The day after each game I'll do ten thoughts specific to that week's game. Monday's ten thoughts will tend to be a little more big picture
1) The lack of explosive plays is the biggest takeaway for me. I believe Drinkwitz has said they define explosive plays as a 15 yard run or a 20 yard pass. Missouri had four of them. One was a quarterback draw. That's not enough. Especially for an offense that spent all offseason telling us it needed to be more explosive against an FCS team. There should have been at least a couple of times where guys were just wide open deep downfield either because they're far better athletes than the guys defending them or they were schemed open. If that happened, I missed it. You can beat South Dakota with a million six-yard passes. I don't know how many other teams you can beat that way.
2) There are two possible explanations for number one. Drinkwitz said USD played a different scheme than they were expecting which was specifically designed to take away big plays. Okay, but still, on sheer athleticism and talent you should make a few. I'm all for take what they give you, but it still seems like there should have been more opportunities. The second explanation is that they were vanilla and didn't try anything exotic on offense. I believe that to be the case to an extent as well. But even so, your base plays should result in a few big ones against that team. That's what I keep coming back to on this. Why only one big run? Why only one pass I remember being thrown more than 20 yards in the air?
3) The biggest positives for me on offense are Luther Burden and Mekhi Miller. Both went out and made plays. Both consistently got open. Miller had the one drop that was a pick, but he had a TD and the longest catch of the day. Burden was more versatile than he was last year getting open downfield and taking some big hits. Those two should start along with Theo Wease at receiver. I didn't see a ton out of Wease last night, but it's one game. Miller needs to play over Mookie Cooper. The last two offseasons we've heard it's coming for Cooper, but we haven't seen it.
4) I'd limit the number of punt returns Burden gets. He took enough big hits last night that I wouldn't put him at risk for more than you have to. I wouldn't completely take him off punt returns, but I'd pick my spots. Employ him the way the Chiefs did Tyreek Hill once Hill became a great receiver. If you see something in the coverage or you're in a spot you really need the juice from a big return, put Luther back there. Otherwise, let somebody else do it. The truth is most returns aren't getting you a ton anyway (I think he had four punts where the ball didn't reach him or he fair caught it). He's your best player. You've got to look at risk/reward of where you use him.
5) Give Jordon Harris and Brett Norfleet 75% of the reps at tight end. I understand they probably don't know the whole playbook and there are certain situations where you're going to need experience. But the tight ends aren't a threat. Maybe Harris and Norfleet will be.
6) I'm not going to read too much into the offensive line off this game. They should dominate up front. They did pretty well. Mizzou ran for 221 yards and even if you take away his 42 yarder, Cody Schrader averaged six a carry. (Side note: Schrader is clearly the No. 1 back. I thought Nathaniel Peat would take that from him, but behind the same line against the same defense, Peat averaged 3.7 yards per carry; he's faster and more athletic, but Schrader is a better running back). There was only one sack in the game. Connor Tollison made a great block Drinkwitz pointed out on Luther Burden's late TD. There were a couple penalties you'd like to get rid of, but overall a solid performance. But again, I just can't put too much weight on it yet. I want to see it against an FBS team.
7) The defense was dominant and wasn't at full strength. USD put together the long drive at the start of the third quarter that kind of killed the atmosphere and there were a couple of busted coverages. But the Coyotes got their only touchdown off a 30-yard drive, averaged less than a yard per carry and generally posed no threat. I'm willing to ask the defense to be really good, but I'm not willing to ask them to be perfect. They were really good and did so without Chad Bailey or Jaylon Carlies. That's encouraging.
8) Harrison Mevis is officially a question mark. I saw enough in fall camp to know Blake Craig isn't ready to push him for the job. But Mevis missed two field goals and should have missed an extra point if not for a penalty. USD came close to blocking at least a couple of kicks. The guy that was automatic for two years is no longer automatic. Missouri's going to play some close games. It's not a sure thing they can count on getting three right now and it's hard not to think it will cost them a game.
9) Eli Drinkwitz can handle the QB situation any way he wants. He owes none of us anything. He can keep calling it a competition all year if he'd like. It is important to get Sam Horn reps when you can because he's one snap away from being the starter even if there's little indication he's close to being the starter right now. It's his program, he can handle it as he sees fit. I'm sure he has his reasons and he doesn't have to tell us what they are. That said, if I were him, I'd say on Tuesday at media day that Brady Cook is my starter based on his performance in camp and week one, but they're still going to get Horn as much work as they can to make sure he's ready if they need him. But while the game's in doubt, Cook's the guy.
10) My biggest disappointment overall was the lack of getting to look at any of the depth really. I'd have liked to see Tavorus Jones and Jamal Roberts. I'd have liked Daniel Blood, Josh Manning and Dannis Jackson to get more run. I'd have liked to see Joe Moore get a few more reps. I'd have liked to see more offensive linemen. But Missouri couldn't put away an inferior team that it should have put away soon enough to let Drinkwitz play all of those guys without fear of repercussions in the game. And there really aren't a whole lot of other chances to do so. Middle Tennessee and Memphis and even Vandy absolutely should still be earmarked as wins, but they're good enough to push Missouri and on the right day to beat them. So as we sit here today, it doesn't really look like there's going to be a game where you can just let everybody go out there and play. There were two of those last year (New Mexico State, Abilene Christian). It's not a huge deal. A series or two doesn't change the long term outlook for those guys. But I'd still have liked to see them get a chance.
