COLUMBIA, Mo. • Emptying the notebook as Mizzou prepares to play No. 1 Alabama on Saturday at Faurot Field:
The offense continues to be riddled by injuries and the biggest culprit has been knees. Quarterback James Franklin, center Mitch Morse and guard Jack Meiners will miss the game with sprained knees (MCLs). Meiners had arthroscopic surgery Monday.
Tackle Elvis Fisher also strained his MCL earlier in the season and tackle Taylor Chappell is out for the season with a torn ACL.
"That's the flavor of the injuries this year," coach Gary Pinkel said. "Sometimes it goes like that."
Guard Max Copeland had a theory on the knee problems.
"We've got really big dudes that are really strong and put a lot of stress on their knees," he said. "That's a pretty good indicator. At the same time, it's probably a coincidence. Injuries aren't something you can attribute to some hex or voodoo." ...
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Corbin Berkstresser took the blame for the numerous passes that were deflected or batted to the ground Saturday, saying "I need to get my arm up a little higher. That's what I can fix there." ...
Looking for a glimmer of hope for the meeting with Alabama, T.J. Moe suggested that the no-huddle offense might be a weapon that can work for the Tigers.
"I think it disrupts every defense," he said. "Coach (Nick) Saban doesn't like it much either, he said the other day. There's not a whole lot that can disrupt the Alabama defense, but we're hoping that's one of them." ...
Berkstresser and new starter Bud Sasser should have a pretty good quarterback/receiver relationship going. They have worked together extensively because both have been No. 2 at their positions most of the season, meaning they took a majority of reps together in practice.
"I've liked throwing to Bud ever since I got here," Berkstresser said. "He's a smooth, big wideout. He's definitely a force to be reckoned with." ...
Pinkel is hopeful that Marcus Murphy's injured finger won't be a problem Saturday. He is expected to return to his roles as backup running back and No. 1 on punt returns after needing stitches to repair a cut.
Pinkel said punt returns shouldn't be a problem because "when you catch a punt you cradle it, you don't catch it with your hands." ...
Linebacker Will Ebner should be ready to go this week after sitting out the Vanderbilt game in street clothes with a hamstring injury. The defense has largely avoided the rash of injuries that has struck the offense.
"As soon as we start talking about that is when that's going to end," Moe said. "So let's leave it at that."
