1.) Missouri won third down, fourth down and turnovers (and still lost)
More times than not if a team wins third down, fourth down and the turnover battle then it should win. Missouri went 8 of 19 on third down, converted a couple of fourth downs and both teams had one turnover, but Wake Forest’s turnover led to a touchdown drive. Having nine penalties for 85 yards and allowing four sacks, 10 tackles for loss and fumbling three times (one lost) doesn’t help. The secondary getting ripped to shreds underneath doesn’t either. Usually, it’s details like this that make or break a game. Missouri did the details better and still lost.
2.) Mizzou missed defensive starters
Predictably, Mizzou not having starting defensive ends Isaiah McGuire, DJ Coleman, Trajan Jeffcoat, DJ Coleman and safety Martez Manuel hurt. Missouri did limit Wake Forest to just 20 points even though it came into the game averaging nearly 37 points per game. The defense recorded two sacks and four tackles for loss, but allowed almost 400 yards of total offense.
The secondary was thought to be probably the best position group on this team entering the game and it struggled the most, despite only missing one starter compared to three on the defensive line. The drive after Mizzou took the lead, Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman walked the defense down with three passes for 65 yards and a touchdown on a four-play, 75-yard drive. That would be the go-ahead score. Wake Forest wide receiver AT Perry had 11 receptions for 116 yards and Jahmal Banks had three receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown. The quick curls, out routes and drag routes just punished the secondary time and time again.
3.) Offensive line is in rough shape
The offensive line of Javon Foster, Xavier Delgado, Connor Tollison, Connor Wood and Armand Membou had played together in the last three games and they seemed to be playing well, but it wasn’t that way in the first quarter. It didn’t last too much beyond that because Wood was carted off the field towards the end of the first and Tollison was helped to the sideline early in the second quarter. Four first-quarter rushing yards and on six carries is pretty bad. The team rushed for 125 yards for the game. Walters replaced Wood and almost immediately committed a false start and later committed a hold on the first play of the last drive of the first half. He finished the game with three penalties. This offensive line is bad. Really bad. But this game wasn't the game that told you that. It just confirms that the offensive line needs to be revamped in the offseason.
More times than not if a team wins third down, fourth down and the turnover battle then it should win. Missouri went 8 of 19 on third down, converted a couple of fourth downs and both teams had one turnover, but Wake Forest’s turnover led to a touchdown drive. Having nine penalties for 85 yards and allowing four sacks, 10 tackles for loss and fumbling three times (one lost) doesn’t help. The secondary getting ripped to shreds underneath doesn’t either. Usually, it’s details like this that make or break a game. Missouri did the details better and still lost.
2.) Mizzou missed defensive starters
Predictably, Mizzou not having starting defensive ends Isaiah McGuire, DJ Coleman, Trajan Jeffcoat, DJ Coleman and safety Martez Manuel hurt. Missouri did limit Wake Forest to just 20 points even though it came into the game averaging nearly 37 points per game. The defense recorded two sacks and four tackles for loss, but allowed almost 400 yards of total offense.
The secondary was thought to be probably the best position group on this team entering the game and it struggled the most, despite only missing one starter compared to three on the defensive line. The drive after Mizzou took the lead, Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman walked the defense down with three passes for 65 yards and a touchdown on a four-play, 75-yard drive. That would be the go-ahead score. Wake Forest wide receiver AT Perry had 11 receptions for 116 yards and Jahmal Banks had three receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown. The quick curls, out routes and drag routes just punished the secondary time and time again.
3.) Offensive line is in rough shape
The offensive line of Javon Foster, Xavier Delgado, Connor Tollison, Connor Wood and Armand Membou had played together in the last three games and they seemed to be playing well, but it wasn’t that way in the first quarter. It didn’t last too much beyond that because Wood was carted off the field towards the end of the first and Tollison was helped to the sideline early in the second quarter. Four first-quarter rushing yards and on six carries is pretty bad. The team rushed for 125 yards for the game. Walters replaced Wood and almost immediately committed a false start and later committed a hold on the first play of the last drive of the first half. He finished the game with three penalties. This offensive line is bad. Really bad. But this game wasn't the game that told you that. It just confirms that the offensive line needs to be revamped in the offseason.
