Missouri Football: Tigers are being vastly overlooked in 2019

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COLUMBIA, MO – NOVEMBER 25: Rawleigh Williams III #22 of the Arkansas Razorbacks is stopped short of the goal line by linebacker Cale Garrett #47 and Michael Scherer #30 of the Missouri Tigers in the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2016 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

Secondary must improve after getting torched in 2018

The Tigers return six starters on defense, which should help patch up all the holes needed for the unit to make drastic improvements.

Missouri finished dead-last in the SEC and 112th nationally in pass defense. Senior corner DeMarkus Acy will be the leader of the secondary and intercepted three passes last season, including two in the win over Tennessee and was named to the All-SEC second team.

However, everything will start up front and the Tigers’ defense will have to do a better job at getting pressure on the quarterback. That task will likely fall in the hands of senior linebacker Cale Garrett, who will set the tone for Missouri’s front seven. He led the team in tackles last season, with 112 total stops and earned second team All-SEC honors.

Odom is a defensive-minded coach, having played linebacker for Missouri 20 years ago and won’t tolerate sloppy play on that side of the ball again. Regardless of how well the Tigers’ offense performs in games, everything will come down to the defense getting stops on third downs and forcing key turnovers.

The SEC East is filled with talented quarterbacks and they all will be licking their chops if Missouri’s defense shows any signs of repeating its’ lackluster performance from last season.

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