While we work on full post-game stuff, here are my five quick hitters from today:
1.Missouri's offense was better. Not good, but better. Especially in the second quarter, the Tigers found a lot of things that worked. Mizzou’s problem was that they just couldn’t string enough plays together. The Tigers bogged down twice in the red zone, had a drive stall with a fumble. There were some good plays, some flashes of a solid offense, but now they have to string more of them together. I can see it happening through the season, but not in week one.
2. The running game is still a concern, though. Alex Ross, Ish Witter and Damarea Crockett had a long run of ten yards. They averaged about three per carry. Outside of the quarterbacks, the Missouri running game wasn’t enough to scare anyone.
3. The defense will get a pass from many, but it shouldn’t. Sure, they were on the field a lot. But they just got gashed all day long by the Mountaineer running game. WVU averaged better than five yards per carry. Without its starting left tackle or left guard. Even the fullback had a run longer than any Missouri back. The defense kept the score down with a couple takeaways and a couple red zone field goals, but gave up a total of about 500 yards. With this offense, that may not win a game this year. And the tackling was relatively attrocious.
4. When Charles Harris is this quiet, Missouri will lose. Harris is the best player on the best side of the ball. He wasn’t heard from in this game. He had one play where he was close to a sack. Missouri’s defensive line is solid, but not as star-laden as it has been in recent years.
5. The nickel defense needs to be addressed. Donavin Newsom was targeted over and over on passing plays by the Mountaineers. They mostly worked. I don’t know who has to go in, but I think Mizzou needs to have a safety or a corner in there in the nickel look. The linebackers didn’t look to be able to keep up with West Virginia’s receivers.
1.Missouri's offense was better. Not good, but better. Especially in the second quarter, the Tigers found a lot of things that worked. Mizzou’s problem was that they just couldn’t string enough plays together. The Tigers bogged down twice in the red zone, had a drive stall with a fumble. There were some good plays, some flashes of a solid offense, but now they have to string more of them together. I can see it happening through the season, but not in week one.
2. The running game is still a concern, though. Alex Ross, Ish Witter and Damarea Crockett had a long run of ten yards. They averaged about three per carry. Outside of the quarterbacks, the Missouri running game wasn’t enough to scare anyone.
3. The defense will get a pass from many, but it shouldn’t. Sure, they were on the field a lot. But they just got gashed all day long by the Mountaineer running game. WVU averaged better than five yards per carry. Without its starting left tackle or left guard. Even the fullback had a run longer than any Missouri back. The defense kept the score down with a couple takeaways and a couple red zone field goals, but gave up a total of about 500 yards. With this offense, that may not win a game this year. And the tackling was relatively attrocious.
4. When Charles Harris is this quiet, Missouri will lose. Harris is the best player on the best side of the ball. He wasn’t heard from in this game. He had one play where he was close to a sack. Missouri’s defensive line is solid, but not as star-laden as it has been in recent years.
5. The nickel defense needs to be addressed. Donavin Newsom was targeted over and over on passing plays by the Mountaineers. They mostly worked. I don’t know who has to go in, but I think Mizzou needs to have a safety or a corner in there in the nickel look. The linebackers didn’t look to be able to keep up with West Virginia’s receivers.
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