1) The lack of explosive plays is the biggest takeaway for me. I believe Drinkwitz has said they define explosive plays as a 15 yard run or a 20 yard pass. Missouri had four of them. One was a quarterback draw. That's not enough. Especially for an offense that spent all offseason telling us it needed to be more explosive against an FCS team. There should have been at least a couple of times where guys were just wide open deep downfield either because they're far better athletes than the guys defending them or they were schemed open. If that happened, I missed it. You can beat South Dakota with a million six-yard passes. I don't know how many other teams you can beat that way.
2) There are two possible explanations for number one. Drinkwitz said USD played a different scheme than they were expecting which was specifically designed to take away big plays. Okay, but still, on sheer athleticism and talent you should make a few. I'm all for take what they give you, but it still seems like there should have been more opportunities. The second explanation is that they were vanilla and didn't try anything exotic on offense. I believe that to be the case to an extent as well. But even so, your base plays should result in a few big ones against that team. That's what I keep coming back to on this. Why only one big run? Why only one pass I remember being thrown more than 20 yards in the air?
3) The biggest positives for me on offense are Luther Burden and Mekhi Miller. Both went out and made plays. Both consistently got open. Miller had the one drop that was a pick, but he had a TD and the longest catch of the day. Burden was more versatile than he was last year getting open downfield and taking some big hits. Those two should start along with Theo Wease at receiver. I didn't see a ton out of Wease last night, but it's one game. Miller needs to play over Mookie Cooper. The last two offseasons we've heard it's coming for Cooper, but we haven't seen it.
4) I'd limit the number of punt returns Burden gets. He took enough big hits last night that I wouldn't put him at risk for more than you have to. I wouldn't completely take him off punt returns, but I'd pick my spots. Employ him the way the Chiefs did Tyreek Hill once Hill became a great receiver. If you see something in the coverage or you're in a spot you really need the juice from a big return, put Luther back there. Otherwise, let somebody else do it. The truth is most returns aren't getting you a ton anyway (I think he had four punts where the ball didn't reach him or he fair caught it). He's your best player. You've got to look at risk/reward of where you use him.
5) Give Jordon Harris and Brett Norfleet 75% of the reps at tight end. I understand they probably don't know the whole playbook and there are certain situations where you're going to need experience. But the tight ends aren't a threat. Maybe Harris and Norfleet will be.
6) I'm not going to read too much into the offensive line off this game. They should dominate up front. They did pretty well. Mizzou ran for 221 yards and even if you take away his 42 yarder, Cody Schrader averaged six a carry. (Side note: Schrader is clearly the No. 1 back. I thought Nathaniel Peat would take that from him, but behind the same line against the same defense, Peat averaged 3.7 yards per carry; he's faster and more athletic, but Schrader is a better running back). There was only one sack in the game. Connor Tollison made a great block Drinkwitz pointed out on Luther Burden's late TD. There were a couple penalties you'd like to get rid of, but overall a solid performance. But again, I just can't put too much weight on it yet. I want to see it against an FBS team.
7) The defense was dominant and wasn't at full strength. USD put together the long drive at the start of the third quarter that kind of killed the atmosphere and there were a couple of busted coverages. But the Coyotes got their only touchdown off a 30-yard drive, averaged less than a yard per carry and generally posed no threat. I'm willing to ask the defense to be really good, but I'm not willing to ask them to be perfect. They were really good and did so without Chad Bailey or Jaylon Carlies. That's encouraging.
8) Harrison Mevis is officially a question mark. I saw enough in fall camp to know Blake Craig isn't ready to push him for the job. But Mevis missed two field goals and should have missed an extra point if not for a penalty. USD came close to blocking at least a couple of kicks. The guy that was automatic for two years is no longer automatic. Missouri's going to play some close games. It's not a sure thing they can count on getting three right now and it's hard not to think it will cost them a game.
9) Eli Drinkwitz can handle the QB situation any way he wants. He owes none of us anything. He can keep calling it a competition all year if he'd like. It is important to get Sam Horn reps when you can because he's one snap away from being the starter even if there's little indication he's close to being the starter right now. It's his program, he can handle it as he sees fit. I'm sure he has his reasons and he doesn't have to tell us what they are. That said, if I were him, I'd say on Tuesday at media day that Brady Cook is my starter based on his performance in camp and week one, but they're still going to get Horn as much work as they can to make sure he's ready if they need him. But while the game's in doubt, Cook's the guy.
10) My biggest disappointment overall was the lack of getting to look at any of the depth really. I'd have liked to see Tavorus Jones and Jamal Roberts. I'd have liked Daniel Blood, Josh Manning and Dannis Jackson to get more run. I'd have liked to see Joe Moore get a few more reps. I'd have liked to see more offensive linemen. But Missouri couldn't put away an inferior team that it should have put away soon enough to let Drinkwitz play all of those guys without fear of repercussions in the game. And there really aren't a whole lot of other chances to do so. Middle Tennessee and Memphis and even Vandy absolutely should still be earmarked as wins, but they're good enough to push Missouri and on the right day to beat them. So as we sit here today, it doesn't really look like there's going to be a game where you can just let everybody go out there and play. There were two of those last year (New Mexico State, Abilene Christian). It's not a huge deal. A series or two doesn't change the long term outlook for those guys. But I'd still have liked to see them get a chance.
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