Know the foe: Tigers’ offense poised to growl

Yeah, there’s Brad Smith, one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in NCAA history.

But Missouri University’s football team wouldn’t be 5-2 overall without a supporting cast that includes proven linemen, able running backs and even a true freshman, Chase Coffman, making plays at tight end.

All in all, it’s an exciting offensive attack — the ninth-best rushing offense in the nation and 12th-best overall offense in terms of yardage — heading to Lawrence for today’s noon game against Kansas University.

What makes today’s game intriguing, though, is KU’s statistical success against the run — just 74.7 yards per game, second in the nation to Ohio State.

Something has to budge, and whichever side prevails might have enough horses to gallop away Border War winner.

“We’re playing one of the best defenses in the United States,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. “Without question, their numbers are very, very good.”

To dance around KU’s buzzsaw against the run, MU might rely on Smith’s arm a little more than usual. And that’s not unprecedented — Smith has thrown for more than 200 yards three times this season.

More than that, though, is a solid fleet of targets on the receiving end. Sean Coffey is closing in on career school records, and Brad Ekwerekwu and William Franklin each has more than 20 receptions this season.

In addition, MU (5-2 overall, 3-1 Big 12 Conference) boasts two tight ends in Martin Rucker, a sophomore, and Coffman, a 6-foot-7 yearling from Raymore-Peculiar (Mo.) High, who has 24 catches for 266 yards so far this season.

“I’m very impressed with Chase,” said KU coach Mark Mangino, whose squad is 3-4 overall and 0-4 in conference play. “We just need to be defensively sound and know where he is at all times. He is playing very well.”

The Tigers and Jayhawks are at very different stages of their season. KU just limped home from a six-week, four-game vacation away from Memorial Stadium lacking a victory. It now has three of its last four games in Lawrence.

Missouri, meanwhile, has played five of its last six at home. Today’s game will be the first of an unfavorable stretch to close out the season, where the Tigers will play at Kansas, at Colorado, home against Baylor and at Kansas State.

With a share of the Big 12 North lead as of now, victories are crucial for MU to realize its goal. And one against Kansas? Well, that’d make things that much sweeter.

“They’ve gotten ahead of us the past few years,” MU defensive end Brian Smith said. “It’d be good just to win, period. That’d be pretty good to have that on our backs.”