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Missouri coach Gary Pinkel spoke to the media during his weekly press conference on Monday. Here are the highlights:
The Tigers are, for the most part, healthy.
Pinkel said there’s no injuries right now aside from typical midseason bumps and bruises. “That’s something we feel good about.”
— Tod Palmer (@todpalmer) October 19, 2015
Pinkel: “Injury-wise, we don’t have any right now. Got the bumps and bruises like everyone does midway through the season.”
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) October 19, 2015
Missouri travels to Vanderbilt this Saturday. Pinkel praised the Commodores and their head coach, Derek Mason.
GP: No injuries to report. Got bumps and bruises like everyone across the country. Derek [Mason]’s done a great job building [Vanderbilt].
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) October 19, 2015
The SEC is renowned for having top notch football talent in all areas. That includes linemen, as Pinkel pointed out.
Pinkel: “This league, there’s a lot of creatures you go against. A lot of big, physical guys up front.”
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) October 19, 2015
Although Missouri is in fifth place in the SEC East, Pinkel still feels there is plenty for the Tigers to accomplish the rest of the season.
Pinkel: “There’s a lot out there. We have great potential. But the sense of urgency becomes bigger and bigger.”
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) October 19, 2015
Pinkel: “I’m not thinking about next year at all. I’m thinking about Vanderbilt.”
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) October 19, 2015
Pinkel spoke highly of his linebackers, as well as defensive backs Kenya Dennis and Aarion Penton.
GP on the LB’s getting overshadowed: Those three guys and the back seven are just really athletic. All three of those guys are great.
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) October 19, 2015
GP on Dennis & Penton: Those guys played really well. When our defense is playing consistently well, that means a lot of guys are doing well
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) October 19, 2015
Pinkel feels that the Tigers have hurt themselves by dropping interceptions that could have made a difference in the outcomes of some games.
Pinkel on dropped INTs: “Probably a couple touchdowns we had in our hands. Game-changers. Those would have been huge if we’d have held on.”
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) October 19, 2015
Missouri has one of the SEC’s top scoring defenses, but its offense has struggled to put points on the board. Nevertheless, Pinkel says defensive players are not pointing fingers at the offense.
Pinkel: Mizzou fosters locker room of encouragers, not discouragers. Doesn’t believe def is frustrated w/ off. Sticking together as a team.
— Tod Palmer (@todpalmer) October 19, 2015
GP: When you’re going through adversity, we have zero tolerance for bad attitudes.
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) October 19, 2015
GP: I think players are more determined. How you react to it is the most important thing. There’s a sense of urgency.
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) October 19, 2015
However, Pinkel also made it clear that the offense has to play better.
Pinkel: Problems on offense bounce around. “Everybody;s got to do better.” OL, RB, WR, QB and coaches.
— Tod Palmer (@todpalmer) October 19, 2015
GP: The problems (on offense) are bouncing around a little bit. I’ve got good coaches and players – we just have to get together.
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) October 19, 2015
Pinkel says the offense still looking for a Bud Sasser-like playmaker in the wideouts. Says Nate Brown, Wesley Leftwich have shown flashes.
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) October 19, 2015
Pinkel: “We’ve got a lot of good athletes at the receiver position. They’ve just got to get better faster.” Says coaches have to help w/that
— Gabe DeArmond (@GabeDeArmond) October 19, 2015
Missouri may shift some players around on the offensive line.
Pinkel says MU is looking at “possibly” moving guys around on the offensive line to help out. Haven’t decided on it.
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) October 19, 2015
Evan Boehm will not move to tackle, but a couple other guys could move on OL. Won’t say if Connor McGovern is a candidate to move.
— Tod Palmer (@todpalmer) October 19, 2015
Maty Mauk remains suspended. The former starting quarterback was suspended on Sept. 29 for a violation of team policies.
Matu Mauk is still not on the #Mizzou depth chart and Drew Lock will remain the starter against Vandy. @TheManeater
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) October 19, 2015
With Missouri and Vanderbilt both struggling to score points, the over/under for Saturday’s game is just 34 points.
Vanderbilt/Missouri over-under has been set at 34. Missouri’s had two games this season where only 15 total points were scored (UConn, UGA).
— Tod Palmer (@todpalmer) October 19, 2015
Linebacker Kentrell Brothers will be joining the punt return and punt block teams in the near future, but the coaches have made it clear to him that they will take him off those units if he starts getting fatigued.
GP on Kentrell Brothers: I’m really proud of him. He’s matured a lot since he first got here. He’s just playing at a different level.
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) October 19, 2015
Pinkel says Kentrell Brothers has asked to be on the punt return and punt block teams, so they’re giving it a go: “He’s all in, man.”
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) October 19, 2015
Pinkel is optimstic about the progress of wide receiver Emanuel Hall.
GP on Emanuel Hall: He’s doing some good things and getting better. He’s got some great speed, a good athlete. All about reps for him.
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) October 19, 2015
Defensive back Cam Hilton could go back to playing wide receiver next season.
Cam Hilton will get to make a decision after the season if he wants to stay at WR or move back to safety, where he started in camp.
— Tod Palmer (@todpalmer) October 19, 2015
Pinkel said the SEC admitted to him that a couple of calls from the Georgia game were wrong.
Pinkel-SEC officials came back to MU and said Hilton’s punt return should have been interference. Penton’s interference shouldn’t have been.
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) October 19, 2015
Pinkel’s Tigers face Vanderbilt this Saturday at 4 p.m. Eastern in Nashville. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
