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GD: Yes. They expected the offense to be a lot better. And the thing is, I don't think South Carolina and Purdue are among the elite defenses they'll face. I think Georgia, Florida and Auburn are all better. The key to turning it around, first of all, is being able to run the football. That opens up the rest of it. As Josh Heupel said on Monday, they aren't good enough to just throw and catch it all the way down the field. If you make Mizzou one dimensional, neither dimension is good enough to beat teams on its own. Other than that? I hate to fall back on coach speak, but they've got to execute, which is coach speak for play better. That's not to take all blame off Heupel. I think they should use the tight ends more, get the ball to guys on jet sweeps and screens and other creative ways, etc, but the bottom line is, they've got to throw and catch the ball and be good up front. As Gary Pinkel always used to say, "There's no magic wand." They have to be better. On the field and the sidelines.

GD: I sure hope so. I mean, I'm hoping my kids have another 60 or 70 years hanging around on the planet. So hopefully the apocalypse doesn't happen before then and I would figure sometime during those six or seven decades Mizzou can win ten games. Never is a long time.

GD: I'm not going to say force, but it's going to be a factor. The fact is, outside of sites like this one, there wasn't that much enthusiasm for football season to begin with. What enthusiasm there was has mostly been killed by the first three games. This weekend looks daunting. The next two are on the road. Idaho is hardly a "pack them in" opponent for homecoming. Missouri could be 2-7 when it faces Tennessee in the final home game of the year. If that's the case, you could see 30,000 fans. Half of them will be wearing orange and the other half will be people that came for the basketball game the night before and already had tickets and figured they might as well hang around. Missouri has a $98 million project, for which it's raised about half the money. You make a lot of your money from ticket sales. You have to have something to sell.

GD: 1. You can't tell a huge difference. I mean, do they get annoyed at some questions? Sure. I'd get annoyed too if I was asked multiple times a week "How come you aren't better and how can you get better?" But, honestly, players and coaches, at least publicly, look to the next game and assume they're going to get everything fixed and get better.

2. The end zone project is a factor. Mostly because he's still got to pay for half of it. So can he raise the money with status quo in the program? Like attendance, it's not the only factor, but it's a factor. Scale of 1-10? I don't know. Maybe 4-5.

GD: It starts a week from Friday. As far as baseball, I'd be okay with anybody that's in it besides the Red Sox and Yankees. I don't like them. I like seeing teams that haven't had much success have it. So the Astros, Diamondbacks, Rockies would all be cool. I don't love the Indians, but I could live with it. I've always liked the Dodgers, so that would be fine and between Scherzer and the fact they've never won it, the Nationals would be fine. And the Cubs would at least raise some blood pressures around here.

GD: That's what I keep coming back to. I don't think Missouri is a great team. But I sure think they're better than what we've seen the last couple of weeks. Against South Carolina, they weren't outclassed and weren't really blown out, they just made some huge mistakes at bad times. Purdue, I have no explanation for that. I don't know how that happens. If it happens again this weekend, you've got a huge problem.

It's easy to say 3-9 or worse right now. But I want to see what happens this weekend. I think Missouri's going to lose, but are they going to put up a fight and show some pride or are they going to mail it in? If they mail it in, I'll be fully on board with 3-9 or worse. If they show they've got a little something left in them, I think they could win a few more the rest of the year. I have a hard time seeing better than 5-7, but stranger things have happened. I still only see one or two teams that ought to really scare you on the schedule.

GD: From Monday's teleconference: “Couple of them were reads. We had some things built in with our guys and some of our spread sets. We were in some gap protection this past week just because of some of the multiple pressures that they had shown on tape. He ended up not bringing a lot of it, but going into it he had shown a bunch so they weren’t as targeted. Obviously our run game wasn’t going like it typically is so some of the play action passes to those guys weren’t as primary a thought either as the game unfolded.”

GD: If he does, I don't really know about them. He promoted Rocky Long at San Diego State, but he's almost 60 and not the type of guy I think you'd target if you need to. I'm sure he knows some people, but we'll check into it if we're going to need to.

