Missouri's improving defense to take on Longhorns

By Lenny Goldman

Published Oct. 16, 2008

Contain means everything to the Tigers this week.

They must contain the amount of big plays given up. They must contain their emotions from the implosion last week that led to their first loss. Twenty-eight different Tigers must contain the thrill of returning to their home state of Texas and showing what they're made of. And most importantly, they must contain dual-threat quarterback Colt McCoy.

"We need to just keep Colt in the pocket because we know what he can do when he gets out on the edge," junior linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said. "He makes plays with his legs and makes plays with his arms."

McCoy generates nearly 320 yards of offense per game. He has thrown for 1,557 yards and rushed for 348 with 21 total touchdowns so far this season.

"He's definitely matured over the past year," Weatherspoon said. "Last year I think he threw 18 interceptions and he has just three right now in six ball games. He's leading the football team. Leading rusher, leading passer, passer rating and completion percentage through the roof. He's making plays and definitely playing like a Heisman contender."

To slow down McCoy, Missouri will force pressure but not let him escape to the outside, a task it has struggled with all season. Against Nebraska, quarterback Joe Ganz was able to buy time after scrambling to the outside and then connecting with receivers deep down the field. Oklahoma State quarterbacks had similar success last week.

"The contain is big," Weatherspoon said. "That comes to our front seven. We got to contain the football, contain the quarterback. We're definitely working on that this week."

Although improvements to the contain defense is key to Missouri's success, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is not ready to make serious changes.

"What we got to do is ask our guys to do things they can do based on the talent that we're playing against," Eberflus said.

This week there is more talent lined up against them than ever before this season as the Longhorns boast the nation's No. 1 ranking. Missouri is 0-10 against No. 1 ranked opponents. Plus, the Tigers haven't won a game in Austin since 1896.

"For the first time in a long time, we're going to be the underdog going into a game," sophomore tailback Derrick Washington said. "We're going to be looking forward to that, and that will fire us up. Especially coming off of a loss, there is going to be a lot of emotion in this game."

In two years the Tigers have also developed a knack for rewriting history.

Two weeks ago, Missouri embarrassed Nebraska 52-17 in Lincoln, where it hadn't won since 1978. Last season the Tigers beat Colorado and Kansas State on the road, both places they hadn't won in the past 10 years.

"Guys are just excited about the opportunity we have," Weatherspoon said. "Instead of being hunted down, we're the hunters now. That feels pretty good."