What Maty Mauk Must Do to Lead Missouri to Its 3rd Straight SEC East Title

Maty Mauk's first season as Missouri's full-time starting quarterback was a bit like going to see Major League II. Yeah, the ending was good, but getting there left a lot to be desired—especially after his first year in 2013, when he filled in for injured starter James Franklin for a few games.

Mauk completed 53.4 percent of his passes last season (221 of 414) for 2,648 yards, 25 touchdowns and 13 picks—the second-most interceptions in the SEC behind former Ole Miss gunslinger Bo Wallace.

Despite the high interception number and a completion percentage that didn't exactly jump off the page, Mauk and the Tigers found themselves inside the Georgia Dome in early December for the second straight season, playing for an SEC championship.

As was the case in 2013, it didn't work out.

What must Mauk improve on to land the Tigers back in the SEC Championship Game for the third straight season?

Be Better Earlier

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Mauk didn't exactly set the world on fire during the first three quarters of games. In fact, he probably didn't even have matches.

All 13 of his interceptions came in the first 45 minutes of games. He completed just 52.2 percent of his passes during that time and routinely had to dig himself and his team out of holes.

To his credit, he did. His nine touchdowns and 166.31 fourth-quarter passer rating—which would have led the SEC and been fifth-best nationally had he done it all year—are mighty impressive.

But wouldn't it be better if he looked like that difference-maker earlier in games?

Whether it's warming up differently, changing the way he gets dressed or whatever, Mauk has to find a way to have the kind of fourth-quarter urgency he showed last season earlier in games.

There are questions along the defensive line, and while that position was a big reason the Tigers stayed in games last year, it'd make life much more comfortable for head coach Gary Pinkel if he didn't have to rely on that on a seemingly weekly basis.

Develop Chemistry with Wide Receivers Now, Not Later

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For the second straight season, Missouri's wide receiving corps is undergoing a massive overhaul. Unlike last year, though, there aren't veterans such as Bud Sasser and Jimmie Hunt who are familiar with the speed of SEC football to help ease the transition.

Missouri's wide receivers have a grand total of 10 career receptions—as a group.

Sure, there are talented prospects such as 6'3", 205-pound sophomore Nate Brown (who has five of those receptions). J'Mon Moore also has that big 6'3" frame working for him, and Wesley Leftwich's speed makes him a solid option outside.

This spring, though, the combination of injuries within the receiving corps and the lack of familiarity created a slow learning process. As David Morrison of the Columbia Daily Tribune noted in April, it took a couple of scrimmages for the passing attack to score a passing touchdown, and even when it did, efficiency was still an issue.

Despite an early-season schedule that has Missouri hosting Southeast Missouri, visiting Arkansas State, hosting UConn and visiting Kentucky, Mauk can't afford to learn his new receivers on the fly. Now's the time to hit the practice field and develop that chemistry, so that the offense can hit the ground running in the fall.

Run More, Not Less

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Remember back in 2011, when Missouri finished with the ninth-best rushing attack in the country at 243.46 yards per game?

It might not have to reach that level again, but with that new receiving corps and a rather mobile quarterback in Mauk, it might not be a bad idea for Pinkel and offensive coordinator Josh Henson to follow that same blueprint.

When Mauk was a backup and filled in for Franklin in 2013, he averaged 5.59 yards per carry on 41 carries. As a full-time starter in 2014, that average dropped to 3.45 yards per carry on 108 carries.

Mauk's ability as a dual-threat quarterback went underutilized last season, and he and the staff need to make sure that changes in 2015. When combined with talented veteran running back Russell Hansbrough, Missouri could put together a pretty dynamic offense with the two running threats in the backfield. 

Whether it's designed or on the fly, Mauk needs to take what the defense gives him. At times, that means trusting his legs more.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com unless otherwise noted, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings.

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on Sirius 93, XM 208.

Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.