Washington, Mizzou Feel They Have Something to Prove

The situation seemed made to order. After years when Mizzou's running game was an afterthought, something you turned to to give the receivers a breather or keep the defense honest, here was its chance. With new quarterback Blaine Gabbert taking over, an established tailback in Derrick Washington and a line with only one new face, there was no reason Mizzou's running game couldn't step out into the open this season.

Only it hasn't happened. The Tigers are running it more and, at least based on the numbers, enjoying it less. A year ago, the Tigers averaged 5.2 yards a rush. This year, it's down to 3.8. Even though they are running the ball about eight times more a game, their average is 143 yards, 10 yards less than a year ago. A year ago, Washington averaged 5.9 yards a carry. This year, he's at 4.4.

Now, with Mizzou opening its Big 12 season against Nebraska on Thursday night, would be a good time for that change to happen if the Tigers have designs on the Big 12 North title, but of course, it's also the toughest time for it to happen. The Cornhuskers are allowing just 113.2 yards rushing per game this season, fifth best in the Big 12. And with the team's leading tackler, 6-foot-4, 300-pound Ndamukong Suh, playing defensive tackle — "That's crazy!" Washington said — whatever yards Mizzou can get will be well-earned.


While Gabbert's passing has managed to keep Mizzou out of trouble as the Tigers got through their nonconference season 4-0, the team has turned to its backs more than it did when Chase Daniel was taking snaps. In the early going, some of the struggles could be attributed to opponents concentrating on stopping the run and waiting to see whether the inexperienced Gabbert could beat them. As Gabbert establishes himself as a field leader — he leads the Big 12 in passing efficiency, so that point may be getting across — that may change and the running might get easier.

The troubles may be clearest in Washington's numbers. Not only is his average carry down 1½ yards, the gap is even bigger when you consider that a year ago after the nonconference season, he was averaging 6.8 yards a carry. He's gaining almost 2½ yards less per carry than he was at the same point last season. And now is when it gets hard.

Washington, for his part, preaches patience. Not by the fans or the media who want to know why the Tigers aren't running better, but from himself and the team's other running backs. If it looks like he's lost a step because he's not hitting holes, he feels it's because he's getting to the holes too quickly.Mizzou has changed its blocking schemes this season, going to a zone system, and Pinkel said the transition is taking longer than they had expected, though the linemen admit that the zone scheme is actually easier than what they were using last year. The team has also been lining up more tightly on offense than a year ago.

At the same time Washington is talking about slowing down a step, his linemen are talking about speeding up.