short 30-yard Lobo drive that ended in a 3rd TD catch by WR Hank Baskett with 2:01 left to essentially put the game away. Baskett had a career night, as he caught 10 passes for 209 yards and the 3 TDs.
Smith also had a career-high 29 rushing attempts for Missouri (1-1), but threw two interceptions and lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown.
New Mexico's pass rush forced a fumble by Smith that Evroy Thompson returned 28 yards to put New Mexico ahead 21-14 early in the third quarter. Smith tied it again when he broke three tackles and slipped a fourth on a 31-yard run on the ensuing drive.
Then Smith put Missouri ahead, breaking three more tackles after New Mexico collapsed the pocket on a pass play and scoring on a 15-yard scramble for a 28-21 lead. New Mexico tied it on a 41-yard option pass from DonTrell Moore to Baskett near the end of the third quarter.
The teams traded scores early in the fourth quarter, McKamey getting a 3-yard run for New Mexico and Missouri answering on a 13-yard pass from Smith to Coffman.
Both teams had over 400 yards of offense on the evening (MU led, 490-to-431), but turnovers were the difference, as New Mexico scored 14 points off of 3 Tiger turnovers, while Mizzou could not force a single Lobo turnover.
STATISTICAL COMPARISON FOR SATURDAY'S CONTEST
With just two games under the belt of each team so far, it is hard to draw too much from the statistical trends, but there do appear to be some interesting numbers to track entering Saturday's game between Mizzou and New Mexico.
The game will feature two of the nation's top-12 ranked passing attacks. New Mexico comes into the game ranked 10th in passing nationally, with an average of 295.50 yards through the air, while the Tigers are close behind in 12th (293.00). Conversely, however, the Tiger defense holds the advantage on paper, as MU ranks 8th nationally in passing defense, allowing just 106.50 yards per game in the air, while the Lobos rate 113th coming in (322.50).
On paper, the Tigers would seem to have the advantage in the running game, as MU enters the game with the nation's 11th-ranked rushing attack, averaging 237.00 yards per game so far, while the Lobos rate 95th in the same category (87.00). On the flip side, The Lobo defense has been effective stopping the run, as they rate 22nd nationally, allowing just 60.00 yards per game so far, just behind the Tiger defense, which rates 13th overall (49.50). The Lobos have not yet rushed for a TD in their first 2 games, while the Tiger defense has yet to allow a rushing TD.
TIGERS RANK HIGHLY IN NATIONAL STATISTICAL REPORT
While we are only 2 games into the 2006 season, the Missouri Tigers have had one of the most impressive starts to their season, both from a results and a statistical standpoint.
Through 2 games, Mizzou ranks among the nation's top-10 in 6 different statistical categories: Total Defense (2nd - 156.00); Total Offense (5th - 530.00); Tackles for Loss (T-5th - 9.50); Scoring Defense (7th - 7.00); Pass Defense (8th - 106.50); Pass Efficiency Defense (9th - 83.85).
Additionally, the Tigers rank in the top 25 in 6 other categores, as well: Rushing Offense (11th - 237.00); Passing Offense (12th - 293.00); Scoring Offense (13th - 40.50); Rushing Defense (13th - 49.50); Sacks (T-17th - 3.00); Turnover Margin (23rd - +1.00).
FAST STARTS GET MIZZOU OFF TO THE RACES
Mizzou hopes to continue a trend that has seen them jump out to big leads right away in each of their first two games. Last week against Ole Miss, the Tigers took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards in 10 plays to take a 7-0 lead. Mizzou's defense held up its end too, as it held the Rebels to a 3-and-out series, and the offense followed with another drive that produced a field goal for a quick 10-0 lead.
That followed an even more impressive start in MU's season opener against Murray State, as the Tigers scored TDs on their first 3 possessions to jump out to an imposing 21-0 lead in the 1st quarter, as the MU defense held the Racers without a first down and to a total of 9 yards in their first 3 drives.
On its 4 total initial possessions to open the 1st and 3rd quarters so far, the Tigers have scored 3 TDs and have rolled up 206 combined yards on those 4 drives (the only one they haven't scored on was in the 3rd quarter against Murray State). The Mizzou defense has been even more dominant in its starting situations, allowing only 1 total first down and a grand total of 13 yards and no points in 1st/2nd half opening drives by Murray State and Mississippi.
