Aarion Penton speaks with media on Monday
The Missouri Tiger football team is down, and out. And to add insult to injury, or in this case, injury to insult, several key players could be missing for Saturday’s home SEC tilt against Kentucky.
Linebacker Michael Scherer, defensive tackle Terry Beckner Jr.,and cornerback John Gibson could all be out due to varying degrees of injury. Scherer’s looked to be the most serious with some reports indicating that he will be lost for the year with an ACL.
“He would be doubtful at this point.We’re hoping for the best,” explained head coach Barry Odom on the status of his senior leader, Scherer. “I don’t feel great about any of them coming back for at least tomorrow’s practice.
Odom stopped short on blaming the Tigers’ current situation on injuries, however.
“Everybody in America is banged up at this point. It’s week seven or eight. You’ve got to have your next guys ready to play.Understand that if you’re a two or a three, that you’re one play away from being a starter.”
Odom highlighted Cale Garret, Brandon Lee, Eric Beisel, and Joey Burkett as possible fill-ins at the linebacker position. After playing a 2,000 yard passer in Brent Stocksill with MTSU, stopping the run will become more imperative as the Tigers get back into SEC play.
Missed tackles have been an issue for the Odom’s defense as of late, going back to the LSU game.
“Maybe we’re trying to tackle to much(in practice),” said Odom on Monday. “It’s not relating to how we’re playing in live competition. I’ve got to find a way to get it fixed.”
For a team that ranked in the top 10 in several defensive categories last year, this Tiger defense is currently ranking last in total defense in the SEC.
“As the head coach, everything goes across my desk. I like our staff, I love this team. We’re not winning..yet. But we’re going to. I’ve got find a way to get it done.”
After Kentucky, Mizzou gets South Carolina on the road, and Vanderbilt in Columbia. It’s the most winnable conference stretch of the year. If it doesn’t happen now, it may not happen this year for the Tigers.
TO LISTEN to Barry Odom’s Monday press conference, click the audio player above
