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In three of the four losses Central has suffered this year, they were winning at the half. In the fourth loss, they were tied at the midpoint of the game. As our favorite team stands accused of having “snatched defeat from the jaws of victory” last Saturday; losing another game we were winning at halftime; it dawned on me that with a few less sacks and a slightly better turnover ratio, this Mules team could easily be 8-0 and getting prepared for a marquee NCAA Division II college football game of top 5 ranked teams.

Instead, the Mules will be playing for the role of “spoiler”. I’ll guarantee you Northwest Missouri State is preparing for a battle in Warrensburg, as their head coach knows not to take this Mules team lightly. Central’s leaders are also preparing for battle having proven they are a team that is still playing for pride. No one has been able to take this Central Missouri team to the woodshed this season thanks to a defense that any coach would be proud of.

Now before you think I’m pointing the finger at the offense entirely for Central sitting at .500, I’m not. The “Mule D” has made their share of mistakes, being a little soft up the middle at times this season. The Mules ”Special Forces”, while having their bright spots, have not created the number of opportunities for momentum change we’ve come to expect from them either. In talking about Central’s offense, it must be noted that Offensive Coordinator Jeff Conway has the Mule’s Offense averaging over 36 points per game this season; 27 per game in the defense-minded MIAA. I’m not actually blaming anyone (although some could take it that way), but simply breaking things down, as I see them, in order to isolate where the greatest challenge lies for this team in the weeks ahead.

To be honest in my assessment I’ve got to stick to the facts, and the fact is...this Mules offense has given up more sacks than any Willie Fritz coached team, ever, 8 games into the season and...the type of turnovers that are occurring are a “tell-tale sign” of where the problem lies.

ISOLATING THE PROBLEM

The plain and simple truth is that no offense will become what it’s capable of with too many sacks and turnovers. Both of these problems (sacks and turnovers) point to the offensive line. Here’s why:

While Toby Korrodi is not the fastest QB in football, he is, in my opinion, very good at side-stepping potential tacklers. He also does an excellent job of avoiding the sack, when possible, by either completing a pass or throwing the ball away; when he can do so without penalty. In my opinion, the sacks that are occurring are not “Coverage Sacks”, but more of the type of sacks that result from breakdowns in blocking by allowing early penetration by defensive linemen, stunting LBs, and blitzing D-Backs. So let’s call them, for lack of a better term, “Breakdown in Blocking Sacks”. This kind of sack is a clear sign that the offensive line can, and MUST, improve.

Furthermore, since Toby Korrodi just threw his first pick of the season, I want to be clear when talking turnovers, that I’m not talking about the kind of turnover that results when passing the ball; I’m talking instead about the kind that happens on running plays....meaning FUMBLES!

With further analysis, fumbles can be broken down into two basic types...

1. Those that happen short of the line of scrimmage
2. Those that happen beyond it.

When fumbles happen beyond the line of scrimmage, the responsibility inevitably rests with the ball carrier; but when they happen short of the line of scrimmage, it’s not always “just” the ball carrier's fault. In these cases, the offensive line often takes on the responsibility for allowing the kind of penetration they are trained to prevent. More often than not this year, Mules fumbles are occurring in the backfield, rather than downfield. Backfield fumbles further the case for room for improvement on the o-line.

THE SHORT-TERM SOLUTION

So, with sacks, specifically “Breakdown in Blocking Sacks”, at a 10-year high and ball carriers not always even having the chance to hit their holes, as evidenced by “Backfield Fumbles”, it’s time to address the offensive line. With the #2 team in the country coming to town on Saturday, bringing with them arguably one of the best defenses in all of Division II, the outcome of the game will rest squarely upon the broad shoulders of the offensive line.

Anyone who knows me knows that offensive linemen are my favorite players in all of football; and always will be. This simple fact makes this week’s “Mules Report” one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to write. This report is not written to cast any blame, but rather lay out a challenge. If the offensive line plays like they have most of the season, the Mules will put up another good effort against a great team, lose another close one, and need to win their remaining two games to finish above .500. 

But if my good friend, Assistant Head Coach & Offensive Line Coach, Scott Grinde can find a way to get the “Union” to show up, then Northwest Missouri will find itself victim to a “spoiler” in Central Missouri.

For new fans that don’t understand the concept of the “Union”, here is a summary.

1. They are the group of guys that are responsible for sustained drives despite what defenses throw at them.
2. They are the guys who like it the more it sucks.
3. They are the ultimate team players giving everything they have for others to get the glory.

The “Union” is the offensive line, and more importantly the corresponding mentality, that helped make the Mules one of the highest scoring teams in all of college football for a couple of years in a row in 2001 and 2002.

The “Union” has shown up from time to time every season since, but for the post-season to ever become a reality again, they have to show up every week. Anyone who was standing on the sidelines in last year’s game against Pitt State knows that the “Union” was there the entire game and was the heart and sole behind that victory.

LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD

I’ve been following Mules Football from the time my Willie Fritz arrived on campus back in 1996 and several years ago saw what it would take for this Mules team to get to the next level - big, strong linemen.

Central was up 21-0 on a very good Northern Colorado team, on the road, in the first quarter of that 2002 playoff game, and the bigger, stronger (not more talented) team came back and wore us down. While the Mules have had arguably the most talented position players in the MIAA over the past 10 years, they’ve also had, with a few exceptions, linemen who are good, but not great.

Look back and you’ll find the teams that make the post-season tend to have the preponderance all-conference linemen each year. So what the long term solution?

I believe Coach Fritz, Coach Grinde, and Coach Conway need to agree among themselves that the priority for recruiting for the next several years must go to offensive linemen. Use those scholarships, gentlemen, on getting the best available linemen in the country. This year’s offensive line is still young and will do an excellent job of mentoring their replacements over the next several years.

BACK TO THE PRESENT

In four home games this year, attendance has been just a few shy of 8,000 per game. Not bad for a .500 team? I expect a good crowd again this weekend and believe that Mules fans that have been attending know what this team is capable of and are continuing to show up to see it happen. And remember, when you hear the chant from the sidelines…

“UNION! UNION! UNION!”

…You’ll know what it means. It means we fans are counting on our most beloved players to do what they are capable of. When, and if, the Mules send the Bearcats back to Maryville with their first loss of the season, let’s give the credit where it is due.

Meet you on the High Ground....

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