Here is my analysis of this extremely frustrating game:
1) When it started raining we totally lost our composure. Some of it was play calling, but mostly players not handling the conditions of the constant mouthing and late hits by SC.
2) We are getting dangerously thin at WR. Many of the drops were by our freshman WR’s who are not ready to be the main threats yet. JJ’s drops are mystifying because he has been starting for several years. If he makes the catch in the end zone in the first half we score a TD instead of settling for a field goal. Without our veteran WR’s our passing game is not very good. Where is Ofodile? Did he play today? Is he hurt? I don’t understand!
3) Our TE’s have to be better with all our WR’s out. Albert has not played like an All American. He seems to have trouble getting open at times!
4) Our redzone offense was really bad today. I know some complained about the passing we did in the red zone, but when they put 7-8 in the box you pretty much have to pass. Our young WR’s don’t get open much and can’t make the tough catches around the goal line.
5) Our defense is pretty good against the run, but our pass defense continues to be bad. We had a QB who had never started a game and I do not understand why we are only rushing three at various times, especially late in the game. The three D-lineman that rushed late in the game gave a pretty piss poor effort! I do not understand why we have had 3 or 4 breakdowns on TE’s going down the middle of the field. That is the play that killed us on the last drive for SC.
6) We had a few killer penalties that really hurt us. Cook’s holding calls killed us and the unsportsmanship calls also hurt us.
7) The officials changing the call on the long TD run should not have happened unless they had a view that I did not see! That was a huge call that went against us!
8) Drew has to be better! With most of our starting WR’s out I do not put all the blame on him. I’m not sure what Drew saw on the screen pass where our RB fell down, but man did he make a bone head pass on that play. There was no one there, but SC players. That play absolutely was a killer!
9) Our special teams are either feast or famine. McCann almost miss the ball on a kickoff in the first quarter that everyone thought was an onside kick and then he comes back later and hits a 57 yard field goal. By the way that is not our coaches fault. That is on McCann! In between that he has some good pooch kicks, but then kicks the ball out of bounds one time and also misses a chip shot field goal, although it was pooring at the time. Fatomy has some good punts, but then drops a snap to give SC great field position. I know the ball was wet, but he has to catch the ball in that situation. We also blocked a punt, but our kickoff and punt return are non-existent most of the time.
10) We have to quit playing not to lose! We need to start being more aggressive in key situations. We come back from a long delay and run the ball up the gut twice which forces a very long field goal that we got lucky on that McCann made. Then we give them the ball back with a little over a minute and we’re not very aggressive defensively and they march right down the field. I would have rather lost on a long bomb because we had blitzed like crazy and someone got beat! I’m not sure whose fault it was on the busted coverage to their TE down the middle of the field that went for 30+ yards, but that can’t happen! Our players must know who to cover or what zones to cover. If they can’t learn it then put someone in the game that can.
11) I know it was a frustrating game, but I am constantly amazed at the lack of knowledge that most fans have about the game. We tend to blame our coaches for every single thing and you must understand that the players are the ones making mistakes. Some have been calling for Odom’s head since the day he was hired. Have you ever thought that maybe getting behind him and this team might help him recruit better and ultimately help us field better teams. As a fan base I am sure we turn off more recruits because of our constant complaining, bickering, and lack of support! If we have to fire Odom and start over with a new coaching staff it will set us back at least 2-3 years.
12) I will continue to support this coaching staff and these players so we can continue to hopefully recruit good players to Mizzou!
1) When it started raining we totally lost our composure. Some of it was play calling, but mostly players not handling the conditions of the constant mouthing and late hits by SC.
2) We are getting dangerously thin at WR. Many of the drops were by our freshman WR’s who are not ready to be the main threats yet. JJ’s drops are mystifying because he has been starting for several years. If he makes the catch in the end zone in the first half we score a TD instead of settling for a field goal. Without our veteran WR’s our passing game is not very good. Where is Ofodile? Did he play today? Is he hurt? I don’t understand!
3) Our TE’s have to be better with all our WR’s out. Albert has not played like an All American. He seems to have trouble getting open at times!
4) Our redzone offense was really bad today. I know some complained about the passing we did in the red zone, but when they put 7-8 in the box you pretty much have to pass. Our young WR’s don’t get open much and can’t make the tough catches around the goal line.
5) Our defense is pretty good against the run, but our pass defense continues to be bad. We had a QB who had never started a game and I do not understand why we are only rushing three at various times, especially late in the game. The three D-lineman that rushed late in the game gave a pretty piss poor effort! I do not understand why we have had 3 or 4 breakdowns on TE’s going down the middle of the field. That is the play that killed us on the last drive for SC.
6) We had a few killer penalties that really hurt us. Cook’s holding calls killed us and the unsportsmanship calls also hurt us.
7) The officials changing the call on the long TD run should not have happened unless they had a view that I did not see! That was a huge call that went against us!
8) Drew has to be better! With most of our starting WR’s out I do not put all the blame on him. I’m not sure what Drew saw on the screen pass where our RB fell down, but man did he make a bone head pass on that play. There was no one there, but SC players. That play absolutely was a killer!
9) Our special teams are either feast or famine. McCann almost miss the ball on a kickoff in the first quarter that everyone thought was an onside kick and then he comes back later and hits a 57 yard field goal. By the way that is not our coaches fault. That is on McCann! In between that he has some good pooch kicks, but then kicks the ball out of bounds one time and also misses a chip shot field goal, although it was pooring at the time. Fatomy has some good punts, but then drops a snap to give SC great field position. I know the ball was wet, but he has to catch the ball in that situation. We also blocked a punt, but our kickoff and punt return are non-existent most of the time.
10) We have to quit playing not to lose! We need to start being more aggressive in key situations. We come back from a long delay and run the ball up the gut twice which forces a very long field goal that we got lucky on that McCann made. Then we give them the ball back with a little over a minute and we’re not very aggressive defensively and they march right down the field. I would have rather lost on a long bomb because we had blitzed like crazy and someone got beat! I’m not sure whose fault it was on the busted coverage to their TE down the middle of the field that went for 30+ yards, but that can’t happen! Our players must know who to cover or what zones to cover. If they can’t learn it then put someone in the game that can.
11) I know it was a frustrating game, but I am constantly amazed at the lack of knowledge that most fans have about the game. We tend to blame our coaches for every single thing and you must understand that the players are the ones making mistakes. Some have been calling for Odom’s head since the day he was hired. Have you ever thought that maybe getting behind him and this team might help him recruit better and ultimately help us field better teams. As a fan base I am sure we turn off more recruits because of our constant complaining, bickering, and lack of support! If we have to fire Odom and start over with a new coaching staff it will set us back at least 2-3 years.
12) I will continue to support this coaching staff and these players so we can continue to hopefully recruit good players to Mizzou!
