UPDATES: Cayden Green Likely To Play vs. Kansas; What About Ahmad Hardy? | Missouri Tigers Podcast

0:00This is the Lockdown Podcast Network celebrating 10 years of your team every day. Today's episode is brought to you by the Dell XPS. I'm Wes Goldberg from Lockdown NBA Daily and Lockdown Heat. So what does it feel like to have a better laptop like the Dell XPS powered by Intel Core? With a premium design that's thin and light, it feels smooth. With a responsive touch screen, it feels fast and precise. And with long lasting battery life, it feels like non-stop energy with a laptop that can keep up. Built for those who want better, the Dell XPS. Built for you. Some big injury updates, a four Missouri fans, and plus Kansas might have a pretty good quarterback on its hands. You are Lockdown Mizou, your daily podcast on the Missouri Tigers, part of the Lockdown

1:01Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey, all you true sons and daughters. I'm John Miller, your Mazew Mafioso and the central scrutinizer of Missouri Tigers football and basketball. And today's episode is brought to you by Game Time. Download the Game Time map, create an account and use code Lockdown for $20 off your first purchase. And on today's show, we're going to hear quite a bit from Eli Drinkwitz, including more on the running games struggles in week one, his concerns for week two. Also Isaiah Marshall, the J-Hawks quarterback to me, a real mystery. I'm not really sure what to make of him. I know he's talented. I know that much. So we'll get into him in just a little bit though. We need to start though with what Eli Drinkwitz started his press conference with today. And that was an injury update on Caden Green, among others. Let's hear from Eli. Green practice yesterday about three quarters of the practice.

2:07Look good. I need to see how he responds today to that work that he got. He had a good report this morning on his initial, but meetings are at two. So I'll have a better idea at two o'clock where that's at. So on one hand, it does sound like Caden Green, the Missouri left tackle is on track to play against Kansas on Friday night. But at the same time, this does seem to indicate that maybe Caden Green's initial veterans day off as it was termed may have been a little bit more of a serious injury than we initially thought or perhaps there was something that popped up after that veterans day off. Whatever it might be, those words from Eli Drinkwitz tell me there's at least some doubt on green. Hopefully there's no setback. It's there sounds like if there isn't, he should be good to go for a Friday. One thing I will say just quickly, I thought Jack Lang did really well in past protection

3:08last week. I have more on that offensive line a little bit later in the program, but you know what? Of course, naturally, as you might expect, Eli Drinkwitz asked about a mod hearty and the update wasn't as optimistic on that particular front. Nothing's changed on a mod as far as his availability. He's not returning to practice still working on his rehab protocol and continue to monitor that. I have to admit the brevity of that particular update has me a tiny bit concerned at least. I don't want to overreact. So really the only reason to play that particular sound bite was so you could hear Eli Drinkwitz tone for yourself. Make of it what you will probably should make nothing of it. Really that's kind of what I'm doing at this point in a sort of backwards way. I'm sort of done trying to predict when when a mod hearty may or may not return. I think it's just it's unpredictable at this point and you know, at this point, he still

4:11hasn't practiced. We're going to be playing the second week of football here. You just have to wonder how effective he is when he comes back. I just don't think there are any guarantees at this point and I'm certainly done guessing at this point in the season. And unfortunately, well, Missouri's running back depth took a bit of a hit on after week one as well. I thought Zai Shan Edwards was impressive. Preston Hatfield had some good runs as well. Unfortunately, Malai of phonety transfer from Montana by way of Hawaii originally had some moments in the game as well. Unfortunately, came down with an injury and some people noticed that he's not looking real good on that leg right now. I couldn't really tell anything from my vantage point, but now we have the official word from Eli Drinkowitz. Unfortunately, phonety, going to be phonety, excuse me, going to be out of four of the season with a torn ACL. So just terrible news there for him as as Drinkowitz said, football can just be a brutal, unforgiving

