the maneater: football preview 2011

A NEW

ERA BEGINS

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2011THE THREE-HEADED RUNNING BACK COMPETITION ISN'T AS HEATED AS YOU'D THINK

HOW DAVE STECKEL SPURRED A DEFENSIVE TURN-AROUND7

WHY JAMES FRANKLIN WILL WIN OVER FANS QUICKLY 3

PLUS + AN IN-DEPTH BREAKDOWN OF EVERY GAME ON THE SCHEDULE

PAT IVERSENSports Editor

Football is a nasty, vicious sport. The bone-crushing col-lisions and the fierce determi-nation put into every play are enough to make any man give

into his anger and say words he might regret off the field, but are perfectly acceptable on it.

But there’s one who won’t let loose a curse word, and he hap-pens to play the biggest position for the Missouri Tigers.

“Never have, never will,” sophomore quarterback James Franklin said. “For some rea-son, everyone thinks that if you do something bad, you have to curse. But that’s not the case. I always try to make sure I know what I’m saying before I say it. “

This is James Franklin, the sophomore quarterback tak-ing the reins of the Missouri offense this season. After the departure of Blaine Gabbert to the NFL, the Tigers will go to battle with this young man from Lake Dallas, Texas, who has impressed coaches in pre-season and by all accounts has an impressive attitude.

“He’s one heck of a guy,” tight end Michael Egnew said.

In a world where athletes make just as many headlines for behavior off the field as their performance on it, James

Michael Ray Franklin seems to be the antithesis, according to teammates.

“He’s a genuine guy,” senior tailback De’Vion Moore said. “His personality, it’s above and beyond. When it comes down to having a guy there to talk to, having a guy there to support you, having someone you can really talk to and have a conver-sation with, James is your guy. I couldn’t even think of any bad thing to say about James.”

Franklin answers every ques-tion with a beaming smile and a respectful “Yes, sir.” He’s active in the community, volunteer-ing at an animal shelter and a couple of local charities. He’s grounded in his Christian faith, always making sure he prays before each game. One would be hard-pressed to get him to say something negative about a teammate.

He also refuses to curse, a reflection of the positive attitude he’s trying to spread throughout the locker room.

“A lot of the guys on the team are really good about

it, especially around me,” Franklin said. “They do their best not to curse around me, and that really means a lot to me. I catch ‘em a few times, but they’re really good about it. If they do I don’t make a big deal about it, but I’ll joke about it to them.”

As a Missouri quarterback, comparisons are inevitable. With predecessors like Gabbert, Chase Daniel and Brad Smith, the expectations for Franklin are high. But the comparison between Franklin and Smith seemed to be the most popular at camp, and not just for their football skills.

“They have very similar per-sonalities,” coach Gary Pinkel said. “Brad was never much of a vocal leader at all, and he was a pretty good player. My thing with James is that everyone has their own leadership style. The best thing you can do as a young quarterback, leadership-wise, the best thing you can do is play well. That’s what we’re looking for.”

And that’s just what they

might get, considering the tal-ent surrounding Franklin. With a deep receiving core featuring all-Big 12 Conference perform-ers T.J. Moe and Egnew, as well as three running backs all capable of making an impact, the sopho-more quarterback has a bit of a safety net to fall back on.

But ultimately, all eyes will be on Franklin as the season begins. It’s something he says he’s growing more comfortable with, having been under the spotlight all preseason.

And even with the added pressure, he said he’s reached some of the goals he wanted to in order to be ready for Saturday’s opener.

“I didn’t accomplish all of them, but I got better at them, and that’s something I wanted to do,” Franklin said. “In the end, all quarterbacks are perfec-tionists. They just want to get everything, want to make sure we accomplish everything we want to do. I think the biggest thing is I got better at each one on the list. I didn’t master all of them, but I got better.”

Tigers lean on upbeat Franklin to lead offense

JOYU WANG | GRAPHIC DESIGNER

MEET JAMES FRANKLIN

Hometown: Corinth, Texas

Lists "Elf," "Harry Potter" and "A Walk to Remember" as some of his favorite movies on Facebook.

Father Willie played receiver for Oklahoma in the early 1970s and later for the Baltimore Colts and later became an evangelist and minister.