GD: He's got an NFL arm. I don't think that's debatable. You've seen at times that he can make every throw he needs to make. But he doesn't do it consistently. And he tends to make at least two really bad decisions every time he faces a decent defense. The biggest criticism is probably when things aren't going well, he doesn't seem to be able to turn it around. Bouncing back from adversity hasn't been a strength. One of his biggest weaknesses might also be one of his biggest strength: He's still relatively inexperienced. He didn't start playing quarterback and concentrating fully on football until he was in college. So it might mean he could develop in the next few years and be really good...it might also mean it won't happen before he's done at Mizzou.

GD: It's a really good question. The answer to "how does the early signing period impact" anything is we just don't know because nobody's been through it before. It does force schools to make moves earlier. It also probably means that schools that make a coaching change aren't going to sign very many guys in the early period--at the very least, they're going to want a couple weeks to get to know the staff and take a visit. So those guys might become free agents and January could be even crazier than it was in the past. Ought to be fun to see what it's like this year.

GD: I think they're stupid. Sports are supposed to be fun. God forbid college kids have fun and maybe even entertain the fans in the process.

GD: First press box to approve booze during games is getting a new Rivals publisher.

GD: I can't say for sure, but I think there's a pretty decent chance. Back to the first time we talked to him, he's mentioned Heupel in virtually every interview. So, yeah, if you want Foster, I think you better have Heupel.

GD: I think only two have a chance. That would be Michael Porter Jr. and Jeremiah Tilmon. Porter has a better chance, I think. But I'm not all that sure either one will. There were only 17 players who averaged ten boards a game last year. Sixteen of them also averaged ten points. So that's 16 players out of 340 something teams. No team had two guys do it.

GD: I'd say they played relatively well in all three phases beating Vanderbilt 26-17 last November. They weren't out of this world on offense, but they were good enough. Before that, probably September of 2015 against South Carolina in Drew Lock's first start.

GD: I don't think a recruiting class is a factor when you're looking at a coaching change, honestly. There may be a few rare exceptions. For example, let's say that Michael Porter Jr. was coming to Mizzou when Kim Anderson was the coach, I think you keep him. But that's really the only situation like that. You're not making a coaching change for one year. You're doing it for the foreseeable future. So if you don't think the guy is the right guy for your program, you don't do it to save a single recruiting class. As far as Jim Sterk not making a statement, I'm talking to him on Friday and this subject will come up and he knows it. I don't know what he could have said on Sunday that would have made anyone feel any better.

GD: I don't really understand why they haven't been used more. Tight ends are a great security blanket for a QB. Drew Lock needs one. In addition, Missouri's tight ends, from what I can tell, seem to catch the ball more regularly when it is thrown to them than the wideouts. They also told us the running backs would be bigger weapons in the passing game. They've got one catch each. I've watched screen passes murder Missouri's defense for the better part of two decades...and yet Missouri never seems to use them.

GD: There's no way I can give you a percentage. It's obviously both. The recruiting took a hit starting in 2013 when Mizzou moved to the SEC. They left Texas too soon, they started taking kids from other areas that haven't been as good. But it's more than just a talent issue. Talent doesn't explain last week. No way in the world Purdue is 32 points more talented than Missouri three weeks into Jeff Brohm's tenure. And talent doesn't explain Middle Tennessee last year. It's a little bit of everything. Talent, coaching, and whatever else you want to add in there.

GD: The facility can only help. It shows you're committed and moving in the right direction which any coach would want to see. As far as the protests, I don't think those have any impact on a coaching search at this point in time. They most certainly did in 2015 when they were fresh, but not now. The protests are still impacting the football program in a variety of ways (most notably, IMO, in attendance) but I don't think it will impact their ability to hire a coach if they need to do so.

I think Missouri fans need to set realistic sights on who they could hire if that becomes a necessity. And that's not as much of an insult as you think it is. As Brian posted this week, there have been 71 coaches who have gotten their first head coaching job at a Power Five school. But even beyond that, most coaches aren't jumping from one Power Five to another. You're almost certainly going to have to go outside that group to hire someone. I'd put a Power Five coach or two on my list, and maybe Jim Sterk knows of someone like Cuonzo Martin (or Bret Bielema in football) who isn't happy at his current situation and would like to move, but in all likelihood, you're not hiring a sitting Power Five coach. And that's got less to do with Missouri than the simple facts of making a hire anywhere these days. Texas didn't hire a Power Five coach. Neither did Oklahoma. Nor do most schools.