5:15and often unfair game. It made me think back to Sam Horne last season when his first touch somehow he manages to have a serious knee injury as well. And you just I just couldn't believe it when I saw him trying to stand up on his leg and then couldn't put any weight on it. You're just going, are you kidding me for this guy? So unfortunately, I feel a little bit that way for Malai, phonety to even though obviously not as long of a relationship. But obviously my my heart goes out to that young man. And not that it means a whole heck of a lot at this point in the season. But just in case you were curious, Missouri is up to number 23 from number 25 in the coaches poll. Hey, better to be there than not, I suppose, but let's not go crazy at this point. And I also don't want to go crazy either way on Isaiah Marshall right now, the Kansas quarterback because going back and watching, well, his first start there with the J Hawks

6:16against against Long Island University. My first take and impressions from Marshall, I really wasn't that impressed. I thought, well, he's a little bit on the short side. He is mobile. His feet are a little bit shaky, although pretty good arm and as the as the sort of play by play and analysts were saying, you know, he's fast, but he's running a little bit too fast. He's running into trouble here early in the ball game, though that's that's understandable. A guy who wasn't a huge prospect out of high school, by the way, but at least Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin, I don't know if it was a, hey, you can commit offer that that seems like that's pretty obvious that it was another YC probably would have taken it, but the very list Lane Kiffin was kicking the tires on the young man a couple years ago. And indeed, you know, eventually once he settled into the ball game in the second quarter, I started to go, you know, there's something here with this Isaiah Marshall kid. He threw a nice deep ball over the top, a couple of explosive plays in the second quarter.

7:20And yet at the same time, there was a couple of times he was very fortunate, in my opinion, not to throw an interception to an underneath defender. In particular, on one, on one play that ends up being a touchdown pass for Marshall and the J-Hawks, he just simply tries to rip it past an underneath linebacker. Unfortunately, Marshall had enough zip on the ball that the linebacker couldn't handle it. The ball pops up into the air, miraculously comes into the J-Hawks arm for a touchdown. So I thought it was a real mixed bag for Marshall. I think the physical talent is pretty obvious. He's an impressive arm and he can run a little bit too, not the biggest guy in the world. And like I said, not a lot of experience. So I think, as I've talked all offseason about Austin Simmons trying to find the line, clearly Isaiah Marshall needs to find the line as well. And I think in this ball game, the Missouri defenders are going to have some chances to grab some interceptions in this game.

8:22The question will be, can they hold onto him or not? That could be obviously a really, really big difference in the ball game. Well, here is what Eli Drinkowitz had to say about Isaiah Marshall, by the way. I mean, I think the challenge with players like Isaiah Marshall and Dual Threat Quarterbacks is every play becomes, you know, every pass play becomes really a two-play part. You have the pass play, which he's an effective thrower. And then he can pull it down and become a runner. So you have to play two plays within a play. There's no magic answer to it. I think if a quarterback is limited in one area or another, then it becomes more like, hey, we're going to, you know, there was a couple of years ago, we played a quarterback that we said, hey, if he throws it to beat us, we'll be okay with that. But we're not going to let him scramble to beat us. But that's not really what you can do with this guy. So, you know, we're going to have to be disciplined. We're going to have to rush the quarterback and play pass coverage. And then, you know, utilize our pass rush lanes. And we'll see how it plays out. Yeah, I have pretty much the same feeling as Drinkowitz strategically here.

9:23I think Missouri needs to play discipline football. I think the Tigers should play a lot of zone defense, play their gaps. And I definitely wouldn't blitz a ton. Sure, selectively, of course, when there's the right moment to bring a blitz, especially, hey, bring, bring the nickel guy from his blind side when he doesn't see it coming that type of thing. But just generally speaking, I wouldn't be playing Blake Baker defense and just going all out pressure because, well, I think, I think that Marshall's the type of quarterback who, who could make you pay there. If he's suddenly playing backyard football, not only is he, again, mobile enough, but a strong enough arm as well showed some accuracy. You just wonder the decision making again, I'm just not totally sure what to make of Isaiah Marshall right now because of his combination of lack of experience and a pretty impressive, some pretty impressive physical traits. I'm just not really sure what he is yet. It'll be interesting to find out.