Didn't play quarterback until his junior year of high school. In the opener against Sherman, he threw for 350 yards and ran for 175.

MANEATER FILE PHOTOQuarterback James Franklin is interviewed by a swarm of media after the Black and Gold Spring Game on April 16 at Faurot Field. After Blaine Gabbert’s departure to the National Football League, the affable Franklin will take over as starting quarterback for the Tigers.

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FOOTBALL PREVIEW 3

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AT OKLAHOMAWHEN: Sep. 242010 RECORD: 12-2 (7-2)ALL-TIME SERIES: Oklahoma leads, 66-24-5LAST MEETING: Missouri won, 36-27 (2010)WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Will a revenge factor be in play for the Sooners, or can Missouri ride the momentum of last year’s GameDay upset?X-FACTOR: Dominique Hamilton, Missouri DT. Last year, Hamilton led an interior push that made Oklahoma rely heavily on the pass. It was also the last game he played before sustain-ing a season-ending injury. If he has similar success this time around, it would go a long way to limiting the Sooners’ offense.PREDICTION: Honesty is the best policy. Nobody but OU wins in Norman.

Oklahoma by 14.

VS. MIAMI (OH)WHEN: Sep. 32010 RECORD: 10-4ALL-TIME SERIES: Missouri leads, 1-0LAST MEETING: Missouri won, 51-13 (2010)WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The first start of new quarterback James Franklin’s career will no doubt be the top headliner. How comfortable and seasoned will he be, and how will his skill set change the MU offense?X-FACTOR: Missouri quarterback James Franklin will deter-mine how competitive or uncompetitive this one is.PREDICTION: This will be a comfortable, but not too com-fortable start for Franklin and the Tigers. The biggest worry in this one will be getting Franklin ready for prime time the next week.

Missouri by 21.AT ARIZONA STATEWHEN: Sep. 92010 RECORD: 6-6ALL-TIME SERIES: N/ALAST MEETING: N/AWHAT TO WATCH FOR: Missouri returns 16 starters. Arizona State returns 14. Which squad’s experience will enable it to come out the sharpest in this primetime slugfest?X-FACTOR: Franklin again. An unoriginal pick, but Franklin’s ability to exploit Arizona State’s porous secondary might determine everything.PREDICTION: Arizona State has more to figure out, most of which is defending Michael Egnew, T.J. Moe, Wes Kemp and Jerrell Jackson. It won’t happen by week two.

Missouri by 10.

VS. WESTERN ILLINOISWHEN: Sep. 172010 RECORD: 8-5ALL-TIME SERIES: Missouri leads, 1-0LAST MEETING: Missouri won, 50-20 (2000)WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Missouri’s built-up depth should receive plenty of reps in this one.X-FACTOR: Missouri running back Kendial Lawrence. In last year’s meeting with FBS opponent McNeese State, it was Henry Josey with the field day. This prac-tice-like contest might tell just how far Lawrence has come since last year.PREDICTION: A late Western Illinois score downs the shutout hopes as Missouri skates into the showdown in Norman.

Missouri by 41.

VS. IOWA STATEWHEN: Oct. 152010 RECORD: 5-7 (3-5)ALL-TIME SERIES: Missouri leads, 60-34-9LAST MEETING: Missouri won, 14-0 (2010).WHAT TO WATCH FOR:** Just how amped will Missouri come out for this year’s Homecoming?X-FACTOR: Jacob Lattimer, Iowa State DE; the Cyclones will need to use their best pass rusher to wreak some havoc on Elvis Fisher’s replacement at blindside for them to have a chance.PREDICTION: Another fun Homecoming for Missouri fans.

Missouri by 27.

AT KANSAS STATEWHEN: Oct. 82010 RECORD: 7-6 (3-5)ALL-TIME SERIES: Missouri leads, 60-31-5LAST MEETING: Missouri won, 38-28 (2010)WHAT TO WATCH FOR: K-State’s slide in 2010 related to an inability to stop the run (119th against the run in 2010). How has the team adjusted this season?X-FACTOR: Kansas State running back Bryce Brown is making a lot of noise early. He’ll have to make a lot of noise in this one to give K-State a chance, because the team’s passing attack won’t.PREDICTION: K-State will need to quickly find a passing game to pull an upset. Very quickly.

