Inside the scouting report

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How does one defend against Mizzou's all-purpose yardage monster wideout Jeremy Maclin? We asked an assistant coach from one of the Tigers' previous opponents to give us an anonymous scouting report:

"Maclin is a sudden kind of receiver in that he's got outstanding acceleration from a dead stop. He has the size, soft hands, and seems to be very aware. He's just an excellent receiver both in the short and deep passing game. You have to be careful about playing him without any help over the top, because he'll make you pay.

"Missouri throws so many things at you, and receiver screens are a big part of the deal. They do a couple of different styles, and all of them end up with fair amount of blocking in front of them. They'll use the type where Maclin lines up as an outside receiver, catches it and heads toward the middle, where a bunch of linemen are waiting there to help. They also have the type of screens where he's lined up inside, he'll be able to just use his speed to take the ball outside toward the boundary. They're a heck of a reverse team, too, and they'll also put a receiver in motion -- sometimes him -- and run a shovel-pass, option-type play to get him the ball.

'Maclin is going to be tough for anybody to defend; if a team has big enough corners to match up with him physically, it would be beneficial, but they'd have to run with him too, and can they do that? If you get stuck in man coverage on him, Daniel likes to throw it up top in a fade, and when that happens, you better strap it on. The corner has to stay on top, on the high shoulder and run with Maclin, and then compete for the ball in the air. If you don't do that ... you're going to be in some trouble."

The pick

Oklahoma may not be playing for a trip to New Orleans, but it won't have trouble getting motivated for a rematch with Missouri. The Sooners are already bristling over the perceived notion, based on a few comments the Tigers made in the lead-up to this game, that OU's 41-31 win in the first meeting was a fluke. "Hopefully we can kind of get in their way this time," Sooners defensive coordinator Brent Venables kidded this week when he said, "Hopefully, we can luck out again." But OU's pass-rushing woes won't solve themselves unless English makes a miraculous recovery and takes the field -- and that's not expected to happen. Mizzou's offense will be more potent with Temple back in the fold, and Daniel will have enough breathing room to avenge his two-interception, one-TD showing against OU in October. Missouri 35, Oklahoma 31.