10:25Just for sure on Friday night and coming up more on the J Hawks more on Eli Drinkwitz on the Missouri rushing attack. I thought he had some really good detail went into a whole bunch of good detail in that particular part of the game coming up on the program here in just a little bit. Plus can KU kick the ball? They have some real injury concerns on their side of the football. It's not just Missouri injury staff. Hey, there's some Kansas injury staff to get to on the program as well. I'm sure when I got some good news for you, if you are a procrastinator, I've got some great news for you. Just give me a second. College football is full of games. You plan for all year, but sometimes the best memories come from the games. You almost missed game time makes it easy, by the way, to find tickets to college football matchups. You want to see with prices that include fees. You know your cost upfront. You can browse games, see a panoramic view from your seat before you buy and get tickets.

11:26And just a couple of taps. Plus zone deals let you choose the section. Then you let game time choose the seats for you to help you save even more money. And whether it's a rivalry game like the J Hawks and the Tigers or just a matchup featuring a player you really want to see in person. Game time makes it all so simple. Think about the game on the schedule that you absolutely don't want to miss for example. For example, by the way, I mentioned I met super fan Brian Garner this past weekend. Well, he and I were both complaining about the high price of the tickets to this ball game in the Missouri section. Well, if you feel like gambling a little bit and sitting maybe buy some just some KU people, well, you can get into the game on game time right now for as low as $151. All in, of course, that includes fees you're never surprised on game time. Get your friends together, get your tickets and tell them it's game time. Download the app, create an account and use code locked on for $20 off your first purchase.

12:30Terms apply again, create an account and use code locked on for $20 off and support for today's episode comes from indeed sponsored jobs. And workplace chaos hits and you need the right hire indeed sponsor jobs helps connect employers with candidates who meet all of their specifications. We're talking skills certifications, location, she'll spend less time searching and more time finding the right fit. People are finding quality candidates on indeed all the time. In fact, in the last minute or so, companies like yours have made 27 hires on indeed according to its data worldwide. And usually the biggest difference is in someone doing more work. It's having somebody who actually knows what needs to happen and helps everything run more smoothly. Again, spend less time searching and more time actually interviewing candidates to check all your boxes, less stress, less time, more results.

13:31When you need the right person to cut through the chaos, this is a job for indeed sponsored jobs. And so, if you're interested in the next few months, you can find out that you're going to get a $70 off $75 sponsored job credit to help get your job, the premium status, it deserves at indeed dot com slash podcast. Just go to indeed dot com slash podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about indeed on locked on Mizzou indeed dot com slash podcast terms and conditions apply. And speaking of well short Kansas J Hawk quarterbacks, it's not just Isaiah Marshall. Of course, we all remember Jalen Daniels who played for about 3000 years or so would have seemed or it's so it seemed in Lawrence, but in all seriousness, Daniels, a good player of course and good enough that he's going to be Baker may fields back up in Tampa Bay this season and upon well, remembering this being reminded of that.

14:34I thought, you know what? That's a good sign for Missouri. If Daniels, if they have an NFL quality backup, basically was their starter last season, they couldn't beat Missouri. Well, that's a good sign. But again, as the game sort of sort of kept going there as Marshall settled into the game, I started going, well, maybe I should pump the brakes a little bit. This Marshall kid has something, but of course, unlike Daniels, not nearly the amount of experience that he did last season. I will say that I did like the J Hawks running back a tandem, the Edwards and Willis. There's a bit of a thunder and lightning there that the speedster and of course, maybe the more power based short yardage guy. I thought that was a decent combination. I just question if Kansas will be able to stop Missouri or especially the run game, the combination of Austin Simmons, Donovan, Alubede, Caden Green, how the passing game looked last week. I understand, of course, the competition is going to be much different this week, but

15:35I just the skills, the plays, the routes, everything that I saw looked repeatable against against the quality of defense, at least that I'm expecting from the J Hawks. I will say Kansas scores its first touchdown and misses the extra point. I was going, well, wait a second. Can KU kick the ball this season? Well, the second one looked okay than a shorter field goal, looked okay again, got over the uprights and all that good stuff. So maybe just a little nerves there on the first kick, but something to perhaps watch for is, well, Blake Craig looked fine in the first game. I think Missouri probably has the advantage, maybe at least in the kicking game. Now the punt return game, that's another story I thought. I thought the Kansas punt returner was impressive. Hey, DeMarion Fulkes has been impressive from Missouri since taking over that role as well. On the injury front, Cam Pickett, a real important player for the J Hawks in the receiving game.