Tiger QB Chase Daniel has been the catalyst offensively, as he has been sizzling coming out of the lockerroom. In the opener against Murray State, he completed his first 8 passes of the night for 101 yards and 2 TDs before throwing his first incompletion on his first attempt of the third series. He followed against Ole Miss by completing 6-of-6 passes for 50 yards, and rushing 4 times for 30 yards as he marched the Tigers 80 yards for an opening-drive TD. Daniel completed the first two passes of MU's 2nd series for 8 yards total, before throwing his first incompletion.
14 POINTS ALLOWED IS BEST TWO-GAME START SINCE 1973
As good as Mizzou's offense has been to start the season, the play of the Tiger defense has been perhaps even more impressive. MU has allowed a total of just 14 points in its first 2 outings - that is the fewest points allowed in any 2-game start to a season since the 1973 Mizzou team beat Mississippi 17-0 and Virginia 31-7 to open its season.
That squad won its first 6 games on the way to reaching as high as 7th in the national polls, before ending the year with an 8-4 record and a final ranking of 17th after winning the Sun Bowl, 34-17 over Auburn.
The two TDs allowed thus far in 2006 came as Murray State finally put together a 72-yard scoring drive in the final two minutes of the game against mostly Tiger reserves, and when Ole Miss took over on MU's 35-yardline after a fumbled punt by Mizzou.
PINKEL HAS WON 10 OF LAST 15 GAMES AT MIZZOU
Mizzou Head Coach Gary Pinkel is in his sixth season at MU and touts a career record of 104-67-3 (60.6%). His career winning percentage of 60.2% to begin the season ranked him 23rd in the nation among active Division I-A coaches with a minimum of seven years coached.
Pinkel, who has led MU to a combined record of 22-16 over the past four seasons (including 10 wins in his last 15 games dating back to the 2004 season finale), and to bowl games in 2003 and 2005, has a six-year record in Columbia of 31-30 (50.8%).
With a team picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 North Division in 2005, Pinkel's Tigers tied for second place (winning all tiebreakers), and were playing for a chance to share for the division title heading into the regular-season finale. Pinkel has now led MU to two bowl games, and that puts him in select company, as he joins Don Faurot, Dan Devine, Al Onofrio, Warren Powers and Larry Smith as the only coaches to guide MU to multiple bowl games. After beating Nebraska (41-24 in 2005) for the second time in three years, Pinkel became the first MU coach since Onofrio to defeat NU twice.
Last Saturday's 34-7 win over Ole Miss drew him above the .500 mark at Mizzou. Pinkel (who was also 21-20 at one point) is the first Tiger coach since Warren Powers to have an MU record of above .500 after at least one full season of coaching (Powers left after the 1984 season with an MU record of 46-33-3).
Pinkel has driven Mizzou to a pair of winning seasons (8-5 in 2003 and 7-5 in 2005) in his five previous years at the wheel, with those representing two of MU's four winning campaigns dating back to the 1983 season. With a winning season in 2006, he would become the first MU coach since Powers to have three winning years.
DEFENSE RANKS 1ST IN BIG 12, 2ND IN NCAA IN TOTAL DEFENSE
Mizzou's defense, which returns 7 starters from a year ago, has been nothing short of outstanding in MU's first 2 games of the 2006 season. As noted previously, the 14 points allowed through 2 games is the fewest since the 1973 season, when MU allowed just 10 points in its first 2 games that season.
Heading into the New Mexico contest, MU's defense tops the Big 12 Conference, and ranks 2nd nationally, in total defense, allowing just 156.00 yards per game. The Tigers held Ole Miss to just 162 total yards last Saturday in a 34-7 win, and began the year with a stifling performance against Murray State, as they held the Racers to just 150 yards in MU's 44-7 win.
Against Ole Miss, the Tiger defense was swarming from the get-go, holding the Rebels to just 7 total yards on 11 plays in the first quarter as MU built a quick 10-0 lead. Mizzou eventually forced 3 turnovers on the day, all coming on interceptions, and now has garnered 5 takeaways through 2 games (4 INTs, 1 fumble). About the only hiccup defensively was a short TD drive allowed late in the 2nd quarter after Mizzou fumbled away a punt return to the Rebels - Ole Miss recovered on the MU 35-yardline and took just 2 plays to score a TD to cut the lead to 17-7.
That solid overall performance followed up an even stingier outing in the 2006 season opener against Murray State. The Tiger defense limited Murray State to just 150 yards of total offense on the night, forcing two turnovers (1 fumble, 1 interception).
