COLUMBIA, Mo. – As the fifth practice of #MIZCAMP18 came to a close Wednesday afternoon, players got their first taste of full pads and progress was apparent.
"We had some guys step up in the last couple days and that's good to see," head coach Barry Odom said following practice. "We've really—in every area, positionally talking—made some progress. It's exciting to see some real competition, healthy competition, and guys are encouraging each other through that. We're building the locker room, supporting each other, and it's a fun process to watch."
As fall camp kicks into high gear, the addition of full pads and the return of experienced starters has allowed the offensive line to flourish as a group.
"I like the way that the starting five have worked together," Odom said. "I don't feel uncomfortable at all with the depth there. We have some guys who have the ability to go play in that next group but we've got to get them there."
Aside from the returning veterans along the line, Odom is looking forward to molding the first-year players and is confident in the rise of the younger talent within the group, especially that of Case Cook and Hyrin White.
"We've got to get eight that are game ready, so I think we've got that pretty close right now, but then you want to get number nine and number ten ready to go play in case you get in that situation."
Odom made sure to point out the potential that first-year OL coach Brad Davis presents to not only the offensive line, but also the offense as a whole.
"Coach Davis has done a heck of a job holding that group together and taking the experience and really moving it forward. He'll get them ready to go play."
Taking that experience and propelling it to the next level is certainly something that is of the utmost importance to coaches and players alike. Mizzou will return all five starters along the offensive line and will aim to develop the group that was tied fifth for sacks allowed nationally.
When asked about the significance of the group, QB Drew Lock raved about the importance of having a grizzled group of veterans protecting himself and what that does for his confidence.
"That is huge," Lock said. "We talked about being relaxed earlier, me being relaxed makes me my best and makes me my best quarterback and they do that for me. Paul Adams called me over there today, he called a huddle, it's just cool that as a quarterback you're the leader of the offense but when you have old guys like that around you that call that and maybe grab you and say the stuff that you were supposed to say and take a little weight off your shoulders, it's more than just being out there on the field playing, it's sidelines, being the team leader, it's huge being able to have five guys like that that I'm that close with."
Redshirt senior OL Paul Adams talked about what the depth adds to the group and how the younger players are truly motivating the starters.
"We've got great depth this year. That's something we haven't had since probably my first year here. We really have not had something this deep," Adams said.
"It just makes you a better player, it really does," he said of the pressure from younger guys. "If you just have the mindset of someone's on my tail, the entire time, you're going to have a good practice and when you have a good practice you become better and when you get better it just helps the team out so much."
Lastly, Adams summed up what it means to protect a player of Lock's caliber and how that motivation disseminates throughout the group.
"If we give him the time, he'll find the receiver or the hole to throw the ball through," Adams said, adding, "We know who we have behind us and that gives us a little motivation."
Stay tuned to #MIZCAMP18 by following Mizzou Football on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @MizzouFootball. Tickets are available for the season by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS (884-PAWS locally) or visiting MUTigers.com/FBTix.
PLAY OF THE DAY
Drew put it where only Kendall could catch it ????#MIZ #ShowMe ???? pic.twitter.com/QJ8zDKGGiU
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) August 8, 2018