Missouri Defense Shares Preseason Thoughts on Coordinator Batoon
New scheme looking to make strides in 2023
A new era of Missouri football is here.
Head coach Eliah Drinkwitz brought in a new defensive coordinator in January, replacing Steve Wilks with former Miami (Fla.) assistant Brian Batson. Batson has over 30 years of experience coaching college football and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Columbia.
The Tigers are looking to improve upon their 6-7 record in 2022 and build off a strong finish that saw them win four of their last six games. Batson and his staff have been working hard to implement their new scheme, and the players are excited about what the future holds.
"I think our defense is going to be really good this year," said senior linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper, who spoke to the media on Tuesday. "We have a lot of talent and experience, and we're all bought into what Coach Batson is teaching us."
Batson's scheme is based on speed, athleticism, and a multiple-front attack. He wants his defense to be able to generate pressure on the quarterback and create turnovers. Missouri ranked near the bottom of FBS in both categories in 2022.
"We're going to be a lot more aggressive this year," said Hopper. "We're going to be attacking the line of scrimmage and trying to make big plays."
The Tigers have a lot of experience returning on defense, including Hopper, senior safety Martez Manuel, and junior defensive end Isaiah McGuire. They also have some talented newcomers, including four-star recruits Domani Jackson and Davison Igbinosum.
"We have a lot of guys who can make plays for us," said Batson. "I'm excited to see what we can do this year."
Missouri opens the 2023 season on Sept 2. against Louisiana Tech. The Tigers will get their first Big 12 test on Sept. 16 when they travel to Kansas State.
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