2016 in Review: Defensive Line

in other news

Ask the editor: Feb. 9

It’s Sunday morning, so it’s time for me to open up the mailbag and answer your questions from the week.

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Hear directly from Dennis Gates, Jacob Crews and Tamar Bates for Mizzou and Buzz Williams and Wade Taylor for Texas A&M.

• Kyle McAreavy

Wade Taylor IV ends Tiger comeback

As he has been each of the past five matchups between Mizzou and Texas A&M, Wade Taylor was a thorn in the Tigers side.

• Kyle McAreavy

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Here's a look at what was on my mind right as the final buzzer sounded in Missouri's 67-64 loss against Texas A&M.

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Four-star LB Keenan Harris talks top eight schools

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• Greg Smith

in other news

Ask the editor: Feb. 9

It’s Sunday morning, so it’s time for me to open up the mailbag and answer your questions from the week.

• Kyle McAreavy

Post-game press conferences

Hear directly from Dennis Gates, Jacob Crews and Tamar Bates for Mizzou and Buzz Williams and Wade Taylor for Texas A&M.

• Kyle McAreavy

Wade Taylor IV ends Tiger comeback

As he has been each of the past five matchups between Mizzou and Texas A&M, Wade Taylor was a thorn in the Tigers side.

• Kyle McAreavy

PREMIUM CONTENT

Published Dec 5, 2016

2016 in Review: Defensive Line

Gabe DeArmond

Publisher

Last week, PowerMizzou.com took a look at every position on the Missouri offense. This week, we turn our attention to defense. We'll review what happened in 2016 and look forward to 2017 both in terms of the current roster and the upcoming recruiting class. Today, it's the defensive line.

ALSO SEE: QUARTERBACK REVIEW | RECRUITING RECAP | TIGHT END REVIEW

RUNNING BACK REVIEW | WIDE RECEIVER REVIEW | OFFENSIVE LINE REVIEW

Season Review: This has been the strength of Missouri for so long that many simply expected it to continue without missing a beat. And while Charles Harris did have better numbers and probably a better season than a year ago, he didn't have a lot of help. The other defensive end spot seemed to rotate on a weekly basis until Marcell Frazier took control and stepped up in the last couple of weeks of the season. Nate Howard really only played in two games and Spencer Williams and Jordan Harold logged a lot of time, but not a lot of difference-making plays.

Inside, the Tigers started Rickey Hatley and AJ Logan with Josh Augusta and Terry Beckner Jr. backing them up. The group was okay, but Beckner went down late in the season with a knee injury.

Markell Utsey inside and Josh Moore outside saw limited playing time.

The defensive line quite simply never seemed to latch on to DeMontie Cross' new scheme where they were tasked with more responsibilities and reaction than in the old system. When Mizzou went back to its prior scheme, the line play improved, but the numbers were significantly down all season long. Odom has said the Tigers will run more of the old scheme in 2017.