Josh Thornton: How has the transition been between Gary Pinkel to Barry Odom?
Nick Kelly: I think they’ve adapted really well and responded really well to what Barry Odom wants them to do. He brings a lot of youthful energy. He’s a lot younger than Pinkel and he also played linebacker for Missouri. He’s got a very youthful energy to him. He’s one of the guys. He’s really a player’s, coach and they respect the fact that he’s been through what they’re going through. I think they’ve responded really well. Pinkel’s a legend around, here and he will be forever, but I think the breath of fresh air that Barry Odom has brought in, just by the pure energy and youthfulness that he has, has been a big positive and the players have responded well.
Thornton: Last season, Missouri was last in the Southeastern Conference in total offense. This season through four games, Missouri leads the SEC in total offense. What has Barry Odom and his staff done differently this season?
Kelly: First and foremost, they brought in Josh Heupel. At Oklahoma, he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. For a guy like Sam Bradford, Landry Jones, he’s definitely produced some good quarterbacks where he’s gone. And so by bringing him in, he’s brought in a very fast-paced offense that sometimes the defense has trouble adjusting to. When Missouri played Georgia, the Bulldogs would barely get set because Missouri would run so many plays so quickly. They really adjusted well to the offense that Heupel wants to run and not only for the offense, but the development of Drew Lock as well. By having a guy like Heupel, who has been through it all and produced some good quarterbacks, he’s been a huge blessing for Lock. That’s another big thing for this offense’s turnaround. They had a true freshman last year starting most of their games in the SEC. And even looking at him now, he still looks like he’s fresh out of high school. The biggest thing for him is the maturity he’s gained in the off-season. Lock has been a huge key, the fact that he’s a year older and now that’s he’s had a year playing the SEC is huge for him.
Thornton: Speaking of Drew Lock, how has Odom and his staff kind of preparing not only Lock, but the entire team to play in a environment like Tiger Stadium?
Kelly: I don’t know if there is a way to prepare for it. You kind of have to experience it. They mentioned that Lock last year he was overwhelmed going into the Georgia when they had to go play at Georgia. The way I’m anticipating this week is something similar, if not worse, as far as the atmosphere, especially with it being homecoming and a very intense environment for a night game as well. It’s not going to be easy for him. I think the best way to prepare for it is try to control what they can control and keeping up the confidence. Even though they’re beating teams like Delaware State and Eastern Michigan, they’re finding a lot of success against these teams. It’s still a big confidence booster. I think that’s the best way you can prepare going to a place like Tiger Stadium.
Thornton: What should LSU expect from the Missouri offense?
Kelly: They love to get the ball out quick. They love to run a lot of quick plays. They’ll run receiver screens, they’ll run quick plays, but once they get you to bite, Lock throws a beautiful deep ball. LSU is really going to have to make sure they stay disciplined against Lock and get after Lock too. The Missouri offensive line has not given up much at all. They’ve given up one sack through the four games they’ve played in, which is impressive obviously. Granted, they haven’t played the most talented teams, but against any defense that’s impressive when you haven’t given up a sack in four games. So if LSU can get after the quarterback and pressure Lock to see how he responds, because he really hasn’t had to face pressure.
Thornton: How does Missouri and Odom plan on stopping Leonard Fournette?
Kelly: “They certainly know who he is. It’s probably going to be harder possibly to stop Fournette than it was Nick Chubb. And they did a good job against Chubb and probably the way they stopped Chubb is probably the same way they’re going to try and stop Fournette. They need to make sure they gang tackle. They need to make sure they have all 11 guys get to the ball and make sure they don’t miss tackles. It sounds simple and sounds easy, but they have to make sure they’re technique is really sound. Not really a secret formula to stopping him, it’s just making sure you play sound defense, and that’s the approach Missouri is taking to defending Fournette.
