MISSOURI OFFENSE

HIGH-FLYING, WELL-ROUNDED TIGERS FLY THROUGH THE AIR AND ON THE GROUND.

Senior tight end Martin Rucker had a career year as one of quarterback Chase

Daniels’ favorite targets.

By DAVE MATTER

Columbia, Mo., Daily Tribune

The Missouri offense is one the most explosive, balanced and efficient units you’ll find in the country. For the Tigers, everything starts with junior quarterback Chase Daniel, the Southlake native and triggerman in MU’s shotgun, spread, no-huddle attack. Daniel and his offensive mates line up exclusively in four-and five-receiver sets then get the play call from a series of hand signals on the sideline. Don’t blink or you might miss a play or two: The Tigers lead the country in offensive plays from scrimmage this season with 1,040.

As for Daniel, the unanimous All-Big 12 offensive player of the year and Heisman Trophy finalist, it’s hard to pinpoint his greatest strength. Is it accuracy ( 69. 7 completion percentage), his efficiency ( 151. 9 quarterback rating) or his scoring production ( 61 touchdown passes in two

years as a starter)? Add all that to his toughness and leadership, and it’s no wonder Gary Pinkel calls the quarterback his “battlefield commander.”

Daniel’s got some valuable troops to catch his passes. Missouri’s collection of wide receivers and tight ends might be the best in the nation, starting with its pair of 6-6, 250-pound tight ends in senior Martin Rucker and junior Chase Coffman. Rarely will you see either NFL prospect line up in a three-point stance, but they’re as productive a pair of slot receivers as you’ll find in the game. Rucker set career marks in receptions ( 81), receiving yards (815) and touchdown grabs (eight), while Coffman wasn’t far behind, finishing with 51 for 523 and seven. A sprained ankle bothered Coffman through the second half of the season and kept him out of the Big 12 championship game, but he’s expected to play in Dallas.

The offense added a new dimension of

speed and big-play ability this season with the emergence of redshirt freshman receiver Jeremy Maclin. The St. Louis native missed all of 2006 after tearing a knee ligament a few days before preseason camp, but he’s come back faster and more explosive than before. Maclin will catch passes as a slot receiver, run the ball out of the backfield on sweeps and reverses and take an occasional direct snap from the shotgun. The first-team All-Big 12 receiver caught 77 passes for a team-best 1,023 yards and nine touchdowns. Also the team’s return specialist, Maclin broke Missouri’s single-season all-purpose yardage record and the NCAA freshman record.

Missouri’s receiver corps also includes veteran standouts Will Franklin and Tommy Saunders. Sophomore Danario Alexander will miss the AT&T Cotton Bowl after tearing his left anterior cruciate knee ligament in the first half of the Big 12 championship game.

The Missouri offense is significantly more dangerous to slow when senior tailback Tony Temple is healthy and moving the chains. A 1,000-yard rusher in 2006, Temple missed two games this year with a nagging ankle injury, but he came back strong in November, averaging 103 yards per game in victories over Texas A&M, Kansas State and Kansas. Freshman Derrick Washington and juniors Jimmy Jackson and Earl Goldsmith provide depth at tailback.

Missouri’s offensive line has quietly provided a wall of protection for Daniel and the offense. Anchored by All-Big 12 center and Rimington Trophy finalist Adam Spieker, MU’s line gave up just 18 sacks on 514 pass attempts. Like Spieker, left tackle Tyler Luellen is a four-year starter, but first-year starter Colin Brown has developed into a force on the right side alongside fellow first-year starter, junior guard Kurtis Gregory. Junior Ryan Madison and senior Monte Wyrick have split snaps at the left guard position.

 

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