Mizzou: DGB 1st team All-American...TE?

What is Missouri to do with quite possibly its most heralded recruit in the history of the program? If they want to maximize their win total in their inaugural season in the SEC and begin the construction of a new identity for the athletic department they could start by playing Dorial Green-Beckham (DGB) at TE. That's right; the #1 wide receiver recruit in all the land can and should end up playing TE for the Missouri Tigers in 2012. Here's why:

1.      Mizzou already has an above average group of incumbent receivers with Marcus Lucas (X) and L'Damian Washington (Z) lining up on the outside and T.J. Moe filling the slot (H) position.

2.      After the departure of Michael Egnew and a spring knee injury to heir apparent Eric Waters the TE position is open for the taking.

3.      No other position on the field (other than QB) has the potential to play as important of a role in Mizzou's offensive success in 2012 than the TE position.

Much like the New England Patriots, MU should be able to create favorable matchups in the passing game and limit the effectiveness of SEC defensive front 7's simply by placing their most athletically gifted player at TE.

On running plays: MU will not require DBG to play block as a traditional TE because their running scheme does not entail a great deal of double-teaming and drive-blocking. The offense employed by Coach Yost relies upon position blocking which should allow an inexperienced in-line blocker like DGB to excel early on. Plus, the base offensive package (even without DGB at TE) already causes defenses to make adjustments.

The 3-WR set with a QB who can run already forces defenses to replace elite players in their front 7's by switching to a 'nickel' package, most likely by removing an interior defensive linemen or middle linebacker. So those elite front 7's in the SEC are already down to front 6's before MU even snaps the ball. Now, add in the receiving threat of a DGB lining up at TE and now teams are more than likely shifting into’dime’ coverage in order to line up an extra corner or safety over the TE in order to avoid taking their chances with a linebacker covering DGB in space. I like Mizzou's chances at running the ball with only 5 defensive bigs on the field at any one time and it should be easier for DGB to block a smaller player at the point of attack. If teams refuse to switch to a dime I look forward to watching a linebacker attempt to cover an elite athlete down the middle of the field. If MU is able to counter the inevitable blitzing and stunting on running downs blocking 5 on 5 they should be able to duplicate the effectiveness of the 2011 rushing attack even without Henry Josey (who will miss the entire 2012 season recovering from injury).

On Passing Plays: I have always wondered why college coaches insist on placing their best receivers at the outside receiver positions. Lining players up in traditional sets allows defenses to employ traditional coverage remedies. Jeremy Maclin's most memorable plays were not derived from go-routes along the outside, he excelled in the inside-screen game and other short game tricks designed to defeat double coverage schemes.

By all accounts James Franklin had a remarkable first season under center for the Tigers, but his strength is not throwing 15 yard out-routes or 30 yard bombs to tightly covered receivers. His strength in the passing game involves the threat posed by his legs and his ability to find receivers at short and intermediate distance over the middle of the field. T.J. Moe did not lead the Tigers in receptions the past two seasons because he is the fastest or most athletic guy in the world; he did it because he runs the safe routes a dual-threat college quarterback relies upon to keep the chains moving. So which receiving player would you rather see in tandem with Moe catching a majority of Franklin's passes? DGB or incumbent TE Eric Waters? If Yost places DGB at TE he will have more opportunities to run after the catch simply because he will be targeted for and catch more balls. Plus, his speed should allow him to hit the seams of the defense down the middle against defenders with inferior ball skills such as linebackers, safeties, and nickel backs. Plus, forcing teams into 'dime' sets should allow the 230lb Franklin, when he scrambles, to more easily break the tackles of the smaller secondary players the defense is forced to employ.

Whereas if DGB plays one of the two outside receiver spots he will most likely be covered by a top-tier corner, be targeted far less often by his quarterback, and defenses will be able to stay out of their 'dime' package which will allow SEC defenses to play tougher against the Missouri running game.

Please Mizzou, put that kid on the field at a spot where he can help this team win in 2012. Every Missouri fan would like nothing more than an SEC Title Game appearance in the school's first season of SEC action. A season like that could set up Missouri recruiting for immediate and long-lasting success in the SEC East. This is a unique opportunity. MU is the new kid at school and this is an opportunity to forge a new athletic identity.