#MIZCAMP17 Day Three Recap - Offensive Line Continues to Perform
8/3/2017 2:03:00 PM | Football
A pleasant surprise a year ago, #Mizzou's offensive line has continued to gel in the early stages of camp
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Columbia, Mo. - Mizzou's offensive line surrendered just 14 total sacks last season, only 1.17 per game, the fewest allowed in the Southeastern Conference. Mizzou had a 3,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard rusher and a 1,000-yard receiver and every face on the offensive line that paved the way for the big numbers has returned for the 2017 campaign.
Off the field, the offensive line calls themselves weird, goofy and ridiculous. On the field, a flip is switched. It's all business for offensive line coach Glen Elarbee and the crew.
"In camp, we're focusing on coming in and being nasty, mean and physical," Elarbee said. "We just want to be competing every single play. That's our goal. When the guys are on the field, they are locked in, focused and getting their work done."
The leaders of the experienced line say the unit's mentality and play on the field comes directly from Elarbee.
"Elarbee's energy is contagious," senior Alec Abeln said. "He talks about being nasty and about being a competitor every play. If our coach is the way he wants us to play, we're more likely to follow his lead."
That energy rings loud and clear at the Kadlec Practice Fields as Elarbee and the linemen attack drills with passion and enthusiasm.
With a year under their belts, the chemistry among the unit is stronger than ever as day three of fall camp concludes and the line is poised for a stellar season in the trenches together. Abeln says the Elarbee helps create a family environment and constantly builds trust among the position group, which breeds success come gameday.
"Winning starts with loving the guys in the room and playing for them as much as you're playing for yourself," Abeln said. "When you really care about the people you're playing next to, it makes it more fun and it makes it easier to play really well."
Stay tuned to #MIZCamp17 by following Mizzou Football on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @MizzouFootball. Tickets are available for the season by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS (884-PAWS locally), or visiting MUTigers.com/FBTix.
Fans are encouraged to come out to Faurot Field on Saturday for Meet the Tigers Fan Fest. Gates will open to the public at 7 p.m. and the team and coaches will be on hand to sign autographs for roughly an hour. Admission is free and there will be a post-event family movie showed on the video board at Memorial Stadium.
Word on the Tweet
They think I'm scoring them touchdowns... ??????
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) August 3, 2017
Day 3 Recap: https://t.co/qkfQjuXITe#MIZ #ShowMe ???? pic.twitter.com/W6n30f3PDE
Camp life????
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— ?? (@BIGJ5K) August 3, 2017
#MIZCAMP17 Day 3
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Updated Information on #Mizzou's 'Meet the Tigers' Presented by MU Healthcarehttps://t.co/VDFFeBQpE4#MIZ #ShowMe ???? pic.twitter.com/USJY01PTkL
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Practice #3 ??#MIZ #ShowMe ???? pic.twitter.com/B94WuwxJgW
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I'm glad my moves have finally rubbed off on him...I didn't think he was ever going to catch on!
— Barry Odom (@Coach_Odom) August 3, 2017
Rookie Report
#MIZCAMP17 #RookieReport@TheJasonReese & @TheKspecial_ introduce us to #Mizzou TE Logan Christopherson (Loganchristoph7)#MIZ #ShowMe ???? pic.twitter.com/E6aIdRmRMz
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) August 3, 2017