Mizzou kept the Racers out of the endzone for the game's first 58 minutes and 3 seconds, until Murray State hit a 13-yard TD pass with just 1:57 left. Regardless of the score, the defense held up its end of the bargain, allowing just 10 first downs overall.
The Tiger defensive line, considered by most to be the strength of the unit heading into the season (with 4 returning starters) lived up to its billing, as it was instrumental in holding Murray State to only 27 yards rushing on 25 carries (1.1 avg.).
The longest rush of the night for MSU was just 12 yards - and that was the only run the Racers had over 8 yards long. The longest pass play on the night for the Racers was just 15 yards.
Mizzou was dominant early on, as it did not allow the Racers a first down until the 7-minute mark of the 2nd quarter. Murray State had just 14 yards of total offense in the first quarter and mustered only 42 by halftime.
Chase Daniel ERA OFF TO A ROUSING START
Sophomore QB Chase Daniel made his first career start Sept. 2nd against Murray State, and to call his performance good would be a slight understatement. Daniel was precision-like in his distribution of the ball, and he broke the MU single-game record by throwing 5 TD passes. He ended the night 23-of-32 passing for 320 yards in leading the Tigers to a 47-7 victory.
Daniel's single-game passer rating was an astounding 207.44, and for his efforts, he was named the Big 12's Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 4th.
What would Daniel do against a tougher opponent, was the big question, and he answered that as best he could last week against Ole Miss, as he amassed 332 yards of total offense in leading the Tigers to a 34-7 dismantling of the SEC school.
Daniel completed 24-of-40 passes on the day for 1 TD, and unveiled an effective ability to run for yardage as well, as he ran 13 times for a team-best 89 yards and 1 TD. He led the Tigers to 10 points in their first 2 possessions, including a precision-like 10-play, 80-yard TD drive to open the game that he capped with a 3-yard TD run. On the opening drive, Daniel was 6-of-6 passing for 50 yards, and he carried 4 times for 30 yards as well, to account for all of the yardage in the series.
Mizzou's offense enters week 3 against New Mexico with the 5th-rated offense in the nation, at 530.00 yards per game. Daniel ranks 4th in the nation (and 2nd in the Big 12) in total offense entering the contest (312.50 ypg), and also rates 21st nationally (and 3rd in the Big 12) in passing efficiency (158.46 rating).
Belying his youth and relative inexperience, Daniel began his first collegiate start with a statement, as he completed his first 8 passes for 101 yards and 2 TDs before throwing his first incompletion on his first attempt of the third series. He ended the game with scoring strikes of 60 yards and 34 yards to WR Will Franklin, 35 yards to WR Jared Perry, 8 yards to WR Brad Ekwerekwu and 3 yards to TE Chase Coffman.
Daniel's 320 passing yards stands as the 10th-highest single-game total in MU history, and it is the 3rd-most for a sophomore.
Daniel is replacing all-everything QB Brad Smith, who started every game for Mizzou from 2002-2005 and left holding 69 different MU, Big 12 and NCAA game, season and career records. He was the first QB other than Smith to start a game at MU since Kirk Farmer started the 2001 season finale at Michigan State (a 55-7 loss for MU on Dec. 1st).
While Daniel himself has said all along that he would never hope to achieve what Smith did in his time at Mizzou, the modest QB from Southlake, Texas has those in the program very excited about his potential. He gained invaluable experience as a true freshman in 2005, playing in 10 games and completing 38-of-62 passes (.576) for 347 yards and 1 TD (2 INTs).
Most notably, Daniel relieved an injured and ineffective Smith in the fourth quarter of MU's Homecoming game last year against Iowa State, and led MU from a 10-point deficit with just under 9 minutes left to a thrilling 27-24 comeback win. With MU's back squarely against the wall, Daniel belied his youth by calmly leading the Tigers downfield on consecutive drives of 75 and 87 yards, and hit WR Sean Coffey from 4 yards out for a game-tying TD with just 20 seconds left in regulation. After ISU failed to score on its OT possession, Daniel again directed a drive that culminated with PK Adam Crossett's game-winning 26-yard field goal.
