
Spring Football Practice Blog Report
3/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 10, 2009
By Ted Bryant, Mizzou Media Relations Student Assistant -
The Missouri Tigers kicked off spring practice today as they took the field for the first time since their 30-23 victory over Northwestern in the Alamo Bowl. Less-than-favorable weather forced the Tigers into the cozy confines of the Dan Devine Pavilion. Today marks the beginning of the program's quest to replace one of the most successful classes in Mizzou football history as well as three of the greatest offensive weapons to ever don the black and gold.
Today's practice focused heavily on fundamentals and shaking off any cobwebs spun over the last two-and-a-half months. The defensive line worked on their rips and swims, the defensive backs practiced stripping the ball, and the linebackers did fox-and-hound drills. On the offensive side of the ball, the linemen worked on their footwork and releases, the quarterbacks and running backs practiced hand-offs, and the receivers did a lot of sprinting and route-running.
For those of you hoping for a front-runner to the recently vacated quaterback slot, you're going to have to wait. Sophomore Blaine Gabbert is listed at the top of the spring depth chart, but there's a lot of good competition on the horizon over the next 14 practices. Each quarterback on the roster enjoyed solid practices. The only factor worth noting is that Gabbert seemed the slightest bit more consistent in his delivery today than the rest of the pack.
Onlookers didn't get a full glimpse at the offense's potential due to the fact that there are a handful of returning starters currently injured. We're going to have to wait and see how Derrick Washington (knee), Jared Perry (shoulder), and Danario Alexander (knee) plan to improve upon their 2008 campaigns. All three had off-season surgery to clean up injuries, and they hope to be able to return at some point before the spring is out. The injuries did allow for a look at the younger, emerging stars of the Missouri offense. Wide receivers Wes Kemp and Jerrell Jackson both had a couple of nice catches and showed some exciting speed. Running back De'Vion Moore showed his athleticism during 7-on-7 drills with a few nice runs after catches.
Sophomore guard Austin Wuebbels looked good against the bull rush in 1-on-1 line drills. Both sides of the line showed great intensity, despite having future NFL draft pick and former Tiger standout Ziggy Hood robot dancing on the sideline. My pick for the player who stood out most at today's practice (and it was an easy one) is defensive end Brian Coulter. Coulter only participated in non-contact drills due to recovering his recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, but he still gave everything on every single rep no matter what. He punched each bag furiously as he ripped past them and was the first on his feet after every up-down. It's a little scary to think what he can do when he gets back to 100%.
One of the top plays of the day, in my book, was a sweet interception grab from Notre Dame transfer Munir Prince during 7-on-7 drills. Prince caught the ball at the absolute highest point, displaying an impressive vertical, took a lateral route around some oncoming tacklers, and blazed towards the endzone. Trust me, that dude is fast.
The Tigers have a day off tomorrow, but will return to practice on Thursday. Practice will be held on Faurot Field if the weather allows. The season starts today, and Tiger fans definitely have a lot to look forward to.