INSIDE SLANT

Missouri rediscovered its second-half offense at Kansas State, played its most complete game in two months and became bowl eligible for a school-record fifth consecutive season. Yet Gary Pinkel was in no mood to celebrate during his weekly press briefing.

As the Tigers (6-4, 2-4) prepare for Saturday’s home finale against Iowa State (6-5, 3-4), they have yet to play well in all phases of the game in consecutive weeks. Plus, Pinkel knows the last two times his team came off impressive victories—over Illinois and Colorado—it came out flat in the following weeks, against Bowling Green and Baylor, respectively.

“In the whole season we have not played two back-to-back games well this year and I’m responsible for that,” he said. “There’s a lot left out there, too, but sooner or later you’ve got to take care of your business.”

Missouri solved its most pressing issue in the 38-12 victory at K-State, waking up an offense that has typically slumbered during the second half. Danario Alexander continued his push for postseason honors by becoming the Tigers’ catalyst, turning a 15-yard hitch route into an 80-yard catch-and-run to the end zone.

As brilliantly as Alexander has played lately—back-to-back 200-yard receiving games—his role becomes even more important as MU wraps up the regular season against Iowa State and Kansas. That’s because senior wideout Jared Perry suffered a slight fracture in his right leg, an injury that will sideline him for the rest of the regular season.

Missouri’s offense will have to find a way to survive without Perry, the Tigers’ second-leading receiver. MU will turn to a committee of underclassmen to fill the void, starting with sophomore Jerrell Jackson, whose production has gradually increased during the season.

“Everybody’s got to pick it up, and I think they all understand that,” Pinkel said. “It will certainly be a loss. He is one of our big-play wide receivers, so it’s very unfortunate.”

Defensively, Missouri hopes to have some carryover from Saturday’s smothering effort against Kansas State, when the Tigers held the Wildcats’ rugged running game to its second-lowest total of the season. Missouri did most of its damage against the run with just a seven-man front, while forcing three turnovers.

“I think we prepared the same way, we just stayed focused during the game,” cornerback Kevin Rutland said.

“That was our big focus, and that’s what we did. Instead of going into halftime laid-back, everything was quiet. There wasn’t much talking, and no laughter at all, we just kept our focus and got the victory.”

NOTES, QUOTES

• For his exploits against Kansas State, WR Danario Alexander was named the league’s offensive player of the week for the second time in a row. He became the first wide receiver to win the honor twice in the same season since the Big 12 was formed in 1996.

• In WR Jared Perry’s absence, sophomore WR Jerrell Jackson was moved from the backup at the H position to the No. 1 spot at the X position. When Missouri goes with three receivers and a tight end, Danario Alexander, Jackson and Wes Kemp will be the primary receivers. Brandon Gerau and Rolandis Woodland will see time in four-wideout sets, as will Alexander’s primary H backup, T.J. Moe.

• Defensive coordinator Dave Steckel emptied his bench at K-State and plans to give more reps to several redshirt freshmen who got their most significant playing time of the season last week. Those players include DE Marcus Malbrough, DE Brad Madison and CB Kip Edwards.

Series History:   Missouri leads Iowa State 58-34-9 (last meeting, 2008, 52-20 Missouri).

Scouting The Offense:   Missouri is coming off its best second-half showing of conference play, and QB Blaine Gabbert has quietly joined the ranks of the Big 12’s most productive quarterbacks. Now that his right ankle is closer to 100 percent healthy, Gabbert is the league’s fourth-leading passer for yardage and owns the league’s third-best efficiency rating.

Gabbert has WR Danario Alexander to thank for the recent spike in production. Alexander is playing like an All-American and continues to be a matchup nightmare for every defense that tries to cover him. As for the running game, Missouri wasn’t overpowering at Kansas State, but when the Tigers needed to clinch the game, they simply gave the ball to TB Derrick Washington to wrap up the victory.

Scouting The Defense:   A week after Baylor torched the secondary, Missouri faced a K-State offense more suited for its strengths along the defensive line and at linebacker. The Tigers controlled the line of scrimmage and avoided the back-breaking plays in the passing game that ruined their chances against Texas and Baylor. DT Dominique Hamilton continues to be an emerging playmaker along the defensive line, while DE Aldon Smith recorded another sack, putting him one within the single-season school record.

Quote To Note:   “That just shows how determined he is to go out the right way as a senior. I think that was the play that everyone was excited about, just to see his determination. Even when his helmet went off and a guy from K-State tried to take a shot on him, he was still fighting for yardage.”—Missouri LB Sean Weatherspoon on WR Danario Alexander’s big third-down catch at Kansas State

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

This Week  ‘S GAME: Iowa State at Missouri, Nov. 21—The Tigers try to put together consecutive complete games for the first time this season as the plucky Cyclones visit Faurot Field, where MU has lost three in a row. Fifteen seniors will play their final home game, including two of the biggest stars of the Gary Pinkel era, Lb Sean Weatherspoon and WR Danario Alexander.

Keys To The Game:   The Tigers must protect the ball against an Iowa State defense that has given opponents problems with takeaways. Gary Pinkel’s team needs to duplicate whatever worked at Kansas State in regards to maintaining its focus from one half to the next.

Players To Watch:  

WR Jerrell Jackson—Jackson had a career day at Kansas State in terms of catching the ball. He also contributed to the running game, giving MU a much-needed spark as a threat on reverses out of the backfield. With WR Jared Perry out for the next two games, Jackson will be counted on for more production.

DE Aldon Smith—With one more sack, the redshirt freshman will tie former All-American Justin Smith for the single-season school record of 11. Justin Smith set the record in 2000, a few months before he became the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Aldon Smith added another sack at Kansas State, but he faces a pivotal test against an Iowa State offensive line that does well in protecting the pocket.

WR Danario Alexander—How will defenses approach the budding All-American candidate now that MU’s No. 2 receiver is sidelined with an injury? In the midst of a magical season, what does Alexander have left for his final game on Missouri’s home field? He’s close to eclipsing former teammate Jeremy Maclin’s record for single-season receiving yardage, but can he also gain some notice toward postseason honors?

Roster Report:  

• Missouri has lost more players to season-ending injuries than coach Gary Pinkel can recall having in any of his recent years: WR Jared Perry (cracked tibial plateau), LB Luke Lambert (torn labrum), FS Hardy Ricks (torn ACL), LB Jeff Gettys (torn ACL) and LB Josh Tatum (back surgery).

• TB Kendial Lawrence has emerged as a productive kick returner, averaging 19.0 yards on eight returns while the team’s normal return man, FS Jasper Simmons, recovers from a bruised thigh. Both could take turns returning kicks against Iowa State.