First off, this game really should probably be even worse than 26-10. Missouri left a lot out there. Two field goals in the red zone, two punts on drives that started beyond their own 35, a blocked PAT, two dropped TD passes (one that wouldn't have counted because of a penalthy anyway). But if you can make that many mistakes and play less than your best and lead an SEC road game by 16 points at the half, that's pretty good.
The Tigers are on pace for 532 yards of offense. Drew Lock has been on point. He and the receivers looked not to be on the same page a couple of times and there were at least three drops. But Drew has played well, other than a sack he shouldn't have taken.
The run game hasn't been dominant, but it has been effective. The Tigers ran it 25 times in that half and had a couple of tough runs to move the chains. They used all three running backs and even used all three on the same drive on the one that put them up 19-10.
The defense was as good as it's been in a long time. Not perfect. There were a couple of mistakes, but Tennessee also made a couple of really nice plays in the passing game. DeMarkus Acy turned the whole game around. It looked to me like Keller Chryst expected his receiver to break his route off and the receiver went deep. But even so, a lot of times the defensive back just runs with the receiver and doesn't see that. Not only did Acy see it, but he caught the ball and ran it back 76 yards. Just a game changing play by a kid who is playing the best football of his career.
The special teams is still very, very, very yucky, which is the nicest way I can put it.
On the officiating: The targeting call sucks, but it's what the officials have to call there. I'm not saying I like it or I agree with it. The return man clearly ducked his head and created the helmet to helmet contact. But in that situation, the officials don't have a choice. The rule is stupid, the call was correct by the book. And don't forget that Joshuah Bledsoe got away with a blatant PI on third down and Damarea Crockett moved early on the touchdown to Dominic Gicinto (that kid's been a revelation the last two weeks) so let's not go blaming the officials if Missouri doesn't close this out (unless of course they screw up in the last 30 minutes).
For the second half, if you can get a stop and a score to start the half--even a field goal--you've got to feel incredibly confident about your chances. But because of the mistakes, we're still in a two score game right now, so it's far from over.
The Tigers are on pace for 532 yards of offense. Drew Lock has been on point. He and the receivers looked not to be on the same page a couple of times and there were at least three drops. But Drew has played well, other than a sack he shouldn't have taken.
The run game hasn't been dominant, but it has been effective. The Tigers ran it 25 times in that half and had a couple of tough runs to move the chains. They used all three running backs and even used all three on the same drive on the one that put them up 19-10.
The defense was as good as it's been in a long time. Not perfect. There were a couple of mistakes, but Tennessee also made a couple of really nice plays in the passing game. DeMarkus Acy turned the whole game around. It looked to me like Keller Chryst expected his receiver to break his route off and the receiver went deep. But even so, a lot of times the defensive back just runs with the receiver and doesn't see that. Not only did Acy see it, but he caught the ball and ran it back 76 yards. Just a game changing play by a kid who is playing the best football of his career.
The special teams is still very, very, very yucky, which is the nicest way I can put it.
On the officiating: The targeting call sucks, but it's what the officials have to call there. I'm not saying I like it or I agree with it. The return man clearly ducked his head and created the helmet to helmet contact. But in that situation, the officials don't have a choice. The rule is stupid, the call was correct by the book. And don't forget that Joshuah Bledsoe got away with a blatant PI on third down and Damarea Crockett moved early on the touchdown to Dominic Gicinto (that kid's been a revelation the last two weeks) so let's not go blaming the officials if Missouri doesn't close this out (unless of course they screw up in the last 30 minutes).
For the second half, if you can get a stop and a score to start the half--even a field goal--you've got to feel incredibly confident about your chances. But because of the mistakes, we're still in a two score game right now, so it's far from over.
