San Antonio ? So many powerful weapons dot Missouri University’s football roster: Chase Daniel, Chase Coffman, Martin Rucker, Tony Temple and William Franklin, to name the best of them.

Notice a pattern, though, one that could still bite Mizzou yet?

All five of the renowned studs are offensive skilled players.

If the Tigers want to live up to preseason expectations placed on them – which include being the Big 12 North favorites by the regional media – they’re going to need the defense to create enough stops to make the offense’s dazzling show worthwhile.

And it’s not a given they will.

“It definitely gives us a chip on our shoulder,” MU defensive lineman Lorenzo Williams said of the offense getting all the glory. “I’m happy that our offense can put up points against anybody. I’d rather that be the case than them not being able to score any points.

“With us being kind of young on defense, the first couple of games will be crucial for them to score a lot of points so we can work into it and develop chemistry (on defense).”

No Mizzou representative present at the Big 12 media days Tuesday at the St. Anthony Hotel expects the defense to keep up with the Tigers’ high-octane offense at any point this season, which is no surprise.

Mizzou’s front seven loses defensive ends Xzavie Jackson and Brian Smith and linebackers Marcus Bacon and Dedrick Harrington. Some big boys return like tackles Williams and Ziggy Hood, but Mizzou’s defense still has something to prove with a significantly younger depth chart.

“Most of the players that are replacing the starters we lost have played a lot or have started games. So I think we have more experience than what might appear,” Pinkel said. “I think if you look at anybody that loses half their starters on that side of the football : you look back and say ‘We have to see how that side comes along.’ And I’d agree with that.”

Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel speaks during Big 12 media days Tuesday in San Antonio.

Not only that, but Mizzou’s defense last year had pitiful stretches against the run, allowing 184.1 rushing yards per game in Big 12 play. While Williams and Hood have five letters and 600 pounds between them to help plug gaps, the defense around them is relatively new until you go all the way back to the secondary with William Moore and Darnell Terrell.

MU is scrambling to adjust. Pinkel said some things are being simplified on defense to make things move slower for his younger players, and like many teams in many years, adjustments are made to play to Mizzou’s new strengths.

“We put a lot of new stuff into the schemes and changed people around and made sure we have the right personnel,” said Williams, who had 53 tackles last year. “More importantly, it’s about being where you’re supposed to be.”

If the media has the right idea, that could mean MU being at the top of the Big 12 North come November. The offense figures to have the fire power to come through. The defense, though, is clouded with skepticism – something Williams likes.

“If you play defense and you don’t have a chip on your shoulder,” Williams said, “you should probably play offense.”