"These Guys Want to Dominate Teams": How a Struggling Mizzou Offensive Line Transformed to a Joe Moore Award Finalist
As soon as offensive tackle Javon Foster drove his defender outside, a portal to the north end zone was opened for Cody Schrader. He had 42 yards to go, but there was plenty of open blades of grass ahead for the graduate running back. A quick cut to the left from Schrader allowed him to slice through the Florida defense, running to daylight against the Gators of the sunshine state.
Schrader found his way to the end zone, giving the Tigers their first lead of the night, and his 12 touchdown of the season. Schrader would finish the night against Florida with 148 yards, making him the first Missouri player since Harry Josey in 2011 to record four straight 100-yard rushing performances in a season. Schrader currently leads the SEC with 1,272 rushing yards as one of the leaders on one of the most nation's most improved offenses.
In 2022, Missouri's offense only generated 369.8 yards and 24.8 yards per game. One of the biggest issues for the Tigers' offense was the offensive line. The group allowed 27 sacks and was prone to costly penalties.
After years of lackluster offenses for the Tigers, head coach Eli Drinkwitz realized it was time for a change.
Drinkwitz started by making two additions to the offensive coaching staff; Kirby Moore at offensive coordinator and Brandon Jones at offensive line coach. Moore, who spent 2022 as Fresno State's offensive coordinator, became the first offensive coordinator Drinkwitz ever staffed at Missouri. Jones spent the 2019-2022 seasons as the offensive line coach at Houston. In 2022, Houston's offensive line was Pro Football Focus' second highest graded pass-blocking unit in college football and 39th in run blocking.
The impact that Jones had on Missouri's offensive line was immediately noticeable according to Drinkwitz.
"I can say without reservation that the offensive line has been the most improved unit within our football program," Drinkwitz said during fall camp. "I think what Coach Jones has done has been remarkable. His ability to connect with our players, have those guys playing for each other in a way that i haven't seen since maybe my first year, has been tremendous."
The two additions to the coaching staff, along with strides from the team's playmakers, have helped transform Missouri's offense. In 2022, the Tigers' offense's job was to do just enough to not lose the game and hope the defense could get the job done. A year later and Missouri is one of the most explosive offenses in all of college football, averaging 32.8 points and 449.5 yards per game.
These improvements can be attributed to the development of quarterback Brady Cook, Schrader, and wide receiver Luther Burden III. However, if the Tigers' offensive line had not improved from 2022, Missouri's offense as a whole is likely producing at a much lower level.
The offensive line are oftentimes the most under appreciated group in football — only noticed when things are going wrong, never appreciated when things are functioning properly. But Schrader has made sure that the five men who make his job a whole lot easier do not get overlooked by constantly praising the group's performance and growth since 2022.
"We're going to keep coming bck and smacking people in the mouth, and that is what I keep saying about this offensive line," Schrader said after his 300-yard performance against Tennessee. "And I think that is the biggest change from last year to this year is that these guys want to dominate teams. And I think we're seeing that this year."
Schrader even has his profile picture on X set as a graphic celebrating the group for being named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the best offensive line in college football. The Moore nomination is one of multiple honors the group has received this season. This week, right guard Xavier Delgado, who Drinkwitz called the MVP of the offensive line, was named the SEC offensive lineman of the week for his performance against Florida. Additionally, Foster was named a second-team midseason All-American by the Associated Press. As a team-captain, Foster was a leading voice for a group that recognized they needed to improve.
"Last year, we didn't play as good as we though we could, or that we knew we can," Foster said after the Tennessee game. "Last offseason, we we're just going to grind ... (to) get better because the team is going to go as far as the offensive line goes so we just make sure we put it on our backs."
The importance of a reliable offensive line can not be overstated, especially in a Kirby Moore offense that centers around the deep pass.
In 2022, passes over 20 yards was somewhat unfamiliar territory for Missouri's offense. A struggling offensive line paired with an injured Cook had the Tigers finish 63rd in the nation for completions over 20 yards. In 2023, the Cook was provided more time in the kitchen (the pocket) and a brand new cookbook (offensive system), allowing Missouri to create 65 completions over 20 yards, tied for the 15th most. Although neither Foster nor Delgado are the ones throwing or catching those passes, the offensive line's improved play deserves substantial recognition for their crucial role in allowing the Missouri offense to excel.
