Spring Practice Notes: What Kirby Moore Had To Say

Missouri Tigers offensive coordinator Kirby Moore spoke to the media Saturday following a spring scrimmage.

COLUMBIA — The Missouri Tigers are eight practices through spring camp and offensive coordinator Kirby Moore seems to be pleased with his group's progress thus far. Moore met with the media Saturday following a scrimmage to provide updates on the offense. Here's some of the highlights:

On Goals for the Spring: 

"We just got to focus on the process, little by little a little becomes a lot and that's every position play-to-play, 'this play' mentality."

Last week, Moore highlighted the red zone as an area he wanted the offense to improve on this season. He was impressed with the red zone execution this week in practice.

"Today from the ones was very good, from a red zone standpoint. Those guys I thought did a nice job at executing. I do not believe we had a penalty with the first group within the red zone and that was a huge part of our issue. Statistically in the red zone this season (2023), we had 15 drives where we had a penalty and (on) 11 of them we kicked field goals so that is something we point to."

On Standouts Through Eight Practices:

"There's a multitude of guys. From a quarterback perspective, I do think that Brett Brown is a guy that's made the most of his opportunities. He has to continue to do that but he's made some big throws the last couple practices."

"Marquis Johnson has to continue to take that next step. We've seen what he can do down the field but just from a reacting, not thinking process in terms of our play calls because we do have a lot of pre-snap (movement), whether its motion, different pictures for the defense so we have to continue to communicate (to Marquis) 'what's my  alignment, what's my landmark.'"

On Tight End Brett Norfleet:

"Brett, I believe is up 255. ... He looks really really good, playing good, playing confident. You saw last season, game five, going into the LSU, just the physicality that he brought, that's continued and from a detail standpoint I think he's progressing as a receiver. (When) we get in third down situations, I don't think going forward we have to focus on the wide receivers, the tight end should be a part of that"

On Potential Usage of Transfer Running Backs Marcus Carroll and Nate Noel:

"We're still working through that process. Today, right away, Nate making a few plays out in space, making guys miss, catches the ball in the open field, you think he's going to get tackled, no, puts the juke move on."

"From Marcus Carroll, just physical downhill, inside zone, made several nice runs throughout the day"

His Early Thoughts on Mizzou's Defense:

"Lots of different pictures, very competitive. They got guys with experience, they got new guys coming in with the transfer perspective. I think the d-line, those edge guys who have gotten here, they're showing up in a hurry and so they're giving us challenges every play, we got to be on it."

Mizzou will close out spring camp Saturday March 16 with the Spring Game set for 1 p.m. at Faurot Field.

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