IRVING, Texas — Missouri trainers put a device inside the helmet of linebacker Sean Weatherspoon in practices last season to measure just how hard he was hitting.
The highest attainable mark was 100. The concussion level for the typical person is 95, according to the device manufacturer. Weatherspoon said he was recording 92s and 93s “all the time.”
“One time I was like 2 percent away from being concussed,” Weatherspoon said. “It was just this thing that the trainers wanted to put in there. ”
MU defensive tackle Jaron Baston didn't need some form of new technology to tell him what Weatherspoon was capable of doing.
“Man, that guy, he's 250 pounds and runs a 4.4,” Baston said. “So you put that behind him, you can do some damage.
“He don't care who you are. It was maybe two years ago, his best friend, Kevin Rutland, was on scout-team offense. His best friend and — WOMP! Knocked him out. Messed his hip up.”
Hitting like Weatherspoon is the goal for the entire Missouri defense this season as the Tigers rebuild an offense that no longer has Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin and Chase Coffman — and might not be able to score 50 points a game.
“This year,” Weatherspoon said, “the defense has got to win some games.”
Baston said the Mizzou defense loves that responsibility after being an afterthought last year with Daniel and Maclin in the spotlight.
“If you've got a bunch of people who all want to carry a team on their back and impress other people, it's going to be a special thing out there,” Baston said.
Missouri lists four returning defensive starters but doesn't lack experience. . But not all the experience gained was pleasant: The Tigers allowed 42 points to Illinois, 56 to Texas, 40 to Kansas and 62 to Oklahoma — and ranked ninth in the Big 12 in total defense (411.5 yards per game).
Coach Gary Pinkel says his defense has a strong cornerstone in Weatherspoon, who skipped the draft and returns about a dozen pounds heavier.
“If he's not the best linebacker in the country,” Pinkel said, “I'd like to know who's better.”
Contact the writer:
444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com
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