1. Mizzou is off to a so-so start.
Quick three and out and a 25-yard Luther Burden punt return is as good a start as Mizzou could hope for. Then, the offense had a quick three-and-out. I would've liked to have seen the offense try to establish the run more. It went pass, run, pass/penalty then punt. Get Noel and Carroll going and then the pass game will open up.
2. Busted coverage again.
Believe it was Toriano Pride who let his man, Joseph McVay, get behind him for a 65-yard touchdown. Pride gave up the first touchdown last week and he does the same again. Vandy QB Diego Pavia made a good play stepping up in the pocket looking like he was going to scramble and then Pavia launched it over the top. This was McVay's first career reception.
VANDY 7, MIZ 7
3. Better job of establishing run.
Nate Noel had three carries for 21 yards on that drive. Mizzou ran the ball on six of the 10 plays on that drive and then ended it with play-action on a Cook to Burden 20-yard touchdown pass. They were able to mow down the Vandy defense. This is the formula.
VANDY 7, MIZ 7
4. Poor contain leads to a big gain.
Diego Pavia with a gain of 36 yards. Poor QB contain by Zion Young who had him in the backfield but had a poor angle. Then, there was some poor tackling by the linebackers and Pavia is tiptoeing his way to the MIZ 26. The run defense is still trying to figure out the angles and because Pavia already burned them deep the defense has to respect his ability to throw. The LBs and DEs will have to be better.
End of 1st: VANDY 7, MIZ 7