Every week, PowerMizzou.com publisher Gabe DeArmond answers questions from Tiger fans in the mailbag. This format allows for a more expansive answer than a message board post. Keep your eye out each week to submit your question for the mailbag or send them to powermizzou@gmail.com. On to this week's inquiries.
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Cruz23 asks: Cleveland, New York Giants, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and the Denver Broncos all need a QB this upcoming year. How do you rank the following? Kirk Cousins, Nick Foles, Case Keenum, Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Bradford, Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield, (Other?) Meaning - If you're one of the above teams, are you trying to get one of these current NFL QBs, or do you have enough faith in any of the prospects that they are the guy to step in and get it done now?
GD: I'm gonna be honest. I've got no idea. Two reasons for that. I haven't watched any of the college kids more than probably twice. And if the Chiefs aren't playing, I don't really watch NFL football. So I'm less qualified than probably most of the people on this site to answer that question.
Shotgun82 asks: When will we hear an update on Carton? He had to be excited to see the game day experience at Mizzou. Do you think we will be picked 2nd or 3rd in the preseason east football poll? Percentage on us playing in the SEC championship game for football this year?
GD: You'll get an update on Carton as soon as we get him to do an interview. Not for lack of effort, but we've got to talk to him before we can post a story.
As far as the preseason poll, UGA is going to be first. I'd bet South Carolina is second and Florida will get the Dan Mullen bump to third (maybe even 2nd). I think Missouri will be picked fourth.
Percentage on the SEC title game? Ten percent. I'd give UGA 65, Mizzou, Florida and South Carolina 10 each and the other five split between UK, Vandy and Tennessee.
S_W_M_O asks: Lets pretend we get a 12 seed in the big dance and lose first round all without MPJ. How would you grade Cuonzos first year?
GD: As an unmitigated success. With Porter, I picked Missouri 22-9, 11-7 in the SEC, during the regular season. I think there's still a pretty decent chance they get to that record without him. At worst, I think they'll be 20-11, so Porter's absence cost them two games off my prediction (note: I'm writing this Tuesday afternoon without knowing the result of the game against Ole Miss). That's absolutely a success.
In fact, even if you get Michael back at some point and end up a 12 seed and lose in round one, it's still a major step forward. Not as big a success as it would be viewed without him, but still a successful season.
2PuttBirdie asks: Can you share anything you’ve heard about Mark Smith and Tyler Cook?
GD: Not much more than we've posted here. We've heard some rumors that both might look around after the season. With Smith, I can't imagine Illinois would release him to Mizzou even if it did get to that point (and I'm not sure it will). With Cook, Mizzou would probably be a little bit more of a possibility. I heard some talk he might look around, but nothing would happen until after the season is over.
KC_Salts asks: What are your odds on a signing day surprise? Off the radar/silent/flipped commit...greater than in years past or lowered odds of Mizzou benefiting?I realize if you knew it was coming it wouldn't be a surprise, so am asking if this year seems more or less likely with the new 2-signing periods.
GD: I don't think the new signing periods do anything to change the likelihood to be honest. It's still the same game. I always root against surprises because if there is a surprise it means we missed something and should have done better. The only surprise I want is a kid that literally nobody had ever connected to Missouri picking them because it makes you guys happy and I don't feel bad that I didn't know because nobody else knew either. I don't expect one today, but like you said, if I did expect it, it wouldn't be a surprise.
awriley asks: Have you had the chance to chat with Dooley much? If so, what are your impressions/impressions of recruits towards Dooley?
GD: I really haven't. I traded a couple of texts with him when he got the job and then he had the one press conference, but that's been it. I do know he's been at a lot of high schools around the state and I've heard very good things second hand from high school coaches. But that's normal. Rarely have I seen a new guy get hired and the feedback is "Man, that guy sucked, I can't stand him." I'd say the early impact has been positive, but ultimately we won't be able to draw any conclusions until we see his offense on the field and see what kind of talent he's capable of signing.
mglassma asks: Does Drew Lock get drafted in the first round next season? Is Albert O the next Gronk?
GD: I think Lock is a first rounder next year. If he isn't, it means he had a very poor season (and so did Missouri). I think he's a potential top five or top ten guy if next year is as good as people hope. With Albert O, I'm not going to start comparing him to the best tight end in the league quite yet. I have little doubt he is a pro and I think he's got a chance to be a damn good one...but let's see his second season before we put him in Canton.
mexicojoe asks: Assume Jontay Porter, Kevin Puryear, and Jeremiah Tilmon all return next season. Add in Reed Nikko and Mitchell Smith.1) Would that be the tallest frontline Mizzou has ever had?2) How would you rate that group on a scale of 1-5 where 5 is All-Sec caliber?
