I mean, it's more or less gone the way we expected. Honestly, it's probably gone a little better than I expected after Alabama scored an 81-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage. At 13-10 at the end of a quarter, Missouri was very briefly a part of this game.
We've seen the best and the worst of Drew Lock. The touchdown he threw to Jalen Knox was a ridiculous throw, a no-doubt first-round NFL draft pick throw. And then he takes one of the worst sacks I've ever seen because he absolutely refuses to throw the ball away.
Speaking of Knox, he looks good. He and Tyler Badie are playing like they belong in this game.
It sucks that Terez Hall was ejected. By the letter of the law, it's the right call. The way they enforce targeting, he deserved to be tossed. But I have no idea how you teach a defensive player not to do what he did on that play. The running back lowered his head and Hall made a tackle. Yeah, it was helmet to helmet. I'm not sure what else he could have done there. At least it came in the first half.
This game really isn't about Missouri. Alabama is really this good. Missouri hasn't been perfect by any means, but the fact is, Bama really is this much better than the Tigers...and just about everyone else.
I thought the play that best exemplified that was one that didn't even count. On the 80 yard TD to Henry Ruggs that was called back, DeMarkus Acy was just swallowed by a block by a wide receiver and Ruggs outran the angle on two Missouri defenders. Their guys are just better. They're faster and they're just better. And that's not a knock on Missouri. They're faster and better than everybody.
I'd like to have seen Barry Odom go for it on fourth and two from the 46 rather than punt. It wouldn't really have changed anything. But the only way you can even make this somewhat interesting is to score virtually every time you have the ball. Bama hasn't punted in 33 possessions. They're not going to punt tonight I wouldn't think. Takeaways and holding to field goals and scoring touchdowns yourself is the only way you're keeping it interesting. Punting won't do it.
What makes the second half a success? I don't know. Maybe score a time or two and make Bama put forth some effort. I don't really see a way you win obviously, but maybe you can make them have to try for a full game.
Side note: Bryant Denny Stadium is pretty awesome. When Mizzou comes back in 12 years, it's worth the trip.
We've seen the best and the worst of Drew Lock. The touchdown he threw to Jalen Knox was a ridiculous throw, a no-doubt first-round NFL draft pick throw. And then he takes one of the worst sacks I've ever seen because he absolutely refuses to throw the ball away.
Speaking of Knox, he looks good. He and Tyler Badie are playing like they belong in this game.
It sucks that Terez Hall was ejected. By the letter of the law, it's the right call. The way they enforce targeting, he deserved to be tossed. But I have no idea how you teach a defensive player not to do what he did on that play. The running back lowered his head and Hall made a tackle. Yeah, it was helmet to helmet. I'm not sure what else he could have done there. At least it came in the first half.
This game really isn't about Missouri. Alabama is really this good. Missouri hasn't been perfect by any means, but the fact is, Bama really is this much better than the Tigers...and just about everyone else.
I thought the play that best exemplified that was one that didn't even count. On the 80 yard TD to Henry Ruggs that was called back, DeMarkus Acy was just swallowed by a block by a wide receiver and Ruggs outran the angle on two Missouri defenders. Their guys are just better. They're faster and they're just better. And that's not a knock on Missouri. They're faster and better than everybody.
I'd like to have seen Barry Odom go for it on fourth and two from the 46 rather than punt. It wouldn't really have changed anything. But the only way you can even make this somewhat interesting is to score virtually every time you have the ball. Bama hasn't punted in 33 possessions. They're not going to punt tonight I wouldn't think. Takeaways and holding to field goals and scoring touchdowns yourself is the only way you're keeping it interesting. Punting won't do it.
What makes the second half a success? I don't know. Maybe score a time or two and make Bama put forth some effort. I don't really see a way you win obviously, but maybe you can make them have to try for a full game.
Side note: Bryant Denny Stadium is pretty awesome. When Mizzou comes back in 12 years, it's worth the trip.
