Mizzou Football 2008: What About the Defense?

Missouri’s vaunted spread offense is all anyone wants to talk about.

It’s all about Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin, the two early candidates for the Heisman Trophy. Or about Chase Coffman, one of the top tight ends in the Big 12. The question is always the same. “How can Missouri’s offense be stopped?”

With good reason, sportswriters, television analysts and fans are always raving about the Tigers’ offense. After all, Missouri averaged 39.9 points per game and scored 40 or more points in eight games. The offense has all the weapons and the stars, and it gets all of the glamour.

But what about the defense?

That’s right, the defense- the most underrated part of Missouri’s success during the 2007 season. Once conference play started in October, the Tigers defensive unit, thought to be one of the team’s weaknesses, molded into an extremely steady group. In 2006, stopping the run was one of Missouri’s biggest problems. Thanks to an efficient front line and the emergence of linebackers Sean Weatherspoon and Brock Christopher, who both logged more than 100 tackles, the Tigers limited their opponents’ ground attacks. The biggest strength of Missouri’s defense was its ability to create turnovers, which resulted in a plus-11 turnover margin, 14 th best in the nation.

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What’s scary is the Tigers’ defense may even be better in 2008. 10 of 11 starters from last year’s unit return, and that not only includes Weatherspoon and Christopher, but also strong safety William Moore, who was arguably the focal point of the defense in 2007. After playmaking free safety Pig Brown went down with a knee injury in late October, Moore stepped in and made up for Brown’s lost production. His first two seasons in Columbia were rather quiet, but the 6 foot 1 safety made a name for himself with eight interceptions and countless highlight-reel hits.

Although the Tigers did lose starting defensive tackle Lorenzo Williams, junior Jarron Baston showed promise in limited playing time in 2007. Fellow defensive tackle Ziggy Hood is an experienced senior who can wreak havoc in the trenches. Stryker Sulak had a breakout year at defensive end last season and Tommy Chavis was an honorable mention All-Big 12 player last season. Sulak and Chavis will be joined by Brian Coulter, who just recently signed with Missouri after originally signing with Florida State in 2007 out of junior college. When Coulter signed with the Seminoles, he was one of the top JUCO players in the nation. After running into an enrollment problem at FSU, he finds himself with Missouri more than a year later. A talented defensive end that had a list of suitors a mile long, Coulter will provide the Tigers with even more depth on the defensive line.

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Moore is the star of the secondary, but the rest of this unit is strong as well. Free safety Justin Garrett filled in well during Brown’s absence, and both cornerbacks, Carl Gettis and Castine Bridges, are back after ending the 2007 season as starters. As a true freshman last season, Gettis was not expected to be a major contributor. After grabbing the starting spot, the 5 foot 11 frosh out of St. Louis did not disappoint. Bridges was also a pleasant surprise for the Tigers, supplanting veteran Darnell Terrell as the starter.

Missouri should win the Big 12 North with ease, and if things go well, more could be in store for the Tigers.

If that happens, just don’t forget who helped get them there.

By Daniel Spewak
Big 12 Fans Missouri Correspondent

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