<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>New at STLtoday: Barry Odom eager to put stamp on Mizzou defense <a href="http://t.co/29xYrjJhfA">http://t.co/29xYrjJhfA</a></p>&mdash; Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dave_Matter/status/570643787292250113">February 25, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Pretty interesting article linked here.

What I like: Multiple, multiple, multiple! I'll be so glad not to see us sit in a 2 shell no matter what (except for that oh so tricky walk to backer up at the last second)!

What worries me: It sounds like he might transition to 3-4. I am a HUGE fan of the 3-4 in the NFL, but I'm not as big of a fan in college/HS (If you're gonna go 3-man front, go 3-3). He doesn't say it, but I get the feeling that's what he'd like to do.

Bleacher Report:

It's the team that Vegas doesn't know what to do with. Missouri isn't favored to win in nearly every game it plays but somehow has pulled off top recruits and 23 wins over the last two seasons, a number eclipsed only by Alabama. It simply keeps finding a way to defy the odds.

Georgia fans are beside themselves after seeing this Tiger team from the north essentially dance into the SEC and have incredible success. Head coach Gary Pinkel has excelled at the most important part of his job—winning—and looked really good while doing so.

Recruiting has been the name of the game. In three years, Missouri has landed commitments from the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit in 2013 by Rivals in Dorial Green-Beckham and the No. 2 overall player in 2015 by ESPN in Terry Beckner Jr. In addition, it's entirely possible that Pinkel has had classes that may have previously been overlooked.

Reinforcing this, a new re-ranking of the 2012 signing class by Andy Staples of Sports Illustrated, Mizzou skyrocketed from the No. 31 ranked class (as originally ranked by Rivals) to No. 5 in the country. It shows that everything Pinkel and his staff are doing is an absolute model of how to win. Being "MizzouMade" is beginning to stand out.

But how do you measure the power of a program? A year of success can excite fans and alumni but isn't the measuring stick of greatness. It's consistently pulling off the things that are related to your job, which Pinkel might as well have a Ph.D. in.

Pinkel was shown a solo award for his talent in December when—a year after becoming the school's all-time winningest coach—he was named SEC Coach of the Year. Having won this award previously in the Big 12 Conference, it puts Pinkel in a rare category of coaches who have won the award in two different leagues during their peak in college football.

The awards are products of what Pinkel’s teams have shown on the field in those seasons. In fact, since his previous award, Pinkel’s Tigers squads have won an impressive 75 games, making them a top-five team in that category.

Missouri’s success isn’t limited to being on the field. They stand as the leader in academics in the SEC and are among the best in the nation. In 2013, Pinkel received a letter from NCAA President Mark Emmert, acknowledging the University’s success as a whole. More recently, last year Missouri was tied for the No. 1 spot in the SEC with relation to football academic-progress-rate scores.

But to see the total success of the program, simply take a look to the NFL. Mizzou players are going into the NFL in numbers and are having such success. That is like any group of trained professionals that reflects strongly on their training institution.

A total of 20 former Missouri players are currently on NFL rosters. Much was being made of the Tigers going into last season being “down” at wide receiver. When everything is said and done following the 2015 NFL draft and free-agency pickups, this “down” bunch may have three names in Bud Sasser, Jimmie Hunt and Darius White all playing on Sundays.

Missouri hasn't been able to beat Alabama or Auburn in the title games they've played, but it certainly competed well in both games. With all criteria on its resume, the change in culture and the lockdown of local recruiting, it's time that we start calling Missouri what it has shown to be by the fruits of its labor: a national team.

If he tries to take a team that churns out 4-3 pros like Mizzou and turns them into a 3-4 team he should have his head caved in with a splitting maul.

I ****ing hate the 3-4.

He's been pretty clear that it's going to be a base 4-3 with some 3-4 packages sprinkled in.

I'm ok with them running a 3-4 out there if it's 3rd and 7 or longer. Show them some zone blitz schemes, or just put your fastest linebackers/ends out there and tell them to sic the QB...

I don't get that impression.

He said several times that they were sticking with the 4-3 as the base defense. I'm fine with being a little more flexible in thought at the position, but going to the 3-4 as Mizzou's base would be an epic disaster. So tough to recruit to in college, especially at Missouri.

He also has said multiple times they only ran 3-4 at Memphis because of the personnel he inherited.

I suspect we might see some more creative sets worked in on obvious passing downs IF the DE production is not as high as it has been, so a little flexibility is good.

That's only really necessary when the DE production is lesser than it has been the past two years.

If Missouri has two great pass rushing DEs, it really has no reason to go to a different scheme with any consistency on third and long.

Fire Pinkel!! /Hamas

Do not ever, ever lose to Indiana.

So, Tavon Ross has a torn ACL, Cortland Browning had a LisFranc injury in bowl practice, Brad McNulty had labrum surgery, and Steward still has no timetable for return from his hip injury.

That's horrible on Ross. Would have loved to see him get time at safety this year.

Well... maybe in the Auburn game.

I was pretty surprised when I read that. Our only offense in the Alabama game was Mauk running for his life and throwing hail marys to Hunt.

It was reported on PM that Steward was going to be held out of spring ball but they planned to have him resume football activities before Fall camp.

So there's that at least...

Ross news is crushing. I had very high hopes for him.

The Tigers are hosting Missouri State in 2017, but MU is still too chicken to invite the Bears to Mizzou Arena. Bitches.