Columbia, Mo. ? Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy had a small but significant role in the turnaround of the Missouri defense.

Last year, the Tigers ranked 11th in the Big 12 in total defense, surrendering 450 yards per game. The biggest problem was in the secondary — Missouri ranked near the bottom nationally in pass defense, allowing 282 yards per game.

Coach Gary Pinkel found part of the answer in Dungy and his defensive schemes. Pinkel and his staff spent time with Dungy and his defensive staff trying to fix Missouri’s problems.

“That was significant because we had to go a different direction,” said Pinkel, whose Tigers (6-2, 2-2 Big 12) play today at Colorado (3-6, 1-4).

“The things we came here from Toledo with that in this league we felt we needed to do other things.”

Excluding Missouri’s 62-31 win over high-powered Texas Tech Oct. 25, the defensive ranking would be even higher. And while the Missouri secondary yielded 437 passing yards, it was well below the 527 passing yards the Red Raiders averaged.

The Tigers had to start from almost scratch in the secondary. Antoine Duncan and Tauras Ferguson departed and Brandon Barnes moved from safety to linebacker.

Junior college transfer Nino Williams has become the best addition. He is third on the team with 69 tackles, including 55 solo tackles.

Williams came to Missouri as a junior college all-America cornerback from Tyler (Texas) Junior College. Since his arrival, he has bulked up 20 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame to 203 pounds, and moved to free safety, where he has brought a new attitude to a secondary that lacked one.

“I call him ‘the mouth of the south,”‘ senior Michael Harden said. “He’s from down south, Oklahoma. Every play you hear him talking.”

Williams said, “A good defense has to have its own distinction from other people. I just try and bring a little more flavor and keep everyone relaxed.”

A second new players is outside safety Dedrick Harrington, a redshirt freshman from Mexico, Mo.

“He was a national recruit,” Pinkel said. “He could have gone anywhere in the country he wanted to go, and luckily he chose us. You’re going to see the athleticism come out.”

Calvin Washington, a sophomore who took a red-shirt year last season, beat out A.J. Kincade for the other starting corner spot.