Missouri by 15.

OCTOBER

The pick-off to kickoffBreaking down each game on Missouri’s schedule

Nate Atkins and Pat IversenOf the Maneater staff

4 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 5

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1 2 3 4VS. TEXAS:WHEN: Nov. 112010 RECORD: 5-7 (2-6)ALL-TIME SERIES: Texas leads, 17-5-0LAST MEETING: Texas won, 41-7 (2009).WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Was last season just an anomaly or will we see more of the same from what was a disappointing Longhorns squad in 2010? By November, that question may already have been answered. But expect Texas to be eager to prove itself against a solid Missouri squad. X-FACTOR: Two words: Garrett. Gilbert. Historically, the Longhorns have lived and died by their quarter-back play (see: McCoy, Colt and Young, Vince), and the highly touted Gilbert didn’t play the savior role well in 2010. When it’s crunch time at Faurot, will Gilbert step up?PREDICTION: Brad Madison and Sheldon Richardson combine to make Gilbert’s day a chaotic one, and Mis-souri wins comfortably at home.

Missouri by 10.

AT TEXAS A&M:WHEN: Oct. 292010 RECORD: 9-4 (6-2)ALL-TIME SERIES: A&M leads, 7-4-0LAST MEETING: Missouri won, 30-9 (2010).WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Aggies lost the heart of their de-fense when tackle Lucas Peterson and linebackers Von Miller and Michael Hodges moved on to the NFL ranks in April. It will be interesting to see what level their replacements are playing at by this point.X-FACTOR: Containing senior Aggie receiver Jeff Fuller is the top priority for Missouri corner Kip Edwards. Fuller broke the Texas A&M record for single-season receptions in 2010 with 72. PREDICTION: Last October, Miller and Peterson plugged up the middle and kept the Tigers’ run game under wraps, yet Blaine Gabbert threw on the Aggie secondary for 361 yards and three touchdowns. Now without those two standouts, Texas A&M’s defense won’t be able to handle a more balanced Missouri of-fensive attack.

Missouri by 14.

VS. TEXAS TECH:WHEN: Nov. 192010 RECORD: 8-5 (3-5)ALL-TIME SERIES: Missouri leads, 5-3-0LAST MEETING: Texas Tech won, 24-17 (2010).WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Last season, a staunch second-half performance by the Red Raiders’ defense helped complete Texas Tech’s comeback win. Can Tech. replicate that effort? X-FACTOR: If Missouri can establish the run game early, it can expose Tech’s inexperienced linebacking corps.

VS KANSAS:WHEN: Nov. 262010 RECORD: 3-9 (1-7)ALL-TIME SERIES: Missouri leads, 56-54-9LAST MEETING: Missouri won, 35-7 (2010).WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Jayhawks were about as offensive as Mother Teresa in 2010, ranking dead last in the Big 12 in yards, scoring and rushing. If they have improved by this game, then this Border Rivalry game could be an interesting one. X-FACTOR: Kansas’s offensive line struggles mightily in pass protection, so expect Missouri to blitz early and often. PREDICTION: Missouri’s defensive prowess is too much for a rebuilding Kansas offense to handle, and the Tigers win the rivalry game for the third consecutive season.

Missouri by 30.

VS. OKLAHOMA STATEWHEN: Oct. 222010 RECORD: 11-2 (6-2)ALL-TIME SERIES: Missouri leads, 28-22-0LAST MEETING: Oklahoma State won, 33-17 (2009).WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Cowboys are coming off a surprisingly successful season, thanks in part to the third-best offensive attack in the nation. A new offensive coordinator won’t result in much change, so expect quarterback Brandon Weeden to throw the ball early and often. X-FACTOR: Pressure, pressure, pressure. Weeden is not a mobile quarterback (gained -68 yards on 17 attempts last year), and Missouri’s defensive line could make a huge impact by disrupting his pocket.PREDICTION: It’s not a stretch to think both of these teams could come into this game with only one loss, making this an important conference battle. Missouri’s offense, while talented, can’t hope to keep pace with the Cowboys’ passing game. The Tigers’ defense will hold them off just enough to keep things close, but Oklahoma State should come out on top.

Oklahoma State by 7.

