Alabama defense rolls over Missouri in 34-0 shellacking

Oct 26, 2024 | Uncategorized

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Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz screams at referees in the first half of a game against Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (CAL TOBIAS/ROCK M NATION)

Drew Pyne threw three interceptions in relief of Brady Cook in a game Missouri fans will try to forget.

Few atmospheres in college football can measure up to the gameday experience in Tuscaloosa, akin to how few teams in college football can walk into Bryant-Denny stadium and come out with a win. No. 21 Missouri had the chance to be the lowest-ranked team to beat No. 15 Alabama on the road since unranked Louisiana-Monroe famously pulled off the feat in 2007. Alabama would put a stop to any of those conversations, as they boat raced Missouri in a humbling 34-0 defeat.

Legendary Alabama head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant once said following a loss to Missouri, that his team got a “good old country beating.” The opening of this game showed that this one was slating to be a good old country defensive showdown, as both teams showcased potent defenses that weren’t giving up any easy plays.

Bryant’s coaching world came long before analytics could tell you the story of a football game, but the analytics summed up Missouri’s first half performance better than anything else possibly could have. Zeroth percentile in EPA/play and explosive play rate, while being in the bottom 10th percentile of every stat except for EPA/rush and havoc rate. It was a first half road performance that left plenty to be desired as the Tigers found themselves down 13-0.

Both teams were zero for three on third down in the first quarter, with the lone score being a 47-yard field goal courtesy of Alabama’s Graham Nicholson. That drive was kickstarted by an irresponsible 15-yard penalty that resulted from Kristian Williams ripping an Alabama player’s helmet off, followed by 21-yard run from Kendrick Law.

A major storyline heading into the game was the status of Brady Cook, who was limited in practice all week with an ankle injury he suffered against Auburn. Cook was listed as a game-time decision, but started the game as the team’s premier signal-caller. Behind Cook, the offense was unable to find rhythm on four straight drives, as the only drive without a three-and-out was a drive extended by a penalty, similar to Alabama.

Johnny Walker Jr. made his presence known in this game, as he picked up two drive-ending sacks in the first half. Walker has been noticeably quiet leading up to this game, making people question whether he’s the right man to take the mantle from Darius Robinson as this team’s premier edge rusher. He silenced some of those critics early in this tilt.

After a fifth straight drive ending in a punt, Cook was seen with his helmet off heading down the tunnel to the locker room. Alabama put another field goal on the board courtesy of some chunk plays from Jalen Milroe to Germie Bernard, but all eyes were on the Missouri offense to see if they could make any dent in a determined Alabama defense.

Drew Pyne came into the game in relief of Cook, to which offensive coordinator Kirby Moore granted him three straight running plays. Pyne’s first passing attempt came on third and six, and while directed towards Luther Burden III it fell directly into the hands of Alabama’s Malachi Moore, who returned it 31-yards to the Missouri 35-yard line.

From then, the Crimson Tide made quick work of an understandably tired Missouri defense, with a three-play, 35-yard drive that ended with a three-yard score from Jam Miller.

Pyne would come back on the field and lead Missouri to their longest drive of the half, a 34-yard drive that ended with a 58-yard missed field goal from Blake Craig. Cook made it back onto the bench but was seen without his helmet and with teammates shaking his hand and patting him on the back, an obvious sign that he would not be returning to the game.

A noticeable omission from the offense was routes running down the middle of the field, as most routes down the middle were checkdown routes that had no intention of being thrown to. It’s a surprising omission given the success of the offense when it is utilized, but a telling one given the offensive performance.

Alabama made quick work of a dejected Missouri team in the second half, as they opened the second half with a six-play, 80-yard drive that ended in a Jalen Milroe nine-yard touchdown rush. With Cook out for the game, it was up to Drew Pyne to try and push the Tigers back into respectable territory down 20 in the early going of the third quarter.

Pyne responded by throwing two picks on his first two drives of the half, with the first being a poorly-placed ball to Burden in double coverage and the second being a desperation heave under pressure that fell into the hands of an Alabama defender.

Two of Pyne’s picks resulted in touchdowns for the Tide, as they kept pouring onto the Tigers. This marked the second straight road game where the Tigers were looking for moral victories as opposed to actual ones before the turn of the fourth quarter.

The offense struggled to find rhythm for the rest of the game while Alabama coasted along, as the Tide fans were treated to a stress-free homecoming football game.

First-year Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer’s group accumulated 7.71 yards/play en route to a 486 total yard performance. While Drinkwitz’s group picked up just 239 total yards at 3.79 yards/play. Missouri finished the game three-for-12 on third down while Alabama finished one-for-eight, thanks to the majority of the Crimson Tide’s explosive plays coming on first and second down.

Missouri has a bye week coming up next, followed by a home game on November 9th against the Oklahoma Sooners.

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