1) It wasn't good enough. Period. The offense scored only 27 points against an FCS team. They've averaged more points than that in the first half of their FCS games since the 2015 season (led SEMO by the same 17-3 score at halftime of that one...and we all know how legendary the 2015 offense was). This was supposed to be the game everybody played. We were supposed to get a look at some more quarterbacks and some freshmen. We didn't. Because Missouri didn't play well enough to put itself in a position to do that. That's not good.
2) Everybody who watched the game knows the biggest problem is the offensive line. It doesn't really matter how good the quarterback or running back or receivers are (and I'm not saying any of them are necessarily great) if the line can't block anyone. Missouri has gotten shoved around in short yardage in three games. They ran for 320 yards in week one and 195 today but I didn't come away from either one impressed with the running game. Eli Drinkwitz said they need to identify the five best guys. I don't actually think that's the problem. I trust them enough to think the five best are playing (or at least that there isn't a huge dropoff to the point they've got a lot of talent languishing on the bench). I think the problem is that they just don't have five guys who are good enough to make up a decent SEC offensive line. Missouri has played three games and I haven't come away from any of them thinking they had a decided advantage up front when they have the ball. Which means I'm not sure I'll think that coming out of any game this year.
3) The question is if there's anything Missouri can do about it. If the talent isn't going to get upgraded, can you scheme around it? I watched the Chiefs do exactly that on Thursday night. You're going to have to start keeping tight ends and/or running backs in to help block (it's not like they're major threats in the passing game anyway). You're going to have to run some quick game and get the ball out of Brady Cook's hands early against SEC teams. There's no way to upgrade the talent so you have to do the best you can to maximize what the available talent can do.
4) Brady Cook was good today. Not perfect, but good. He did what was asked. He hit a deep ball. He overthrew another one (for those that say arm strength is the issue, he has a strong enough arm to get it there). He turned it over once but that's because he was hit so hard his soul may have actually left his body. He never put the ball in jeopardy throwing it. He ran when he needed to do and did so effectively. He's not an all-SEC quarterback, but you can win enough games to get to a bowl with him. But, again, he has to be upright to win games.
5) So it turns out Luther Burden is a decent punt returner. I was with those who didn't understand why he wasn't doing it from the start. But I was willing to give Eli Drinkwitz the benefit of the doubt and assume he had a reason. Whatever that reason was, the benefit of the doubt left when Burden took the first return of his college career back 78 yards for a touchdown and then nearly broke the third one too. For those who said "But he let the ball bounce," yes, he did, but those punts weren't close to him. He can't make the punter better. He caught at least two or three in the air so he's obviously capable of doing so. He's the punt return. There's no more discussion.
6) Speaking of receivers, Dom Lovett can play a little. He's led the Tigers in receiving every game. He's also got a great personality. Somebody asked what made him good and he said (I'm paraphrasing here), he's fairly shifty, he's fast enough and he has good hands. Add in the quarterback and you get a good receiver. Drinkwitz said having Burden here has added a little motivation for Lovett to prove that Luther isn't the only East St. Louis wideout people should be paying attention to. Whatever did it, he's having the breakout year many predicted he would.
7) The defense was good enough mostly. I didn't learn a lot about them. There's definitely some concern as far as how disruptive they are up front. Not many tackles for loss and hits on the quarterback. To win games in the SEC, they're probably going to have to go from good enough to actually good. Because if Mizzou's going to find more than a win or two the rest of the way, I think it's more likely that that defense has taken another step and allowed them to win some games 20-17 than it is that the offense suddenly figures it out and wins 38-35.
8) Couple of milestones worth mentioning today: Barrett Banister made the 100th reception of his career and Ennis Rakestraw got his first interception. Moments I'm sure they'll both remember.
9) Rare oddity to see Harrison Mevis struggle today. The 52-yarder happens. That's a long kick. But the 39-yarder was a surprise. It's the first time Mevis has missed two field goals in the same game in his career. It was good to see him go out there and make a 51-yarder later. I don't think Mevis has any confidence issues and I don't think it's some big concern. But today at least showed he isn't perfect.