NOVEMBER

VS. MIAMI (OH)WHEN: Sep. 32010 RECORD: 10-4ALL-TIME SERIES: Missouri leads, 1-0LAST MEETING: Missouri won, 51-13 (2010)WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The first start of new quarterback James Franklin’s career will no doubt be the top headliner. How comfortable and seasoned will he be, and how will his skill set change the MU offense?X-FACTOR: Missouri quarterback James Franklin will deter-mine how competitive or uncompetitive this one is.PREDICTION: This will be a comfortable, but not too com-fortable start for Franklin and the Tigers. The biggest worry in this one will be getting Franklin ready for prime time the next week.

Missouri by 21.

AT KANSAS STATEWHEN: Oct. 82010 RECORD: 7-6 (3-5)ALL-TIME SERIES: Missouri leads, 60-31-5LAST MEETING: Missouri won, 38-28 (2010)WHAT TO WATCH FOR: K-State’s slide in 2010 related to an inability to stop the run (119th against the run in 2010). How has the team adjusted this season?X-FACTOR: Kansas State running back Bryce Brown is making a lot of noise early. He’ll have to make a lot of noise in this one to give K-State a chance, because the team’s passing attack won’t.PREDICTION: K-State will need to quickly find a passing game to pull an upset. Very quickly.

Missouri by 15.

MIZZOUKIP EDWARDS, CB KENJI JACKSON, SS MATT WHITE, FS E.J. GAINES, CB

ZAVIAR GOODEN, OLB LUKE LAMBERT, MLB ANDREW WILSON, OLB

JACQUIES SMITH, DE TERRELL RESONNO, DT DOMINIQUE HAMILTON, DT BRAD MADISON, DE

JUSTIN BRITT, T JACK MEINERS, G JAYSON PALMGREN, C AUSTIN WUEBBELS, G DAN HOCH, T

JERRELL JACKSON, WR T.J. MOE, WRMICHAEL EGNEW, TE WES KEMP, WR

JAMES FRANKLIN, QB DE'VION MOORE, RB

MIZZOUNew Year, New LineupA look at the starting depth chart for the 2011 Missouri Tigers.

6 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2011 — THE MANEATER

NATE ATKINSAssociate Editor

When Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel thinks about the progress his defense has made throughout the years, he returns to his first year.

After accepting the position in 2001, Pinkel received a call from now-offensive coordinator Dave Yost, who had good and bad news. The good news was that Missouri had one cornerback on scholarship. The bad news was that he was set to undergo surgery the next day.

“Thank God we are in a little bit better shape than that,” Pinkel said jokingly.

Pinkel can laugh at the memory now, after the strides his defense has taken over the past decade, particularly last season under second-year defensive coordinator and 10th-year linebackers coach David Steckel. Steckel was recently promoted to assistant head coach for his years spent improving the Tigers’ defense.

For years, Missouri struggled to comple-ment its high-octane offense with a sound defense. From 2007 to 2009, the Tigers ranked in the top 50 nationally in either total defense or scoring defense only once.

Their struggles were in large part due to an inability to defend top passing attacks of

their Big 12 Conference opponents, finish-ing 96th or worse out of 119 Division 1-A teams in each of those three seasons.

But 2010 was an instant turnaround on the defensive side of the ball. The Tigers ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense last season, surrendering just 16.1 points per game in the high-scoring Big 12.

Missouri clearly fixed its pass defense woes in 2010, ranking 37th nationally against the pass and 11th in the country in pass efficiency defense.

Additionally, eight Missouri defenders received all-Big 12 recognition in 2010. Five of those have returned for the 2011 campaign.

A quick discussion with any member of this year’s defense will find a clear reason behind the turnaround: the hard,

passionate work of Steckel.“He’s just an intense, fiery guy,” said

senior defensive end Jacquies Smith, one of the defense’s returning all-Big 12 perform-ers. “He’s on the sideline jumping around, chest-bumping the guys, getting in your face, and I think that’s the kind of coaching you need. You need a guy who’s right in your face, telling when you’re doing good and telling you when you’re doing bad.”

Smith’s teammates reiterated his appre-ciation of the defensive coordinator.

“I love coach Steck,” said junior defensive end Brad Madison, another returning all-Big 12 performer. “I love him. He does a great job with the defense. He’s very intense, and you’ve got to be like that to have a great defense.”

