COLUMBIA, Mo. — Eli Drinkwitz must have had time for some reading during the offseason. Books are his metaphor of choice when it comes to describing the task facing Missouri football as spring practices begin this week.
“You want to get further, faster,†he said. “When you reread a book, you don’t skip chapters. You read it faster through a better interpretation because you’ve already read it before. That’s the hope — that’s what we’re doing this year.â€
It’s a literary way to say that the Tigers gave themselves a tough act to follow with an 11-win 2023 season that took them to the Cotton Bowl. If the 2024 season’s expanded College Football Playoff field had been in play, then MU would’ve been competing in a playoff game instead of a one-off bowl game.
And that’s where an early refrain is coming into play for Drinkwitz. Get further in the postseason. Ramp up to that level faster.
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Spring practices, which run over the next three weeks and conclude with Mizzou’s spring game at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, are the beginnings of that process. The focus is less on rushing to sort out the depth chart or what schemes suit individual players and more on individual development.
“As with every spring, we have clear, specific spring goals for our players,†Drinkwitz said. “But overall, for us, as a reminder, spring is about individual player development. We are about these guys getting better. Each one of these players have been given an assigned task by their coaching staff, and we’re excited for those guys to fundamentally, technically and schematically improve throughout the spring.â€
Here are three things to watch for as that process begins:
Incorporating Batoon’s defense
There’s plenty to discuss about MU’s new defensive coordinator, who will meet with local media for the first time on Tuesday. One of the spring spotlights, certainly, is on Corey Batoon and the system he’s looking to install.
Spring practices, in reality, are likely less about scheme — players have the opportunity to transfer in April, if they choose, meaning it’s best not to lock in play calls at this time of year — and more about relationships and development. With just a few returners on defense, Batoon will rely on several new starters. Some will be transfers, some will be returners looking to elevate their roles and there may be room for a freshman like Williams Nwaneri, though he’s not on campus for spring practices.
If Batoon is to find first-year success with the Tigers, he’ll need a positive start from this time of year — starting with familiarizing himself with previous defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s scheme.
“There’s going to be a whole lot of carryover,†Drinkwitz said.
Part of what made Kirby Moore so effective as offensive coordinator in his debut season was an emphasis on conversations with players to sift through what they felt had and hadn’t been working for Mizzou. Building that trust early in the process was vital for Moore and likely will be for Batoon too.
Leveraging experienced pass game
No part of the Missouri roster looks more solidified than its passing game. Quarterback Brady Cook is the undisputed starter. Luther Burden III headlines a wide receiver corps that also returns Theo Wease Jr. and Mookie Cooper. Tight end Brett Norfleet, whose role grew over the course of the 2023 season, is entering just his second season. Other young players will push the veteran wideouts.
And of course, Moore is back calling plays after some offseason rumblings of potential suitors for his services.
There’s a unique challenge to coaching the passing game through spring ball for Moore.
“The challenge is: What do you focus on to improve, and what do you say ‘no’ to?†Drinkwitz said. “We can’t do everything, and we don’t need to do everything. We need to focus on what is it exactly that we need to do to improve and what are those one or two things and how do I say ‘no’ to all the noise. Sometimes when you have this much experience coming back, you think, ‘Oh, I could do this, I could do this, I could do this.’ He’s going to have a real challenge with that.â€
‘Find value’ for incoming transfers
A handful of transfers will immediately work themselves into battles for playing time at a variety of positions.
At running back, Marcus Carroll and Nathaniel Noel will push each other for the right to lead the backfield. Cayden Green will begin work at left tackle but could shift around the offensive line. Toriano Pride Jr. will be in the mix for one of the two open starting cornerback sports. Sterling Webb and Chris McClellan will find roles on the defensive line.
While Mizzou’s coaches saw the incoming transfers’ performances on tape, they’ll get a different look at how to use the newest weapons through spring camp.
“It’s an experienced group with well over 100 career starts amongst them,†Drinkwitz said. “It’s going to be great for them to get acclimated to what we’re trying to do here and then for them to show us what their strengths are and figure out how we can find value for them.â€
That fits into one of Drinkwitz’s bigger-picture goals for the coaching staff, particularly with another transfer portal window and summer preparations still ahead: identify the team’s collective strengths and weaknesses.
“What do we do really well, what are the things we have to improve on,†Drinkwitz said. “And then we have, really, five months to attack it.â€