Preview: Q&A with Missouri Beat Writer Eli Hoff

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Among all the schools playing college football this season, just two teams start their 2023 campaign on the road against Southeastern Conference opponents.

Neither of those two teams are members of the SEC, but Ball State and Middle Tennessee will both have their hands full for the second weekend in a row on Saturday. While the Cardinals, fresh off a 44-14 loss to Kentucky, will increase their difficulty traveling to No. 1 Georgia this weekend, the Blue Raiders, getting up off the mat after a 56-7 loss to No. 3 Alabama, will take on a slightly less intimidating foe, battling with Missouri at 6 p.m. on SEC Network Plus and the Blue Raider Radio Network.

"It's another great opportunity," head coach Rick Stockstill said. "It's a challenge, but it's also a great opportunity to go there and play and compete against another SEC team."

While the Tigers only managed just six wins a season ago, they did so on the strength of one of the top defenses in college football relative to the schedule played, ranking 33rd total defense by allowing an average of 339.9 yards per game in 2022. An aggressive scheme with speed at all three levels, quarterback Nicholas Vattiato was certainly on alert when breaking down what the Tigers did well on Monday.

"They're super athletic, really fast, they fly around the ball," Vattiato said. "They find ways to rush the passer, even if it's not utilizing the blitz. They do a really good job getting pressure just rushing four or five."

Holding FCS foe South Dakota to just 10 points and 194 total yards last week, it appears the Tigers have continued that strength into the new season. On offense, new coordinator Kirby Moore gave the rock an awfully lot to running back Cody Schrader, a transfer from Division II Truman State that initially came to Columbia as a walk-on, but quickly earned his scholarship with nights like he had against the Coyotes: 18 carries for 138 yards and a touchdown.

Stopping the run is something safety Tra Fluellen has keyed in on as a place to continue strengthening week-to-week, while also cutting down on big plays in the secondary.

"We all have an understanding that the first thing in a defense is to stop the run," Fluellen said. "SEC is going to have these crazy five-stars and all these athletes. We're a Group of 5 and yeah, we have athletes too. But at the end of the day, it's going to come down who's more disciplined and who wants it more."

To get a first-hand look at the Blue Raiders' next opponent, GoBlueRaiders.com staff writer Sam Doughton chatted with Eli Hoff, who covers Missouri for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Hoff shared his perspective on the Tigers' quarterback battle, players to watch on both sides of the ball and early season special teams woes worth keeping an eye on Saturday.

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1) Much like MTSU's Week 1 opponent, Missouri seems to have had a quarterback battle that, while publicly still on-going when the season started, might as well have been in name only by Week 1. What does Brady Cook bring to the Tiger offense and why has Sam Horn been able to push Cook, even with Cook earning the majority of the snaps so far?

Missouri's quarterback competition ended Tuesday when coach Eli Drinkwitz declared Brady Cook QB No. 1 going forward. That resolution was really always the likely outcome, and the battle seemed fairly settled some time ago. Including last week's season opener against South Dakota, Cook has started the Tigers' last 15 games. He's a team captain and grew up in St. Louis with the dream of being Mizzou's quarterback one day. All offseason, the signal-caller competition seemed to be the rest of the field versus Cook.

But that doesn't mean there haven't been eyes on Sam Horn. Drinkwitz said he'll look to give Horn a series during Saturday's game to help continue his development. Horn completed his first college pass just last week, so he's the more raw prospect of the quarterback room.

Cook brings running ability — he shimmied his way into the end zone against South Dakota — and familiarity with this offense. Drinkwitz praised some of the progressions he went through last week but also said there were some missed reads in play action set-ups. Horn's flashiest trait, for now, is his arm, which could be what kept him in the mix even after preseason camp.

2) The speed of Missouri's skill players was a common topic at MTSU's weekly press conference on Monday. Looking through the stat sheet from last week's win over South Dakota, it looks like running back Cody Schrader and Wide Receiver Luther Burden have started the year off right. What skillsets do those two players bring to Mizzou's offense?