Madison is a shining example of the

strides the Missouri defense has made under Steckel in its depth across the board. Despite his role as a backup to all-Big 12 defen-sive ends Jacquies Smith and Aldon Smith, Madison found his own way onto the all-Big 12 Second Team in 2010.

“We are very fortunate there,” Pinkel said. “There are also some other positions that we have a lot of depth, but it seems that on the line we have a lot of experience and we are happy to have that.”

The Missouri defense enters the 2011 season with a chip on its shoulder, eager to prove that 2010 was not a fluke but rather a sign of things to come. To do so, the Tigers will place their faith in their fiery, third-year defensive coordinator.

It worked the last time around.

NATE ATKINSAssociate Editor

When it comes to the Missouri running back position, competition marks the spot.

Missouri’s top four rushers from last season all return in 2011. After one major injury, three talented rushers in senior DeVion Moore, junior Kendial Lawrence and sophomore Henry Josey have taken their talents, attributes and willpower to the field in a battle to lead the pack.

“First of all, they are very talented,” coach Gary Pinkel said. “I just always chal-lenge them and what that means is that you may be all good, but you want to look a little better than the other guy.”

All the while, the three tailbacks revel in the challenge. They’re friends on and off the field. They cheer each other on and pick each other up, all three players under the notion that the team comes before any one of them.

“We’re a family,” Lawrence said. “We’re all brothers in there. We all want the best for each other. But it’s also a competition, so we all know we have to work our hardest.”

After season-ending shoulder surgery earlier this month forced Marcus Murphy (185 yards, two touchdowns in 2010) to redshirt for his sophomore year, the three remaining running backs have spent spring and summer practices doing what they can to gain that extra yard.

After starting tailback and team cap-tain Derrick Washington was kicked off the team for off-the-field issues before the start of last season, Moore took over the top spot. He assumed the position’s leadership role as the oldest player and went on to lead the Tigers in rushing with 543 yards and a team-high eight rushing touchdowns.

“He is a great leader and a great team player, but he is also really good, too,” Pinkel said of Moore. “If you ask him, he is the best to get the job done. We like the competition.”

Josey brought his speed to the table in 2010, compiling 461 yards and five touch-downs as only a freshman. Josey expressed, more than anything, his love of being one of the guys.

“We always joke about (the competi-tion),” he said. “We’re all three good guys. We’re all close to each other. We always stay positive.”

If one Missouri player really made a name for himself in preseason camp, it was Lawrence. After totaling 441 yards and four touchdowns a year ago, Lawrence took to camp by firestorm, reeling off long gain after long gain. Lawrence showcased his preseason strides in the team’s first camp scrimmage, breaking open back-to-back 60-yard runs.

“He’s had an exceptional camp,” Pinkel said. “He’s had as good of a camp as you

can have. He has tremendous work ethic. Most of our players have good work ethic but he’s done a real good job.”

Pinkel said the coaching staff is cur-rently unsure of just how the depth chart and carry distribution will turn out. What is clear, though, is just how much the three tailbacks love being together for

every rush of the way.“Just like (with) any other teammate,

you establish a bond, establish a friend-ship,” Moore said. “That competition, it’s almost like going home and playing video games with each other. We come out here and we compete, but we still have fun with one another.”

CASEY PURCELLA | GRAPHICS ASSISTANT

T-4th 3rd

7th

WHAT A TURNOVERUnder coordinator Dave Steckel, Missouri's defense improved its Big 12 rankings in multiple defensive categories from 2009 to 2010.

2009 2010ScoringPass defenseTotal defenseTurnover MarginSacks

8th 1st11th 3rd

8th 3rd

1st

Steckel fuels the fire for MU defense

Three remain in backfiel competition

MANEATER FILE PHOTORunning back De’Vion Moore stiff arms Kansas State’s Tysyn Hartman on Nov. 13, 2010, at Faurot Field. Moore is just one of three running backs fighting for the starting role in 2011.

MANEATER FILE PHOTOKenji Jackson, below, grabs the shoelaces of Kansas State’s Daniel Tomas on Nov. 13, 2010, at Faurot Field. Jackson and the Missouri defense look to continue the status quo after a breakout season in 2010.

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 7

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the maneater: football preview 2011

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