Missouri defensive end Johnny Walker Jr. (15) sacks Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) 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)
The Tigers were tanked by the Tide after Brady Cook left with another injury.
Well that was certainly something. Mizzou came in as a heavy underdog, but being shut out and losing by five touchdowns wasn’t really something most Tiger fans had on their bingo cards.
What started as a potentially promising defensive battle quickly turned into yet another Mizzou rout on the road against a good team. So here’s what we learned:
1. Mizzou had no shot to win this game
This takeaway is certainly with hindsight, but that’s the whole point of this article, isn’t it? Even before the season started, Tiger fans knew it was going to be a long shot to walk out of Tuscaloosa with a win. Tack on a badly injured ankle for Brady Cook in addition to an already less-than-explosive offense and there was a reason Mizzou was a 16.5-point underdog to Alabama.
Once Cook went out for good in the 2nd quarter, all hope of a Mizzou win left with him. Mizzou was simply not going to win a game at Alabama with a back-up quarterback. That may sound defeatist, but it’s the truth. As far as Eli Drinkwitz has brought this program in terms of recruiting and culture building, the Mizzou roster still pales in comparison to what the Crimson Tide are able to roll onto the field in waves. There is still plenty on the table to achieve this year for the Tigers, but this one just wasn’t in the cards.
2. Oh Brady, where art thou?
While Tiger fans’ calls for Drew Pyne over Brady Cook were rightfully rebuffed last week following Cook’s heroics against Auburn, there can be no more questions about who is the only competitive quarterback on the roster. Brady managed to recover from last week’s ankle injury to look healthy enough to start the Alabama game. While clearly not 100%, he was able to run the offense without turning the ball over. The offense was not productive, but that was more due to poor offensive line play, causing Cook to often panic and scramble out of the pocket. Often when he didn’t need to.
However, once Brady hit an opponent’s helmet with his throwing hand not once, but twice in the second quarter, he was forced to leave with a second serious injury in as many weeks. Enter Drew Pyne, who promptly threw three interceptions in his first nine passes. This put to bed any hope of Mizzou running a competent offense this season with anyone other than Brady Cook under center. Ice that hand, Brady. Ice it good.
3. The defense was hung out to dry
This game started on quite a different note than how it ended. This is thanks in part to a solid defensive scheme out of the gate by Corey Batoon’s squad as they crowded the line of scrimmage, stuffed the running game, pressured Jalen Milroe and forced him to throw it short. A silly personal foul on sixth-year senior Kristian Williams and a missed holding call were the only reasons the Tiger defense gave up any points through the first four drives of the game. This game had all the makings of a grind-it-out defensive struggle like last week’s game against Auburn.
Unfortunately, the Tiger offense was flaccid and dysfunctional even when Brady Cook was still on the field. Three and out after three and out after turnover after three and out repeatedly put the defense in poor positions and with short fields. The dam finally broke early in the second half, once it was clear Cook wasn’t coming back and the game was out of hand. This defense deserved better.
4. This was Kirby Moore’s worst game as a Tiger
It was obvious to everyone watching this game that the game plan was to slow the pace, control the ball, limit possessions, play the field position game and hope for some luck and maybe a turnover or two. At the same time, Kirby comes out in the first drive, with a physically compromised quarterback, and calls:
Screen pass to Luther Burden for no gain
Flea flicker for an eight yard loss (sack)
Pass five yards short of the sticks
Now the sample size for that first drive is small, but when your quarterback is already hurting, it might be nice to run the ball at least once. Additionally, when you have one of the most electric playmakers in college football, it might make sense to give him more than five touches in the game. It costs nothing to hand it off to him on a jet sweep or throw a tunnel screen where he is the only target. Yet apparently Kirby thinks every time Luther takes a hand-off somewhere a puppy dies. This unit failed in many ways in this game, including an offensive line that was dominated from start to finish, but after a season full of lackluster offensive performances, getting shut out should cause some serious mirror gazing.
5. So long, playoffs
After suffering their second loss of the season, the Tigers can all but kiss their playoff hopes goodbye. Even if Mizzou wins the rest of their games (looking less and less likely as the injuries pile up,) 10 wins will most likely not be enough considering Mizzou’s weak schedule. Wins over Oklahoma, South Carolina and Arkansas will move the needle and it will require more than a handful of playoff-caliber teams suffering third and even fourth losses for Mizzou to get a nod over them.
That doesn’t mean there still isn’t plenty to play for this season. Ten wins is still very much on the table for the Tigers and I can count on one hand the number of those I’ve seen in my lifetime, and even fewer times they’ve done it in back-to-back seasons. Yes, missing the playoffs is disappointing considering the expectations this season, but finishing the season strong will continue positive momentum into the transfer portal and spring recruiting seasons. The Tigers now enter a bye week before welcoming home the hated Sooners. We’ve heard a lot about the Brotherhood and the culture Drinkwitz has built in the Mizzou locker room. This is the time where they will need to lean on that culture in a major way.
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