1. Missouri earned every bit of this loss. The offense was again erratic, the offensive line played on skates, the running backs — even Hansbrough — could rarely find room or break tackles. The wide receivers dropped key passes, and Maty Mauk was again inconsistent, a 15-of-30 performance.
On defense, Missouri couldn’t cover the middle of the field and that ultimately led to every one of Kentucky’s three touchdowns.
2. This loss hurts even more. Four injuries to key starters — Sean Culkin (knee), Nate Crawford (ankle), Ian Simon (concussion) and, most devastatingly, an injury to Kentrell Brothers that’s being called an ankle sprain but looked a hell of a lot more serious. Either way, none of those injuries look particularly promising, and this season could take a quick turn without four key players.
3. The questions keep mounting on offense. I don’t even know where to start. Some befuddling play calling, especially with the lack of Tyler Hunt even though he’s proven to be the most consistent threat they have. Mauk goes through hot and cold spells, but when he’s cold, he’s ice cold. He could have given this game away multiple times on interceptions that were gift-wrapped and then dropped (or negated by penalty). The run game remains a mess. I don’t know what Missouri has to do, but there’s no easy fix. You have to wonder if they don’t start giving Drew Lock more consecutive series just to see what’s there in earnest.
4. Some bright spots — Corey Fatony had a great game and was a big reason Missouri was in this. Andrew Baggett made two field goals. The defensive line had some nice pressure through three quarters, but then struggled to close. That’s, honestly, about it.
5. This is the first true gut-punch loss for Missouri in a while. I’m going back to the injuries here. This team needed a slow fix on offense, but now with those four guys perhaps out, there’s even more pressure on the defense. The offensive line, if Crawford is done for a while, goes with a third-stringer at left guard (McNulty) and a guy who didn’t out-right win the guard job at right tackle (Chappell).
This has the potential to snowball. Pinkel’s teams have been good at regrouping, but the severity of these injuries will likely determine the outcome of the season.
On defense, Missouri couldn’t cover the middle of the field and that ultimately led to every one of Kentucky’s three touchdowns.
2. This loss hurts even more. Four injuries to key starters — Sean Culkin (knee), Nate Crawford (ankle), Ian Simon (concussion) and, most devastatingly, an injury to Kentrell Brothers that’s being called an ankle sprain but looked a hell of a lot more serious. Either way, none of those injuries look particularly promising, and this season could take a quick turn without four key players.
3. The questions keep mounting on offense. I don’t even know where to start. Some befuddling play calling, especially with the lack of Tyler Hunt even though he’s proven to be the most consistent threat they have. Mauk goes through hot and cold spells, but when he’s cold, he’s ice cold. He could have given this game away multiple times on interceptions that were gift-wrapped and then dropped (or negated by penalty). The run game remains a mess. I don’t know what Missouri has to do, but there’s no easy fix. You have to wonder if they don’t start giving Drew Lock more consecutive series just to see what’s there in earnest.
4. Some bright spots — Corey Fatony had a great game and was a big reason Missouri was in this. Andrew Baggett made two field goals. The defensive line had some nice pressure through three quarters, but then struggled to close. That’s, honestly, about it.
5. This is the first true gut-punch loss for Missouri in a while. I’m going back to the injuries here. This team needed a slow fix on offense, but now with those four guys perhaps out, there’s even more pressure on the defense. The offensive line, if Crawford is done for a while, goes with a third-stringer at left guard (McNulty) and a guy who didn’t out-right win the guard job at right tackle (Chappell).
This has the potential to snowball. Pinkel’s teams have been good at regrouping, but the severity of these injuries will likely determine the outcome of the season.
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