Unpacking Future Packers: No. 63 Missouri Edge Isaiah McGuire

Brian Gutekunst could use some help from Missouri edge defender Isaiah McGuire in order to strengthen his run defense and boost the energy of his pass rush. McGuire is one of the players in this class who could do both.

The former second-team All-SEC performer boasts an impressive collection of tools, showcasing impressive range as a backside pursuit defender. However, his leverage management and technique could use improvement to be even better.

Length and Power

Brian Gutekunst could look to add a player to his front seven in the NFL draft by selecting Missouri edge rusher Justin McGuire. At 6-4 and 271 pounds, McGuire has the length and power to disrupt runs and collapse the pocket. Not only that, but his build makes him ideal for the NFL as well as having an excellent football IQ which Gutekunst can use to his advantage.

As a senior, he has recorded 16.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in 36 games. A versatile player who can line up at either four-inch or wide seven-hole positions, his statistics speak for themselves.

He's powerful at the point of attack and possess the agility to make plays against blockers.

In his junior season, he registered nine sacks and 28 tackles for loss, ranking third among SEC players with four pass breakups and two interceptions.

The Tigers possess some impressive talent on the outside, but their run game needs to improve against Florida's formidable defense. At present, they are allowing 421.4 yards per game - third worst in the SEC.

Last weekend, Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson had an impressive game against Eastern Washington, accumulating 285 yards and scoring two touchdowns in limited action. As a runner who can create explosive plays, Missouri must focus on stopping his ground game and creating pressure to prevent him from running wild.

Mizzou returns home for a crucial matchup against Florida at Faurot Field next Saturday, looking to rebound after its lengthy road trip through Kansas State and Georgia. If the offense can find its rhythm, there's always the chance that Mizzou could pull off an upset.

An effective game plan in place will give Missouri its first SEC victory of the year. If they can achieve success on the ground, scoring goals from other sides of the ball should become much simpler for them to score.

The Tigers won't be able to replicate their 85-63 victory against Georgia, but they should be able to keep this one close. They need to avoid the mistakes they made against Georgia and hope for more big play opportunities downfield.

Missouri's offense is improving, but it still needs to hone its passing game and enhance special teams after failing to make a significant impact against Georgia.

Active Hands

Over the last two seasons, Isaiah McGuire has been an impressive force on Missouri Tigers' defensive line. In that span he earned 28 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks - testament to his impact that earned him second-team All-SEC honors in 2022. It's no wonder why McGuire earned such recognition from his peers within the conference.

McGuire is physically built for the position at 6-4 and 271 pounds. He's a big, strong guy that can withstand running and create stalemates in the trenches. Additionally, his long-track pursuit speed allows him to get close enough to quarterback and make a play on him from behind.

McGuire has the ability to use his length effectively with rip moves. He can flash his hands, tempting blockers into extending, then take advantage of that extension by ripping around the corner.

He also has the strength to extend into contact with his hand-first bull rushes, using that strength to forcefully break through blockers and sustain power rushes. This combination of raw power and practical application helps him realize his full potential as an edge defender.

This offseason, the Packers need an edge rusher and McGuire is a player Gutekunst could target on day three of the draft. His physical profile fits perfectly into their 3-4 base front but he could also play as a 4-3 defensive end if Gutekunst opts for an odd-front formation.

McGuire's height makes him susceptible to being worked upright after contact, but he possesses the strength and agility to stay balanced throughout his pass rush. While he displays some resistance in run fits, he struggles with anticipating down blocks and engaging in physical combat.

He can generate a lot of power off the snap, but his hands are not always efficient and composed. When bull rushing, his hands often drop backwards which allows blockers to latch onto him early and get inside his stance. Furthermore, his bend isn't particularly good when turning tight corners; additionally, he often fails to recognize or get underneath pullers during run fits which leaves inside rushing lanes wide open.

Run Discipline

Isaiah McGuire has been one of the Tigers' bright spots throughout the first half of this season. He set new career highs in tackles for loss with 14 and sacked him twice, helping the team finish strong to secure bowl eligibility in its final two games of the year.

Missouri's defense will need to demonstrate the type of run discipline it has been lacking for most of this season in order to stop Army's heavy, vertical attack. The unit ranks last nationally against running offense, having allowed an average of 57 yards per game through five games.

Although the Tigers' run defense is still developing, they made strides against South Carolina Gamecocks and Florida Gators. This progress has them eager for an Armed Forces Bowl matchup against Army, which boasts the second-highest rushing attack in America at 286.9 yards per game.

The Tigers' run defense has the potential to contain ball carriers. McGuire, at 6-foot-4, provides the leverage and length needed to hold up against offensive tackles and create space for teammates.

He possesses good upper body strength and balance to ward off offensive linemen, as well as agility and body control to maneuver out of tight situations or spill out to contain. While his technique and leverage management in the backside pursuit phase could use some work, he often displays impressive changes of direction when tracking ball carriers at the line and correcting tackling angles.

McGuire's run discipline is an integral component of his overall game plan and something he will continue to refine throughout his career. At 6'4" and 274 pounds, he's an impressive edge rusher with the strength and speed to lock down opponents with various moves.

His initial burst is exceptional, as he rapidly breaches the edge. Additionally, he's quick to raise his hands up for disengagement and can effortlessly break through anchors working across-face; however, occasionally he may drift too far upright and lose leverage.

Long-Track Pursuit Speed

Long track speed skating is a winter sport that first made an appearance at the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France. It moves much faster than short track which many people associate with "speed skating."

Long-track speed skaters typically utilize blades of 16.5 inches or larger with a slight bend to help them make turns more easily. Furthermore, these blades are wider than short track's, enabling more aggressive turns.

Long-track speed skating presents athletes with a lot of competition to beat, and races are designed for speed. Each skater starts in their own lane and never comes into contact with another skater during the race; their task is then to finish within the time limit.

Long track speed skating offers 14 events, including the mass start and team pursuit. The mass start is unique among individual events as it involves more than two skaters lining up against one another. Meanwhile, team pursuit was introduced in 2006 as a more recent addition to speed skating competition; it involves three skaters competing around an oval course.

Team pursuit is more intricate than it appears, as the winner is determined by which team completes in the quickest time. To secure victory, each team must finish with all three skaters on one lane before facing off against the other's full squad.

Team pursuit is one of the most difficult speed skating events to master, requiring years of dedicated practice before an athlete can compete at an elite level. As such, this event is usually considered a sport for the elite rather than those with more modest abilities.

Speed skating on long tracks demands speed while staying in control - which can be done through drafting, where one skater trails another to reduce wind resistance and accelerate their progress; or breakaway technique when one person pulls away from competition to take an edge in speed.