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| Sunday, August 12 Updated: August 13, 10:50 PM ET Softer schedule gives Missouri bowl hopes By Todd Cooper Special to ESPN.com |
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Missouri 2000 record: 3-8 (2-6). Coach: Gary Pinkel (first year). Starters returning: 8 offense, 6 defense, 2 kickers. Outlook: What do you do with a team that finished the past two seasons in disarray? You throw it into more disarray. After Larry Smith got the boot, Pinkel began by almost completely overhauling his lineup. Although a number of starters return, at least a dozen players find themselves in new positions. Missouri has to hope that quarterback Kirk Farmer finds himself in a new position as well -- vertical. The injury-prone Farmer broke a bone in his throwing hand a week before the start of fall camp -- an injury that could cost him the first two weeks of the season or more. The broken hand comes after the brittle-boned Farmer missed most of the past two seasons with a fractured collarbone and leg. He needs to heal quickly, lest the Tigers want to depend on the talented but turnover-prone Darius Outlaw. The good news is that either Farmer or Outlaw will have a decent corps of receivers, including Justin Gage and tight end Dwayne Blakley. But Pinkel would like to balance out the passing attack with an improved running game. Senior Zain Gilmore, Missouri's leading rusher the past two years, has lost a little weight and gained a little speed. Defensive end Justin Smith's early exit for the NFL leaves the line looking for a stopper. Hard-nosed linebackers Jamonte Robinson and Sean Doyle, unfortunately, will see more action because of a porous front. Safety Clarence Jones will lead a hard-hitting but inexperienced secondary. Keep an eye on: Receiver Justin Gage. Gage, a former quarterback who led Mizzou with 44 catches for 709 yards last year, should benefit from Farmer's return. Plus, he knows how to win, having helped the Tigers' basketball team to the round of 32 last season. Key game: Oklahoma State, Oct. 6. In the battle of new coaches, Pinkel needs a win over Les Miles to set the tone for the Tigers' season. After likely starting the season 2-2, the Tigers have three games they could win -- against Oklahoma State, Iowa State and Kansas -- to propel them out of the Big 12 basement. It's a good year if... The Tigers avoid falling apart like they did the past two seasons. It's a great year if they beat the teams they're capable of beating -- Bowling Green, Southwest Texas State, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Kansas and Baylor -- for a winning season. Todd Cooper is a staff writer for the Omaha World-Herald. |
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