16:35He was out in week one. I don't know if he's going to play week two either. This is an injury that is that he suffered in camp and he's been out for a while, not practicing. I don't know that I bet on him playing unless we hear about him practicing next week. If not Nick McMillan is probably the pass catcher, you want to worry about and game plan for if you're the Missouri Tigers. Again, I think the Tigers just need to play fairly conservative defense. Just play a bunch of zone, play your gaps. Don't blitz a ton. Just just selectively and just make Nick Marshall, not that he can't beat you with his arm. Just don't let him beat you over the top. I think make him beat you by marching the ball down the field that I'd like to see him do. Like I said, I think he play enough zone defense. He's going to throw you some balls. He'll probably throw you a couple that you can intercept. A lot of it is going to once again come down to whether Missouri catches it or not, which drink with has been complaining about the lack of takeaways here lately.

17:37Of course, the Missouri Kansas rivalry while still huge is admittedly not what it used to be. And of course, college football in general is not what it used to be with the transient nature of rosters. So it was a natural question for somebody to say, hey, what are we doing to try to make these guys understand the importance of this rivalry? Well, here's Eli Drinkwood's mentality. I want to play, you know, but we got to make sure that we understand how to execute on the road. We're concerned with handling noise and handling travel, plan on a Friday night. You know, I'm way more concerned about that than whether or not our guys want to play in the game or our guys understand the significance of the game and all that. But, you know, there's not going to be like this, you know, magic new rockney speech that comes up before the game and our guys get amped up because of the past history. Like, they want to win because it means something to our football team to be want to know this week. Drinkwood's also made reference basically to the fact that, hey, the time for joking

18:40is over. Hey, he made some silly dad jokes at Kansas. His expense this past offseason, but wasn't doing any of that today. The time for joking is certainly over Missouri. I believe now a five and a half point favorite over at Fandall after being six and a half the other day. So, hey, less than a touchdown favorite against your arch rival. Yeah, let's take this game seriously. There's no doubt that Drinkwood's is trying to set the tone and coming up, let's show off the big, beautiful brain and mind of Eli Drinkwood's here in a little bit, not just well, his knowledge of offense and line play specifically coming up here in a second. But also what I would say is at least a borderline photographic memory from Drinkwood's as well, some impressive stuff to show you in just a second. And this episode is sponsored by Supply House. You wouldn't show up on game day without a plan and you certainly wouldn't show up on

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20:47service. Hi, this is Isaac Shade host of Lockdown College basketball and locked on Tar Heels. Today's episode is brought to you by ADT. Imagine you're watching the game at a buddy's house when you get a call that someone tried to break into yours in a second. Everything can change. That's why there's ADT ADT security systems help keep your home safe 24 seven with the most company operated monitoring centers in the industry. The ADT plus app keeps you in control the whole time. Don't leave your home wide open during an emergency when every second counts count on ADT visit ADT dot com or call 1 880 T AS AP. Certainly the Missouri rushing attack left quite a bit to be desired in week one. If you were going to pick a net on the offense, I think that was the pretty obvious one to pick. But I'll just say I thought Jack Lang and really everybody in the Mizzou on the Mizzou offensive line as you'd probably expect held up just fine physically and in particular