GD: 1) I've got to imagine it would be the tallest frontline in school history. I think this year is the first time they've had three guys 6-10 or taller in a LONG time. Smith would make it four. Puryear is only 6-7 so he really doesn't fit into the height, but he is a big guy.
2) As far as rating it, IF Tilmon and Porter make the jumps people expect them to, I'd say it's at least a 4. Because I think both those guys will have all-SEC potential next year and Puryear is a sixth man of the year type guy. Nikko and Smith are big depth, but how good they are isn't yet really known. I'm not going to say it would be the best frontcourt in the SEC, but I think it could be in the discussion.
Winntj asks: With another undefeated season and top 5 NCAA finish likely for the wrestling squad, where does Brian Smith rank for you in all time Mizzou coaches (all sports). I would say the Mount Rushmore is Smith, Norm, Pinkel, and Faurot. Who is your Mount Rushmore of Mizzou coaches? Who wins a team championship first, wrestling or any other sport?
GD: Smith is in the discussion of the best coach in school history. And he might be the best. Norm would be the one most would put up there, and I think deservedly so. Faurot and Dan Devine are in the discussion for Mount Rushmore, and I'd probably put Hi Simmons there. He won a national title and the field's named after him in baseball. Pinkel isn't a guy I put up there honestly. If he'd won ONE conference title, I'd be willing to put him above Devine and Faurot, but he didn't.
As far as your last question, you have to go with wrestling. They're in the conversation every single year. No one else is. But if I can go with one other team as a possibility, I'd say women's basketball has a shot in the next two years.
Dregan12 asks: With his shoulder injury and us having 2 open scholarships, did Pickett ever consider enrolling early? Not sure how mid year transfers work in regards to opening scholarships
GD: Not that I know of. Being a prep school guy, I guess he could have, but I'm not positive. But honestly, if the coaches thought he could have helped, I would imagine they'd have encouraged him to get it done.
Slim Chaffins asks: How disappointed with the staff are you when it comes to Michael Thompson? I don't want you to walk the we want guys who want to be here line, this whole process you've felt he was Mizzou's to lose and they lost him.
GD: I'm gonna make you pretty mad with this answer, but I would put my disappointment level at zero. I don't get disappointed about where recruits go to school. I just cover it. The only reason I root for certain guys to go to Mizzou is so that the message board will be easier to moderate.
The thing is, they didn't lose him to Texas State. They lost him to a team that has been to the playoff twice, has been one of the top three programs in the country for the last two decades, just had a Heisman winner and signed one of his life-long best friends. (Note: He hasn't signed yet and if he ends up signing with Missouri, all this goes out the window).
I understand the frustration. And I understand the angst over in-state recruiting because it's been bad the last two years. Has to be better. No question. There is perhaps an individual reason you lose every single guy. But when you lose nine out of the ten you offered (and yes, it's true that by decision time some of them didn't have offers anymore, but all ten had offers at one point in time) then that's not good enough and it has to improve. But my level of disappointment in the staff? That's not even a thing that exists.
tegr53 asks: How do the coaches view Xavier Pinson? Do you/they see him as the starting PG next year or does he need more work/development? If not Pinson, who starts at PG next year?
GD: I think Pinson is viewed as a guy who can be in the rotation and help the backcourt depth next year. But I don't think next year's starting point guard is on the roster yet. I think they go juco or grad transfer for that guy. Pinson plays, but probably doesn't start until he's a sophomore or a junior.
Bear_P_I asks: Are you guys going to be covering any of the Recruiting Wrap-Up Events around the state?
GD: Unlikely. We'll talk to the coaches on Wednesday morning, but those are more fan events. If we're able to, we may check them out just to see if there's anything that comes out there that didn't come out in the press conference and interviews on Wednesday, but those aren't generally really "media" events.
Fshdom asks: Any word on Trent Williams? Imagine that a Juco pg or grad transfer would be an ideal way to finish for Zo.
GD: Nothing new since Keegan's story on him a couple of weeks ago. But he's definitely going to be a guy to follow this spring.
mugamer asks: Considering many people have never watched women’s basketball, I pose to you this question:Which sport from anywhere in the world , women’s or men’s, would you choose to start watching if it was demanded that you pick up a new one to learn to enjoy? Why that one?
GD: I think I'd go with rugby. I know some people who have played it and I think you have to be a little bit nuts to do so. I used to watch some Australian Rules football super late at night on ESPN. So I'll go with that one.
