Dive into the Heart of Mizzou Athletics

Hear from Drink, Joseph Charleston, Joshua Manning, and Chris McClellan about Mizzou’s homecoming challenge.

After a 45-3 re-tuneup game (If that’s what we want to call it) against the UMass Minutemen, head coach Eli Drinkwitz’s Missouri Tigers are right back onto the SEC schedule. Drink and company spoke to reporters as per usual on Tuesday, highlighting what was important about their next opponent.

I will highlight the five most important quotes from each party on Tuesday.

Eli Drinkwitz | Head Coach

1. “Really proud of our team and the response that they had. They came out and started fast on both sides of the ball. They showed their commitment to each other and played for each other instead of playing for their own factors whether that was crowd size, stadium size, or anything like that.” – His thoughts on the game against UMass
2. “They are a very dangerous football team, and when you look at the statistics, there’s really only one glaring weakness that they’ve had and it shows up in all their losses, which is turnovers. They have elite wideouts, elite running back. They have talented tight ends. They have elite defensive linemen and linebackers. Eugene Asante, probably the best linebacker we’ve played so far this year. It’s really going to be a challenge for us.” – On the challenge ahead in Auburn
3. “We should get Tristan (Newson) back this week. We planned on having him back. Nick came in and prepared well all week and was named Defensive Player of the Week for his performance so I thought he did a really nice job. We’ve been utilizing him on special teams to try to prepare him for this opportunity.” – On the status of Tristan Newson
4. “The number one thing you lose when you lose is your confidence, and so the only way you get your confidence back is through preparation and execution. I think our guys can rely on the way that we prepared last week, and then how we went out and performed from an execution standpoint.” – On what they gained from the UMass game.
5. “Very difficult schemes on both sides of the ball. Coach Freeze’s RPO game is really good. Coach Durkin’s multiplicity on the back end, three safety defense, odd structure, a courthouse structure. Multiple pressures, this is extremely challenging for our team and for us we got to prepare well.” – On what specifically makes Auburn a tough opponent.

Chris McClellan | Defensive Line

1. “It helps my game, it gives me the opportunity to got attack more and go make plays.” – On how the Missouri system helps his game.
2. “We have to keep working, keep working on our techniques and reading those blocks and getting those feels for pressure. All of that to get to the quarterback.” – On how the team can do better at getting to the quarterback.
3. “The ball is going to come out quick, so the best thing you can do is get vertical and get your hands up and just disrupt the throwing lane and disrupt the quarterback.” – On the plan to stop Auburn’s RPO-centric offense.
4. “Both pregame and postgame, the energy was different for UMass. Guys were locked in that whole week of practice, and locked in on Saturday” – On how the preparation and vibes were different for UMass.
5. “It’s way better being on the away side, they love us and we love them, and they always bring the energy and bring the juice.” – On the relief that he is no longer on the receiving end of the Missouri crowd.

Joshua Manning | Wide Receiver

1. “It was crazy. So I caught it, made the first one miss and yeah it was straight grass in front of me. I was running for my life.” – On his touchdown against UMass.
2. “Route running I was a little bit of a raw player, I actually still kind of am. I am working on that to become a better player.” – On the difference between him as a player last season and this season.
3. “It definitely helped me with like, the game speed, playing in front of big crowds and handling responsibilities. I feel like it helped my transition be a lot smoother” – On how working special teams helped prepare him for first team time.
4. “On Friday, I tweaked it ahead of the Texas A&M game. I was trying to keep it low key in warm ups just to be able to play. It kind of bummed me out, but last week I was in the training room and growing.” – On his hamstring and how it feels.
5. “We are starting practice a lot faster now, I feel like earlier we started a lot slower. It’s good seeing yourself make plays. I feel like it always helps with confidence.” – On what has changed in preparation and also how the UMass game helped them for SEC play.

Joseph Charleston | Defensive Back

1. “We’ve been playing with really good energy. We’re a really tight group. There are some things that I think we can improve on. I think we can improve on our eyes and just having our eyes in the right place.” – On how the secondary has fared so far this season.
2. “He’s a really dynamic player. He’s got really good speed, he’s a deep threat. He’s got really good hands. We just have to know where he’s at on the field at all times, and just play within the scheme.” – On Auburn wideout Keandre Lambert-Smith.
3. “When you’re playing zone you’re playing with more eyes on the quarterback rather than the receivers, so you have better ball breaks. You have more people to tackle when the ball is thrown.” – On the benefits of playing a zone defense.
4. “[Nic Deloach] is really athletic. He’s a freak athlete. Getting this on field experience, the more he’s got that the better and better he’s got.” – On how Nic DeLoach has been.
5. “Just about reading the quarterback action and just seeing what the offense is telling you and what the offense is giving you. Just being able to read that and seeing what the intentions are based off the post snap actions.” – On how they will attack Auburn’s RPO offense.