Saturday’s Maroon and White Game had a bit of a different feel for Missouri State and Coach Stec. Gone was the expectation, almost an assumption, that he could turn the Bears into a winner immediately. Also missing was standout linebacker Dylan Cole, who sat out the scrimmage with an injury after owning last year’s spring game. While the Bears are coming off of a 1-9 season, arguably the worst in program history, Missouri State didn’t feel like a program wallowing in its own sorrows. The Bears seemed like a group eager to change the culture.
Here are my five takeaways from Missouri State’s 2016 Spring Game.
PHOTOS: MISSOURI STATE SPRING GAME – CLICK HERE
A new and improved Coach Stec
Stec’s first year at Missouri State was a mixed bag. The first seven months Stec was almost too confident, often being abrasive towards the media and any talk of past struggles of the football program. He then spent the next four months blaming the coaching staff, mainly himself, as the Bears collected losses and were outscored by more than five touchdowns per game. I didn’t see that guy on Saturday. Stec admitted that he felt more in control this spring and that things have gone better. His staff continues to be energetic and positive, a very necessary component when dealing with inexperience and trying to change the culture. His team, especially his seniors, have also picked up those qualities. Stec was still his loveable, sarcastic self when asked about his thoughts postgame, but as someone that isn’t exactly “besties” with Stec, this was the most approachable the guy has been since he moved to Springfield. Attitudes don’t technically win games, but changing the culture of a place starts from the top and flows down. A more mature and discipline Stec equated to a more mature and discipline football team on Saturday.
Quarterback Controversy
Cody Kirby and Kiara Harris rank first and fifth respectively in Missouri State history for total offense. Kirby was a four-year starter, while Harris was the Bears’ primary option at quarterback from 2012-14. That stability left a bit of instability at the position heading into last fall. Breck Ruddick (384 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) and Brodie Lambert (714 yards, 3 TDs, 10 INTs) each struggled when given the opportunity to take over the position battle. Both quarterbacks looked good in stretches on Saturday. Lambert competed 20 of 31 attempts for 216 yards and a pair of touchdowns. More importantly, Lambert didn’t have a single turnover and took just one sack. Ruddick completed just 6 of his 16 attempts and threw an interception, but he also had a 69-yard touchdown run and a 58-yard touchdown pass to Deion Holliman on what was a busted play that was extended because of Ruddick’s athleticism. Both guys were exactly the players we expect them to be; Lambert the ultra-conservative, steady pocket-passer and Ruddick the wildcard with a big-time arm and every tool you want from a quarterback. Also throwing his name into the mix is redshirt freshman Michael Briggs. The Kansas City product was the gem of Stec’s first recruiting class after the Bears snatched him from conference rival Northern Iowa. Keep in mind, this is a kid that was selected for the Elite 11 Chicago Regional and turned several heads. On Saturday he was chuckin’ the ole pigskin all over the field, completing 12 of his 15 attempts for 120 yards and a pair of scores. His delivery is a little unorthodox, but Briggs can wing it and has no problem stretching the field. He has struggled to be consistent throughout the spring, but Briggs is definitely the quarterback of the future. The question is will that be sooner rather than later? His play on Saturday suggests that he might be ready right now. This race is one to keep an eye on all summer long.
Lots of options at the skill positions
Improved quarterback and offensive line play allowed the skill guys to show out on Saturday and they did just that. Malik Earl led the Bears in receptions (26), receiving yards (305) and touchdowns (2) despite missing time due to injury. The 6-foot-3 Oklahoma City native is a big target and is excellent with the ball in his hands. He left the scrimmage early, but not before hauling in five passes for 91 yards. Missouri State’s quarterbacks are learning that you can always throw Earl open because of his ability to just go get the football… Speaking of ability, Deion Holliman is one of the most electric players in all of FCS. He weighs just 180lbs, but his 600-pound squat help explain why he has true 4.4 speed and is as shifty as they come. Last year he made a name as a return specialist, becoming one of the few bright spots for MSU fans with his 17.4 yards per punt return, the third-highest total in the nation. He returned a kick and a punt for a touchdown last fall, but is also becoming a more polished receiver. His five catches for 91 yards matched Earl for game-high honors, with his 58-yard touchdown featuring the playmaking ability that makes him dangerous as he shed tacklers in converting a 15-yard pass into a touchdown… Zac Hoover is another guy with elite speed but hasn’t been a complete receiver in the past. His speed was on display when Briggs found him on a 46-yard bomb. Hoover also caught a pair of short touchdowns from Briggs. The question for him has never been raw talent or even route running, but the consistency of his hands. That wasn’t an issue on Saturday… One of the best stories of the day was the play of Webb City product Phoenix Johnson. Unlike most freshmen, Johnson wasn’t afforded a redshirt season and unlike most college football players, Johnson is trying to grasp the offensive scheme of a third different offensive coordinator in as many years. With last year’s leading rusher Calan Crowder out with injury, Johnson rushed for 86 tough yards on 17 carries, including a one-yard touchdown. The senior-to-be ran angry, with many of his yards coming after contact with physical, prideful running. With his ability to run, catch the ball out of the backfield and block in pass protection, Johnson is likely Missouri State’s most well-rounded back. And, with his Beast Mode-like runs, he will be a fan favorite this fall.
Local products making name defensively
Dylan Cole sat out, but several other Ozarks natives made their presence felt on Saturday, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Jared Beshore (Lamar) had nine tackles, a tackle for loss and broke up a pass, while Reeds Spring’s native Easton Flaugh tallied seven tackles. Beshore was the Bears’ third leading tackler last fall as a redshirt freshman safety and Flaugh saw some time at linebacker. Former Hillcrest standout Matt Rush had just one tackle, but continues to be one of the best pure cover guys in the program, using his athleticism to break up a pair of passes and cause headaches throughout the afternoon. Kurran Blamey made his name at Monett as a running back, but, like Dylan Cole, has made the transition to linebacker at MSU. Ezekiel Elliot once told me that no one had ever hit him the way Blamey did in their 2013 Class 3 Final Four meeting and Blamey brought that same power on Saturday with his six tackles… McNeece Egbim is not a local product, but get used to hearing this name a lot. He spent the fall as a redshirt and while he’s still working on adding mass, his instincts are impressive. Egim had 14 tackles on Saturday and just always seems to be around the ball. He may not start next season, but he will certainly be stealing some meaningful reps from someone.
Mind over matter
It is difficult to take much away from an intersquad scrimmage. The offensive looked incredible while the defensive struggled. But, playing without an All-American will make any defense look bad and playing against a defense that gave up 48 PPG last year will make any offense look good as well. Will this team win a national championship next year? Probably not. But, I also don’t see this group going winless against FCS competition again. Building this program will not be a quick fix and fans should expect another tough season, with the Bears being much more competitive than last year, but still not quite ready. The big thing is the overall growth of the program is there. Many of those mental errors (penalties, blown assignments, turnovers, etc.) were not there on Saturday. This group didn’t quite feel so young and you could see that both units are just more comfortable in what they are doing schematically. There is also no denying the amount of young talent on the field. Some people are skeptical if Missouri State can ever contend for championships in football, regardless of who the coach is. While it remains to be seen if that is the case, Saturday went about as good as it could have for a program that is coming off one of the worst seasons ever. Don’t give up on Stec and his Bears just yet.