Last week, Cody Schrader had the markings of a workhorse running back. On one drive, he picked up the last 34 yards of the series on the ground before picking up a rush touchdown. He and Nathaniel Peat are splitting time in the backfield, but Schrader was more productive in the season opener. He brings an ability to maximize the outside zone run scheme when the Tigers lean on that.

Luther Burden III is Mizzou's most dynamic playmaker. He moved into the slot this year, which should get him more touches. But it's not just about where he lines up — it's where he goes. Missouri will find him on jet sweeps, screens, crossing routes and deep sideline routes. Oh, and punt returns too. He seems to have upped his ability to haul in contested catches, which will be something to watch early in the season.

3) Even amid a six-win season last year in Columbia, the Tigers were able to put together strong defensive performances nearly every week. Scheme wise, what is defensive coordinator Blake Baker known for and why has the Tigers' defense remained a threat against many of the high-powered SEC offenses?

He's not called Blitzin' Blake Baker for nothing. You'll see defensive backs making tackles for a loss and pressure coming from different places even when alignments look the same.

The defense has remained a threat in no small part because so many players have remained in Columbia. Missouri's defense returns the vast majority of its production from last year, meaning players like linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper and cornerbacks Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Kris Abrams-Draine are all another year stronger and more familiar with Baker's scheme. One of the defense's points of emphasis going into 2023 is forcing more turnovers — especially getting more interceptions out of a defensive back group that's broken up plenty of passes but not quite hauled enough in for Baker's taste.

4) Personnel wise on defense, both Stockstill and quarterback Nicholas Vattiato highlighted the athleticism of Missouri, particularly on the defensive line. Who are some players to know on that side of the ball, particularly up front?

In terms of athleticism and versatility, Darius Robinson brings a unique skillset. He's got a massive frame but can move well, and he's making a switch from defensive tackle to the edge this season. He'll line up in a few different spots along the line. Complimenting him is Johnny Walker Jr., a now-rarer player who joined a program and spent a few years developing in a depth role before emerging as a starter.

Four different linemen will play on the interior. Drinkwitz has said he feels Missouri has four starters at that position, and all of them got fairly equal opportunities in the opener. DT Kristian Williams had the bull rush of the game, bowling right into the quarterback after bursting through the line.

5) After back-to-back losing seasons in SEC play, I know Mizzou fans are anxious for Eli Drinkwitz's team to have a breakout year. In a game where Missouri will be heavily favored, what do you think the Tigers have to show on the field on Saturday for the game to be considered a success?

There have been offseason promises of a more explosive Missouri offense in 2023. The arrival of offensive coordinator Kirby Moore is expected to factor into that evolution, but there wasn't much in terms of deep plays in Week One. A successful game plan for the Tigers would probably involve a few explosive opportunities, especially on play-action looks if Middle Tennessee decides to pack an extra defender into the box. Wide receiver Theo Wease Jr., who transferred to Mizzou from Oklahoma, had a fairly quiet debut, but not for a lack of targets — getting him more quality looks could well be part of the gameplan too. Largely, offensive success would be consistent production in an aesthetically pleasing style — though maybe that's too much to ask of a college offense.

Defensively, generating a couple turnovers would be good progress toward a season goal, particularly interceptions. Handling the Blue Raiders' tempo and downfield looks will test different parts of the defense than South Dakota's multiple tight end groupings, which could allow Missouri's defensive backs more opportunities to make plays.

Special teams might actually be the biggest point of emphasis. Kicker Harrison Mevis, whose frame has earned him the "Thiccer Kicker" moniker from Mizzou fans, struggled at times last year after an almost impeccable 2021. Then he went 0 for 2 on field goal tries in the opener. If he's anything less than perfect on Saturday, there will likely be some questions.

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Players Mentioned

Tra Fluellen

Nicholas Vattiato

Middle Tennesee State University Athletics