Mizzou offensive line looking for communication improvements
One of the main storylines coming out of the Missouri Tigers’ season opener was the struggle of the reworked offensive line.
Cayden Green played at left tackle for the first time since his early in his freshman season at Oklahoma. Curtis Peagler took the first start of his career at right guard.
And through much of the first half, there were clear issues.
“First drive, obviously, was really good,” Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz said of the Tigers’ four-play touchdown drive that ended with a 49-yard pass from Beau Pribula to Marquis Johnson. “And I don’t remember if it was the second or third drive, we had a couple of issues.”
The Tigers’ second drive wasn’t as successful.
There was a false start on the first play. Then some breakdowns that led to Pribula needing to take off before a couple of throws.
Then on the third drive, multiple free rushers got in the backfield. One of which landed for the lone sack given up.
“One was a communication issue on the slide,” Drinkwitz said. “We thought we were on the slide side but we weren’t. And then one, we just got beat. And, you know, look, first time to ever play, you know, left tackle here, that’s going to be part of the growth process. …I vividly remember two years ago, Middle Tennessee, Javon Foster giving up a sack on a third down that was pretty poor. He’s a dadgum good player and a draft pick that’s with the Bengals now. So like that, that’s, that’s part of it. We’ll get better, we’ll grow. We’ll develop there.”
Run blocking issues
There were also issues creating running lanes for Jamal Roberts and Ahmad Hardy throughout the first half.
“I was more concerned with the interior movement that we weren’t able to get there was a fourth down that we didn’t get the movement that we needed to in the ‘A’ gap, you know,” Drinkwitz said. “And we weren’t able to secure the back side of the outside zone the way we need to in order for that play to be effective. That was more concerning to me than the pass pro.”
The second half was much better. Pribula had time to throw, as did backup quarterback Matt Zollers when he came on the field. Hardy was able to amass 84 of his 100 yards in the third quarter alone.
Focus on communication
Starting center Connor Tollison said communication along the line was one of the primary issues. Which would explain the rapid improvement. The Tigers figured out what needed to be said.
“I thought it was a little slow, little clunky, you know,” Tollison said about the start of the game. ”I think we gotta do a little bit better communication between one another. But, you know, it’s always that first game you gotta get out of the way and just improve on it this week and get better.”
But Tollison is confident the group can solve those communication issues with work. This grouping of the Tiger offensive line has only worked together for about three weeks. Meaning the connection between players should improve as they spend more time next to each other.
Especially with more time at practice and some, sometimes annoying, work on communicating.
“At practice, you know, you kind of have to be a little obnoxious about it,” Tollison said. “… and then, you know, I think the more games you play together, naturally it just happens. You know, it’s easier when you’ve kind of seen it before. So, you know, it’s maybe a little more comfortable talking or whatnot, but yeah, you just have to overdo it at practice.”
