2016 in Review: Offensive Line
Over the next two weeks, PowerMizzou.com will take a look at every position on the Missouri football roster. 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, we conclude our look at the offense with the offensive line.
Season Review: Coming into the season, we weren't sure Missouri could field an offensive line. If it did, it was assumed it would be the weak link to the team. Not so fast. The group up front performed so well that Glen Elarbee was nominated for the Briles Award as the nation's top assistant coach.
Missouri allowed just 14 sacks, tied with Clemson for the 16th fewest in the country. Even more impressive, the Tigers gave up just 35 tackles for a loss all season...five fewer than anyone else in America. Part of that is a credit to Josh Heupel's scheme, but it doesn't happen without the line playing well. Last year, Mizzou gave up 30 sacks and 88 TFLs.
Tyler Howell and Paul Adams were stalwarts at tackle, taking every meaningful snap this season. Same went for Kevin Pendleton at one guard spot. Alec Abeln and Sam Bailey filled out the line to start the season, but by the end Adam Ploudre (a former walk-on) and Jonah Dubinsky (a current walk-on) were at guard and center. And the Tigers played two of their better offensive games with that duo starting against Tennessee and Arkansas.
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