Each week, InsideSTL.com will break down the Tigers upcoming game from all angles. Each Wednesday during the season, we will take a look at the key matchups on each side of the ball as the Tigers prepare for game day. Here is our look at the game against Illinois:

When the Illini have the Ball:

Illinois Quarterback Juice Williams vs. Missouri Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon

The nation knows Williams is one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the land and he can make a team pay with his legs. Ask Ohio State about that. What no one yet knows is if he can beat a good team on the strength of his arm. Missouri needs to find out. The Tigers should take a similar approach as teams used to take against Missouri with Brad Smith at the helm. Don’t rush heavily, blitz almost never. Instead, stand back and take away the run and make Williams throw the ball to beat you. Using Weatherspoon, one of the country’s best linebackers, as a spy could help in this regard. If Missouri can keep Williams in the pocket and force him to win the game throwing the ball, the Tigers’ chances should go up.

When the Tigers have the Ball:

Illinois Defensive End Will Davis vs. Missouri Offensive Tackle Elvis Fisher

The shuffling of the offensive line got a lot of attention in fall camp in Columbia. Mizzou feels its best lineup includes Fisher, a redshirt freshman, at left tackle. Protecting the blind side of a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback is no small charge. Especially against a defensive end that nearly hit double digits in sacks a season ago. Oklahoma provided the blueprint for slowing down the Tigers’ spread attack last season. The key ingredient is a defensive end who can get to Chase Daniel all by himself. The Sooners had Auston English. The Illini will find out if Davis can do the same. If Fisher needs help keeping the senior out of the backfield, it reduces the number of open options for Daniel. If the Illini can consistently put heat on Daniel without having to blitz a linebacker or a safety, things get a whole lot tougher for the Tigers. If Fisher can hold his own, Daniel will pick Illinois apart if given time.

Gabe DeArmond is the publisher of PowerMizzou.com. You can read his daily coverage of the Tigers online at http://missouri.rivals.com.