10) Next week isn't the entire season...but it's a big part of it. I refuse to classify the game at Auburn as an automatic loss. Auburn isn't great. I'm not even sure Auburn is good. Is it going to be a challenge? Absolutely. Has Missouri shown anything to lead you to believe they'll go win that game? Absolutely not. But a win can erase the K-State loss and reopen up some possibilities for the season. If they lose? Well, basketball season starts in less than two months.
2) Everybody who watched the game knows the biggest problem is the offensive line. It doesn't really matter how good the quarterback or running back or receivers are (and I'm not saying any of them are necessarily great) if the line can't block anyone. Missouri has gotten shoved around in short yardage in three games. They ran for 320 yards in week one and 195 today but I didn't come away from either one impressed with the running game. Eli Drinkwitz said they need to identify the five best guys. I don't actually think that's the problem. I trust them enough to think the five best are playing (or at least that there isn't a huge dropoff to the point they've got a lot of talent languishing on the bench). I think the problem is that they just don't have five guys who are good enough to make up a decent SEC offensive line. Missouri has played three games and I haven't come away from any of them thinking they had a decided advantage up front when they have the ball. Which means I'm not sure I'll think that coming out of any game this year.
3) The question is if there's anything Missouri can do about it. If the talent isn't going to get upgraded, can you scheme around it? I watched the Chiefs do exactly that on Thursday night. You're going to have to start keeping tight ends and/or running backs in to help block (it's not like they're major threats in the passing game anyway). You're going to have to run some quick game and get the ball out of Brady Cook's hands early against SEC teams. There's no way to upgrade the talent so you have to do the best you can to maximize what the available talent can do.
4) Brady Cook was good today. Not perfect, but good. He did what was asked. He hit a deep ball. He overthrew another one (for those that say arm strength is the issue, he has a strong enough arm to get it there). He turned it over once but that's because he was hit so hard his soul may have actually left his body. He never put the ball in jeopardy throwing it. He ran when he needed to do and did so effectively. He's not an all-SEC quarterback, but you can win enough games to get to a bowl with him. But, again, he has to be upright to win games.
5) So it turns out Luther Burden is a decent punt returner. I was with those who didn't understand why he wasn't doing it from the start. But I was willing to give Eli Drinkwitz the benefit of the doubt and assume he had a reason. Whatever that reason was, the benefit of the doubt left when Burden took the first return of his college career back 78 yards for a touchdown and then nearly broke the third one too. For those who said "But he let the ball bounce," yes, he did, but those punts weren't close to him. He can't make the punter better. He caught at least two or three in the air so he's obviously capable of doing so. He's the punt return. There's no more discussion.
6) Speaking of receivers, Dom Lovett can play a little. He's led the Tigers in receiving every game. He's also got a great personality. Somebody asked what made him good and he said (I'm paraphrasing here), he's fairly shifty, he's fast enough and he has good hands. Add in the quarterback and you get a good receiver. Drinkwitz said having Burden here has added a little motivation for Lovett to prove that Luther isn't the only East St. Louis wideout people should be paying attention to. Whatever did it, he's having the breakout year many predicted he would.
7) The defense was good enough mostly. I didn't learn a lot about them. There's definitely some concern as far as how disruptive they are up front. Not many tackles for loss and hits on the quarterback. To win games in the SEC, they're probably going to have to go from good enough to actually good. Because if Mizzou's going to find more than a win or two the rest of the way, I think it's more likely that that defense has taken another step and allowed them to win some games 20-17 than it is that the offense suddenly figures it out and wins 38-35.
8) Couple of milestones worth mentioning today: Barrett Banister made the 100th reception of his career and Ennis Rakestraw got his first interception. Moments I'm sure they'll both remember.
9) Rare oddity to see Harrison Mevis struggle today. The 52-yarder happens. That's a long kick. But the 39-yarder was a surprise. It's the first time Mevis has missed two field goals in the same game in his career. It was good to see him go out there and make a 51-yarder later. I don't think Mevis has any confidence issues and I don't think it's some big concern. But today at least showed he isn't perfect.
10) Next week isn't the entire season...but it's a big part of it. I refuse to classify the game at Auburn as an automatic loss. Auburn isn't great. I'm not even sure Auburn is good. Is it going to be a challenge? Absolutely. Has Missouri shown anything to lead you to believe they'll go win that game? Absolutely not. But a win can erase the K-State loss and reopen up some possibilities for the season. If they lose? Well, basketball season starts in less than two months.