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1st Down Success Comparison |
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Opponents 1st Down Rushes |
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Opp. |
Att. |
Yds. |
Avg. |
Long |
TD |
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| Murray St. | 13 | 34 | 2.6 | 12 | 0 | |||
| Ole Miss | 13 | 11 | 0.8 | 4 | 0 | |||
| Total | 26 | 45 | 1.7 | 12 | 0 | |||
Opponents 1st Down Passes |
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Opp. |
Comp. |
Att. |
Yds. |
Long |
INT |
TD |
Sacks |
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| Murray St. | 5 | 7 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Ole Miss | 2 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Total | 7 | 16 | 25 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | |
Mizzou 1st Down Rushes |
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Opp. |
Att. |
Yds. |
Avg. |
Long |
TD |
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| Murray St. | 23 | 195 | 8.5 | 62 | 1 | |||
| Ole Miss | 25 | 144 | 5.8 | 26 | 2 | |||
| Total | 48 | 339 | 7.1 | 62 | 3 | |||
Mizzou 1st Down Passes |
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Opp. |
Comp. |
Att. |
Yds. |
Long |
INT |
TD |
Sacks |
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| Murray St. | 9 | 13 | 143 | 40 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Ole Miss | 9 | 12 | 69 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 18 | 25 | 212 | 40 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
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TIGERS ENJOYING BIG EDGE IN BIG PLAYS SO FAR
Through 2 games, Mizzou has had a huge advantage in plays of 20 yards or more. Mizzou has turned in 15 plays of at least 20 yards (6 rushing, 9 passing) on offense, while the Tiger defense has limited its first 2 opponents to only 1 play of 20 yards or more.
Against Ole Miss, MU had 6 plays of 20 yards or more (2 rushing, 4 passing), while limiting the Rebels to just 1 passing play of that length (30 yards on their only TD of the day). Out of 28 rushes, Ole Miss managed only 5 that went for 6 yards or more, and the longest of the day was a 19-yarder.
Mizzou's offense struck for 9 plays of 20 yards or more in the opener against Murray State, including 5 passing plays and 4 rushing plays. Chase Daniel and Will Franklin connected on 3 of the passing plays, going for gains of 60 (TD), 40 and 34 (TD). Tailback Tony Temple had 2 rushes over 20 yards (27, 22), while Marcus Woods went for a 27-yarder of his own. Backup QB Brandon Coleman got in on the fun too, as he raced 62 yards on a keeper in the 4th quarter for MU's longest play of the evening.
By contrast, the Tiger defense did not allow a single Murray State play to measure 20 yards or more. As noted previously, the longest play of the night for the Racers was a 15 yard pass. The longest rush they had on the day was a 12-yarder, and that represented their only ground gain of more than 8 yards in all.
1ST DOWN HAS BEEN MIZZOU'S DOWN
Mizzou's defensive play on 1st down situations has been outstanding thus far. Against Mississippi last Saturday, the numbers reflect that the Tigers dominated the Rebels on 1st down.
In the game, Ole Miss ran the ball 13 times on 1st down. The Tiger defense held the Rebels to a grand total of 11 yards in those 13 attempts - an average of just 0.8 yards per attempt. But the Rebels didn't fare any better trying to throw the ball on 1st down, as they completed only 2-of-9 passes for 9 yards and 3 interceptions to go along with one sack.
On the other side of the ball, Mizzou was quite successful moving the ball on both the ground on 1st down against Ole Miss, as it was against Murray State. See the accompanying chart above right for details...
BACON'S BEEN BRINGING IT HOME
Senior WLB Marcus Bacon has been the leader of Mizzou's defense through 2 games, as he's registered a team-best 24 total tackles, including an even dozen in each game (adjusted after film review).
Bacon had 12 stops in MU's 34-7 win over Ole Miss last Saturday, and also forced a fumble, intercepted a pass that he returned 52 yards, and broke up a pass on the day. For his efforts, he was named the Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 11th - making him the first Tiger LB to win the weekly conference award since current Director of Football Operations Barry Odom won the award on Sept. 22, 1997 for his play in a Tiger win at Tulsa.
Bacon had quite a night in the 2006 season opener, as he led the Tiger defensive effort by making a career-high 12 tackles. The Houston, Texas native had 8 solo stops and added 4 assists (adjusted for coaches' film) and also contributed with 1 tackle for loss.
Bacon also notched his first turnover gained of the season when he scooped up a fumble caused on a QB sack by sophomore NT Ziggy Hood. Bacon returned the fumble 6 yards down to the Murray State 17-yardline to set up a drive that the Tiger offense converted into a touchdown just 3 plays later.
