Tiger defense improves, awaits opening kickoff

After last year's success, fans have high aspirations for Missouri football.

By Lenny Goldman
Aug. 28, 2008

MU players celebrate their victory over Illinois on Sept. 1, 2007, at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. The Tigers open their season against the Illini again on Saturday.

Last season was one of many firsts for the Missouri Tigers. They won 12 games, earned a No. 1 Bowl Championship Series ranking, won the Big 12 North Division and featured a Heisman Trophy finalist.

Yet what did junior linebacker Sean Weatherspoon say about their achievements?

"We didn't really do nothing."

Despite all of the awards, accolades and attention Missouri football received, Weatherspoon saw last season's achievements as more of a step toward success rather than a success itself.

"We won 12 games and that's about it," Weatherspoon said. "We didn't get no BCS Bowl or nothing like that. I think the guys are really excited about this season because of the expectation level that people are setting for us."

That expectation is one of immediate success. No more rebuilding, transitions or progress. That expectation is results.

With a combination of experience, depth and explosiveness, MU returns six starters to an offense that ended last season ranked fifth in the NCAA. Questions remain on the defensive side of the ball where an unproven squad showed signs of improvement at the end of last season.

"The key is this: Can we get all of the returning starters back on defense playing better than they did a year ago?" coach Gary Pinkel said. "If we want to have a real good year that's it. We just weren't a very experienced football team (last season). Hopefully we'll play better defense from page one."

Senior quarterback and Heisman hopeful Chase Daniel has noticed a change in the play of the defense already this offseason.

"Our defense from this camp to last camp is totally different in every aspect that it could possibly be," Daniel said. "I've missed more coverages in two-a-days than I had ever, just for the fact that they're disguising so much more. They have so many more blitz packages and capabilities because the guys know what they're doing."

Deception and confusion is what it might take to stop a potent Illinois offense led by junior quarterback Juice Williams.

"It all starts with us up front," senior defensive end Tommy Chavis said. "We have to get up in there, try and penetrate and stay in the backfield. If we get out there and play as a unit, we'll be good."

The biggest impact of the improved defense might be a more comfortable offense.

"It makes us not have a lot of pressure on ourselves to go out and score 40 points a game," Daniel said. "We can win the 21-14 games if need be."

With a team of players confident in one another, Missouri has the formula of a team that can look back without saying "we didn't really do nothing."

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Tiger defense improves, awaits opening kickoff

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