Dave Matter Talks Mizzou Football Newcomers, RB Nate Strong, Fall Practices

University of Missouri beat writer Dave Matter joined The Press Box on Monday to discuss some Tigers football topics as the team gets set for summer practices. Read some excerpts and listen to the full interview below: On how Barry Odom has picked up some offensive pieces of late: “There’s some pieces coming together on paper. Nate Strong will be expected (to play right away and he’s never done it at this level). Alex Ross at Oklahoma…was a back up (and an excellent kick returner). So they’re collecting some pieces…but it’s kind of a chemistry experiment. We’ll see how it all works together once they get into camp and see if it can be an offense that can score points right away. They open up at West Virginia so there won’t be a practice game like a Murray State.” On running back Nate Strong, who just became eligible: “They had good things to say about him in February when he signed as a junior college recruit. I’m sure he’ll get a wide open look (but he’s never really been a No. 1 back since high school) so you don’t really know what you’re getting.” When do fall practices start and are they open to the public? “They’ve technically really never were open to the public. We don’t even know what the media access is going to be for fall camp. Things start on Aug. 4 and go through Aug. 25. But they have not released any kind of media schedule. I’m guessing it’ll be like spring practices where every other practice is open to the media (for the first 30 minutes). It’s going to be a little bit of an adjustment (getting used to the new rules on access).”