Turnover at cornerback position leads to new opportunities
It was fourth down and 10. Just over a minute left. If Missouri gets a stop, it likely wins the game against No. 16 Georgia. Aarion Maxey-Penton, Missouri's No. 1 cornerback, moved inside from his usual spot as an outside cornerback to cover Georgia's do-it-all receiver Isaiah McKenzie, who lined up in the slot. The position Maxey-Penton filled belonged to junior cornerback Logan Cheadle, who left the game after suffering an ankle injury.
At the snap of the ball, McKenzie tore past Maxey-Penton, and Bulldogs QB Jacob Eason lobbed a perfect pass over the middle of the field, caught by McKenzie for the game-winning touchdown. Missouri was haunted by McKenzie's No. 16 jersey celebrating in the end zone three times that day and lost a heartbreaker 28-27.
"They wanted to give it to No. 16 and we still weren't able to stop it," Defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross said after the loss. "We had a couple guys go down. Cheadle went down, Terez (Hall) went down. We were scrambling to get the right combination, but the Cheadle one hurt us a lot."
It was surprising to hear Cross mention Cheadle in that moment, but it shows how much faith the staff has in him. Had Cheadle been healthy, the coaching staff thought he might've been better suited to make the stop, helping Missouri to a win. But that was last season.
This year, with his eye on a starting position, a healthier, motivated Cheadle is looking for more of those late-game matchups, the ones assigned to a team's top cornerback. He's been waiting for this.
"It's going to be huge," Cheadle said of his last season at Missouri. "I've put everything I have into this program for three years so I'm just going to let it all shine this year. That's what I'm going to do."
If fans are familiar with his name, it probably has more to do with his Twitter interactions with his famous cousin — actor Don Cheadle — than his play on the field. He's played sparingly over years, often serving as depth and contributing at nickel and on special teams. John Gibson and Maxey-Penton were a solid defensive duo for the Tigers last season, but with those two now gunning for roster spots in the NFL, it might be time for Missouri fans to get accustomed to Cheadle, if they aren't already.
"Through seven days (Cheadle) has shown up as productive as probably anyone on the field, which is awesome for him," Odom said of his eldest cornerback. "It looks like he's having fun playing the game. He does have experience. He knows what he can and can't do. The times to take a shot and not...He's right where he needs to be."
That free-spirited, fun play that Odom talked about is an extension of his growth as a player, and game experience he's accumulated over the years. Now more than ever, he's learned to use his eyes to correct the "rookie mistakes" he's made in the past. As a result, it's simplified the game for Cheadle.
That not only gives him a leg up on some of his competition, but it's also given him the credibility to be the voice of a position group that desperately needs one.
"We lean on Logan a lot," sophomore cornerback Demarkus Acy said after Tuesday's practice. "He's been in this position for a long time. He knows the ins and outs of extra film and different aspects of the game. He just knows better."
Acy and Christian Holmes are two players expected to compete for a spot at cornerback throughout the spring and well into fall camp. With as much turnover as Missouri's had at the position, both are expected to play major roles on defense, and both bring a physical characteristic to the table that Cheadle doesn't: height.
Acy, a former safety, is listed at 6-foot-2 and looks like he can line up at wide receiver. During Tuesday's practice, he went from successfully guarding lanky 6-foot-8 receiver Justin Smith on one play, to the speedy 6-foot Dimetrios Mason on the next. At 6-foot-1, Holmes isn't too far behind. That kind of size from the cornerback position is something Missouri hasn't seen in recent years, and the coaching staff seems intrigued by it.
"Both of those guys are longer, taller guys," Odom said. "They have some experience from last year. Coach (Ryan) Walters has done a great job with the back end on working with those guys together in the same room. It's been a positive for us."
Whenever a cornerback gets subbed out during practice, high fives and fist bumps are exchanged, a symbol of respect for the other cornerback's game. If one cornerback back gets an interception during a scrimmage, the rest are on the sidelines jumping up and down and cheering like they just won the National Championship.
The competition between all three cornerbacks will be something to watch unfold as the Spring progresses. But no matter who emerges, players are trying to establish a lasting culture at the position.
"It's a lot of responsibility and doing everything right," Cheadle said. "Not just on the field but in the classroom, getting my recovery in and just being a guy they can look up to and do things because it sets a tone for years to come with how we do things around here. It's not just going and playing football. It's doing everything right."