Columbia, Mo. ? Two games in, Missouri’s 2007 season looks a lot like 2006.

The Tigers are 2-0 thanks to an offense averaging 39 points per game in wins over Illinois and Mississippi and despite a defense that’s struggling to stop anyone.

Both games were cut from the same blueprint: The Tigers score early and often en route to a big lead, then hold on as the defense lets the opponents back into the game.

The biggest problem is stopping the run. The Tigers are allowing 174 rushing yards per game, ranking 81st in the nation. In Saturday’s 38-25 win at Mississippi, Rebels running back BanJarvus Green-Ellis ran for a career-high 226 yards.

That came a week after Illinois ran for more than 100 yards and three rushing touchdowns in a game the Tigers won 40-34 thanks to a goal line interception by Cornelius “Pig” Brown, after leading at one point 37-13.

It’s an old trend for Missouri. The Tigers ranked next-to-last in the Big 12 in rush defense last season and allowed every conference opponent except Texas Tech to rush for at least 100 yards.

The result: After a 6-0 start, the Tigers lost five of their last seven.

“It’s never too early to worry about the run defense,” defensive tackle Lorenzo Williams said. “It’s not really a lot of things that we’re doing wrong, but the things we are doing wrong are turning into big problems.”

Coaches and players believe the problem comes down to a lack of executing basic fundamentals.

“Being a sports guy my whole life, the only way I know how to do something is to focus on it and work on it,” defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus said. “We just have to keep working on the fundamentals.”

Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said the mistakes aren’t due to a lack of effort.

“It’s not like we’re not trying to make the plays,” Weatherspoon said. “I know we’ve got the guys on defense that can get it done and it won’t be a problem.”

Despite allowing 229 rushing yards against Mississippi, the Missouri defense did force two key turnovers.

Linebacker Brock Christopher forced a Green-Ellis fumble on the Missouri 7-yard line with 6:18 left in the second quarter. And safety Justin Garrett sealed the game with an interception in the final minute of the game.

Couple that with the five turnovers the Tigers forced against Illinois and the plus-five turnover ratio ranks seventh in the country.

“When people start to get the ball out, the kids start working harder, because they know it’s there,” Eberflus said. “Honestly, they’re trying to punch and rip at the ball every single play.”

Missouri plays its first home game of the season today against Western Michigan.

Western Michigan was a preseason pick to win the Mid-American Conference, but has given up 99 points in losses to West Virginia and Indiana.

“I’m confident that our defense is going to step up this week because we know that everybody is talking about it,” Weatherspoon said. “I know everybody is sick and tired of hearing it, so we’re going to come out and keep them out of the end zone.”