GD: Usually after about a week. But talking about a coaching search that isn't even upon us and may not be is already draining. I get why people are angry. But I can see almost no scenario where Missouri makes a change in season. And on the off chance it would happen, they're still not hiring anybody till November or December. So I understand why people like to talk about it, but the amount of questions I get every day along the lines of "Who can we hire? What type of coach can we hire? Who would take this job? Can we get this guy? What about that guy?" has me worn out already. I'm going to cover the rest of this season. If we get to the point where a coaching search is necessary, I'm going to cover that and I'll be prepared for it, but I'm going to end up in a rubber room if I get 12 weeks of "Can we hire my favorite coach?"

GD: I don't think they stopped trying, but I don't think they handle adversity well at all. And that's all about mental toughness. There needed to be somebody on that sideline saying "That wasn't great, but we're down four points. We're one play from winning this game!" And I don't know who that person is on this team. It was almost like after that interception, everyone in the stadium knew Missouri was losing.

As far as how they've regressed this much, I don't know that they've regressed. But they haven't progressed at all either. And that's disappointing for sure.

GD: You're going to get a cop out answer. If I have the need to post a hot board I will. And I'll be prepared to do so if it's necessary. But I'm not going to put out a hot board with nine games left in the season. That only fans the flames and indicates I think a change is going to or should be made.

GD: Fail to show up. Without question. Why would I do that?

GD: Without going back and watching every game, I don't have the slightest idea. But it is discouraging to see him make the exact same mistake two weeks in a row. The one against Purdue was actually far worse. At least Jamyest Williams made a good play. The one last week was an interception the second it left his hand.

GD: Nothing. What could he say? If he says anything other than "Barry Odom is the coach and we hope he's going to be the coach for a long time," it just fans the flames and creates a controversy that doesn't need to be there and makes the job even tougher for Odom. If he says that and then finds he has to fire Odom at the end of the year, we all say "But you said you wanted him for a long time just ten weeks ago! DID YOU LIE?????" No win situation. The AD can't say something every time the team loses a game.

GD: It better be zero. If he's running an offense that isn't tailored to what his players can do, he's not a very good coach.

GD: I wouldn't know. Never had to do it. If you think people on this site are checked out, I suggest you look at the message boards more closely.

GD: I saw two things that ought to scare you defensively. First, I saw a bunch of guys who didn't appear to know what they were doing or where to go. Second, I saw some guys that appeared to be slower than a middle of the road Big Ten team's offensive players. And that should absolutely scare you. How it happened, I have no idea.

GD: I like how this number gets bigger every year. By the time the current freshmen are seniors, the defensive backs will be in Centralia. That said, you give more cushion when you aren't confident your defensive backs can cover the receivers if they're closer to the line. Given what I've seen out of Missouri's secondary this year, I think that's a valid concern.

GD: I don't think Cross' firing caused it. From what I've been told, plenty of players wanted it to happen. They keep saying they're on the same page and the locker room is good. Without being in there, I can't dispute it. I haven't heard anything that leads me to believe it's a problem yet. They lose another ugly one or two, I'd be surprised if it stays that way.

GD: Lorenzo Cain. Watching that guy play when he was healthy and at his best was a joy.

GD: I'll go in reverse order. I haven't reached out to any of those guys yet because it's just not time. If I need to I will, but I have plenty of time.

Sterk didn't have any discussions with Martin before his season was over...but Martin knew Missouri was interested. I don't know that this will go that way because we KNEW Kim was gone. That was sealed by Christmas. This won't be sealed in the next three or four weeks I don't think. Now, Sterk will be ready. He'll have his ducks in a row. But I don't think it's going to be in mid-October.

Finally, on the leadership, it's more of a feeling than anything. The leadership wasn't great last year and nobody on this team has played a major role on a good team. I just don't see big leaders among the upperclassmen having spent limited time around them. Maybe I'm wrong. The coaches and players praise the leadership. But coaches and players always do that. Leadership reveals itself in tough times. Anybody can lead when things are going well.

GD: I think Harris could push and I think Jordan Geist could too. And, everything I say is some blend of my opinion and things I hear.

GD: 1. Alabama

2. Florida

3. Georgia

4. LSU

5. Texas A&M

6. Tennessee

7. Auburn

8. Arkansas

9. South Carolina

10. Ole Miss

11. Missouri

12. Kentucky

13. Vanderbilt

14. Mississippi State