21:49I thought Lang and company well the pass protection was just fine. Now the running game on the other hand, there were definitely some more nits to pick. So what did Eli drink with think about the whole thing? I've been preaching patience, but let's hear what Eli had to say. We weren't getting stretch on the front side and then they were able to collapse from the backside, which then tells you okay, this has got to be the answer to it. Or we got to get a better front side stretch and capture the edge and the ball has got to stay on the outside. So we weren't running the ball effectively, especially on the inside zones because we didn't handle the movement or the game calls, which occurred on not only the sack, but also on a third and one on the second drive. So there's some of that stuff too. That's communication execution. The other part was just got to figure out what they're doing and what are responses to it. For sure in the second quarter, we had a couple more where we handled their odd front a little

22:50differently. We made an adjustment on sideline and how we wanted to handle that and insert the search and worked out pretty good for us. Yeah, I'd say those adjustments did work pretty well. I thought in particular as I pointed out on yesterday's program, inserting a Jordan Harris into the backfield is a lead blocker. These suddenly, suddenly the red sea was parting before the Missouri rushing attack there. So certainly an excellent adjustment there. I will say I think it kind of comes down to the two seas. It comes down to continuity and communication as Drinkwood said. I think most of the problems that Missouri saw was that. And when it comes down to, hey, continuity and communication should be a huge surprise when you've got new faces. And of course, Jack Lang was in there for Caden Green who's an all-American caliber type of player. You're going to expect some growing pains there, even if Caden still were in the ball

23:51game. So obviously, you can say sure for week two, we need to clean this stuff up. And it is a, it is cause for concern. I just think if we are patient, give it time. I think hopefully by the second half of the season, this Missouri offensive line will be running on all cylinders. Sometimes, well, time takes time, I guess, as the cliche goes on occasion. And by the way, Drinkwoods was asked about, well, a slow start by Missouri against Kansas last season. Drinkwoods didn't exactly agree with the premise. And I thought it was fascinating by how Drinkwoods was able, Drinkwoods recall here in this particular bite is absolutely incredible. I remember, I remember a whole bunch of plays from last year's Kansas game, but a bunch of individual plays. The sequence here, well, listen for yourself. Started actually fast. We went out and scored on the first drive. But then we had an extra point blocked.

24:51And then they went down and scored. And then we fumbled and they returned it for a touchdown. Then we went three and out, had a negative yardage play on the first play. And so it's third and then we get the third and 13. They have an explosive, well, they had a good punt return. Their punt return in the Aggies are really nice. Played it as an excellent job. It has very dynamic in the past game form also. But then they had explosive pass. They weren't really able to ever get the run game going, which I think will be different this year with what they do just because their coordinator is very good at finding run angles. And then they muddle huddleless. We cut guys loose. I mean, they had three guys running wide open. So I think we've got to execute a lot better if it just comes down to it. We got to settle into the environment, understand the plays that we're supposed to play. Trust our eyes and our training and go play fast.

25:54So as you guys get all that, I hope you were taking notes on that particular sequence because drinkwits didn't have any notes whatsoever. I was just impressed by the basically the photographic memory there from Eli. Like I said, hey, I remember Kevin Coleman's impressive catch. I remember Brett Norfleet's touchdown on fourth down. I remember Jamal Roberts long run that sealed the game. A Luba days one handed catch that was huge in that ball game. But yeah, just the actual sequences every play for about, I don't know, a dozen plays or so there. No, I can't say how I have that level of recall. So just thought that was an impressive moment there from our coach. And you know, before I get out of here, one bit of tiny, well, a tiny bit of disappointing news, I should say no crossover between me and Derek Johnson this year. Unfortunately, Derek's going to be out of town for a wedding. I was going to just say he's a huge coward that wouldn't come on the program.

26:56But now actually Derek is for a J Hawk. Let's not go crazy. But for a J Hawk, he's a pretty decent guy. So I won't completely shred his character on this edition of Locked on Mizzou. Perhaps a future one, but not this particular episode. So you know what? Tomorrow on Wednesday's program, we have plenty to talk to and of course, plenty to talk to talk about on Thursday with or without Derek. Maybe I'll get another J Hawk guest in there. Probably not. Let's be real. So until next time, I am John Miller, thanks as always for listening to Locked on Mizzou.