And closing thoughts on the season. First, let's start with Friday's game. These were two bad teams. If Arkansas had even a competent QB, it probably wins, or at least makes Missouri score more than 24 points. But certainly a win for Missouri is better than the alternative. You at least come away feeling happy for guys like Taylor Powell and Tauskie Dove, but in reality, it's hard to get excited about many players' performance based off this game because Arkansas is the worst team in SEC history. The exceptions are Barrett Banister, for sure, and maybe Bazelak. Banister should start at slot receiver next year and might be the team's best pass-catcher. He's smart, tough, and reliable and can move the chains. Bazelak was playing a bad pass defense, but he looked sharp even behind an inconsistent O Line. He clearly has the arm. With a full offseason of development (here's hoping his knee injury isn't too severe) he could challenge for the starting QB job next season and should provide some optimism about the position going forward.
What does this mean for Barry Odom? I don't know. Probably nothing. A loss might have tipped the scales toward firing him. I think a win leaves Jim Sterk wherever he stood prior to kickoff. And, as Gabe posted earlier, from what we can tell, his decision will be based largely on what candidates have or haven't given an indication that they would come to Missouri. Sterk and Odom are supposed to meet tomorrow. I expect we will have a resolution one way or the other by the end of the weekend.
Finally, on the year as a whole: It's a disappointment, no doubt. The schedule lined up for this team to make a run at nine or 10 wins. Injuries certainly played a role in them not reaching that. But more so, I come away feeling like Missouri fooled us a bit during the preseason. This team isn't talented enough to belong in the conversation with some of the best in the SEC. Drew Lock clearly covered up a lot of weaknesses on the offensive line and at wideout. Without Emanuel Hall, the team has been unable to find a consistent play-maker in the passing game. And while the defense improved a lot this year (and Ryan Walters deserves some props for that), it's susceptible against both the pass and the run, and I think some of it's success can be attributed to the fact that the Tigers didn't face many opponents that could do both well. There are reasons for hope. Of Friday's defensive starters, only one (Khalil Oliver) is a senior and only one other (Jordan Elliott) is likely to leave. The young wideouts (Knox, Scott, Dove, Banister) have all flashed potential. Tyler Badie is really good. But depth and player development have to be questioned during the offseason (Side note, why do weird depth chart things like Ish Burdine coming out of nowhere to pass upperclassmen keep happening?). There are a lot of things that need to me figured out before I start to take a look at next year, mainly who the coach is, but I think the biggest keys will be improving at QB and along both lines of scrimmage (mainly DE on the defensive side).
Three stories are already up. I'll have the grade card and snap counts tomorrow. I'll do a season grade card on Sunday. And of course, we'll update you with coaching news whenever we hear it. Thanks for following along all season.
What does this mean for Barry Odom? I don't know. Probably nothing. A loss might have tipped the scales toward firing him. I think a win leaves Jim Sterk wherever he stood prior to kickoff. And, as Gabe posted earlier, from what we can tell, his decision will be based largely on what candidates have or haven't given an indication that they would come to Missouri. Sterk and Odom are supposed to meet tomorrow. I expect we will have a resolution one way or the other by the end of the weekend.
Finally, on the year as a whole: It's a disappointment, no doubt. The schedule lined up for this team to make a run at nine or 10 wins. Injuries certainly played a role in them not reaching that. But more so, I come away feeling like Missouri fooled us a bit during the preseason. This team isn't talented enough to belong in the conversation with some of the best in the SEC. Drew Lock clearly covered up a lot of weaknesses on the offensive line and at wideout. Without Emanuel Hall, the team has been unable to find a consistent play-maker in the passing game. And while the defense improved a lot this year (and Ryan Walters deserves some props for that), it's susceptible against both the pass and the run, and I think some of it's success can be attributed to the fact that the Tigers didn't face many opponents that could do both well. There are reasons for hope. Of Friday's defensive starters, only one (Khalil Oliver) is a senior and only one other (Jordan Elliott) is likely to leave. The young wideouts (Knox, Scott, Dove, Banister) have all flashed potential. Tyler Badie is really good. But depth and player development have to be questioned during the offseason (Side note, why do weird depth chart things like Ish Burdine coming out of nowhere to pass upperclassmen keep happening?). There are a lot of things that need to me figured out before I start to take a look at next year, mainly who the coach is, but I think the biggest keys will be improving at QB and along both lines of scrimmage (mainly DE on the defensive side).
Three stories are already up. I'll have the grade card and snap counts tomorrow. I'll do a season grade card on Sunday. And of course, we'll update you with coaching news whenever we hear it. Thanks for following along all season.