Bacon had a breakout year as a junior, as he amassed a career-high 85 tackles (which ranked 3rd on the team overall and 1st among LBs), while starting 8 games at the strongside position. Bacon was also a standout on special teams, playing on several units, and led the team in total special teams tackles with 12 (8 on punts, 4 on kickoffs). On defense, he recorded a career-high 3 QB sacks for 23 yards in losses, and had 5 tackles or more in all but 1 game, and reached double figures three times overall.
`EK' GIVES `EM HECK
Senior WR Brad Ekwerekwu enjoyed a career day last week against Ole Miss, as he caught 8 passes (tying a career high) for 95 yards (breaking a career high) for 1 TD. His TD catch came on a 3rd-and-3 situation from the Ole Miss 20-yardline as the game stood at 17-7 in favor of MU early in the 3rd quarter. Ek ran a drag pattern over the middle and QB Chase Daniel found him free in the secondary, flipped him the ball, and Ekwerekwu made the catch and darted into the endzone from about 5 yards out for the score. That TD was crucial, as it helped stem any hopes that Ole Miss had of getting back into the game.
It marked the 2nd game in a row that Ekwerekwu has caught a TD pass, as he caught 3 passes for 21 yards - including an 8-yard TD - in the opener against Murray State.
He even got in on the other side of the passing act against Ole Miss, as he flipped a shovel pass on a fake field goal attempt to TE Martin Rucker that went for 10 yards and a 1st down in the 3rd quarter to extend a drive.
The senior captain is becoming a go-to guy in the passing game, and that is a welcome sight for everyone, but especially for Ekwerekwu, who just two months ago had an emergency appendectomy on July 10th. He missed the remainder of summer conditioning and was not able to practice with full contact until the week of the Murray State game.
Ekwerekwu (pronounced ECK-wur-ECK-woo) leads all Tigers with 11 receptions through 2 games, and has 116 yards and 2 TDs thus far. For his career, he has 76 catches for 721 yards and 6 TDs. The Arlington, Texas native had a career year in 2005, as he posted career-best numbers in catches (32), yardage (282) and TDs (4).
Brian Smith IS NOT JUST ANOTHER B. SMITH
Senior DE Brian Smith might not have 69 records on the books that former Tiger QB Brad Smith had, but "Smitty" has one very prominent claim to fame - the MU career QB sacks record. Smith entered the 2006 season already as MU's career record holder, wtih 24, including a career-high 9 turned in last year.
He's already added to that total with 1 QB sack in each of MU's 1st two games. He has a total of 7 tackles through 2 games, with 3 QB hurries and 1 pass break up to his credit.
Smith became an every down player for the first time in 2005, and he turned in a career year in virtually every category. He had 66 tackles, and led the team with 17 tackles for loss (for 70 yards in losses) in addition to his sacks. Smith had 12 QB hurries and forced 2 fumbles on the year to boot, and was named a 1st-Team All-Big 12 by the Houston Chronicle.
A very focused and hard-nosed player, Smith showed toughness and desire to compete when he played in MU's bowl game against South Carolina last season after having his knee scoped just 2 weeks ahead of time to clean up a nagging injury he played with all season.
The Denton, Texas, native led all NCAA freshmen defenders as a redshirt freshman in 2003 with 8 QB sacks. He followed with 7 more as a sophomore, and added a career-best 9 in 2005. The MU single-season QB sack record is 11, set by Justin Smith in 2000.
ZIGGY GETTIN' JIGGY WITH IT
True sophomore NT Evander "Ziggy" Hood made enough of an impression last year as a true freshman to earn significant playing time in all 12 games, as he registered 23 total tackles and added 2.5 tackles for loss, including 1.5 QB sacks and 2 QB hurries.
After an impressive spring season and off-season work in the weight room, Ziggy was named the team's most improved defensive lineman during 2006 spring camp.
That improvement has been quite evident in the early going of the 2006 season, as Hood has been a constant force for opposing offenses. Hood has 11 tackles so far through 2 games, and he leads all MU defenders with 4.0 tackles for loss (13 yards) and 3 QB sacks (11 yards). He had a career-high 6 tackles last time out against Ole Miss, including 1.5 QB sacks as he made his first career start.
Hood began the season by making 5 tackles against Murray State, and he also had 1.5 QB sacks, including one of which forced a fumble that set up a Tiger TD by the offense.
Ziggy is nicknamed such from his childhood days by his grandmother, and that's all he goes by now. The story goes that his grandmother, who is of Mexican heritage, had trouble pronouncing his given name Evander. Turns out she was a big fan of the comic strip character, Ziggy, so she gave her grandson a name she could say.