Advertisement
football Edit

Grading the Tigers

Every Sunday, PowerMizzou.com hands out grades from Saturday's game. Here is the report card from a 28-27 loss to Georgia.

Quarterback: Drew Lock was phenomenal in the first half, on pace for another record-breaking performance. But a three-interception second half marred the night and contributed heavily to Missouri's loss. Lock showed a world of potential...and that he hasn't even played a season's full of games yet. The best and worst was on display. FINAL GRADE: C

Advertisement

Running Backs: Missouri's were okay. They provided some push in the second half when it looked like Mizzou would close things out. But while Ish Witter and Damarea Crockett combined for 99 yards, it took them 33 carries to get there. Three per pop isn't good enough. FINAL GRADE: C-

WIDE RECEIVERS: J'Mon Moore put together one of the best games in school history, all the way until his final fumble. But without Moore, the Tigers aren't in position to do much of anything. Chris Black flashed potential, but no other Missouri wideout had more than one catch and Johnathon Johnson fumbled again. Even though it didn't lead to points, it kept UGA in the game. FINAL GRADE: C

TIGHT ENDS: All three tight ends caught a pass on Mizzou's lightning fast opening drive. They ended the night with a combined six catches for 62 yards and a touchdown. Good night all around, though they share some responsibility in the ground game not working all that well. FINAL GRADE: B

OFFENSIVE LINE: Lock wasn't sacked. He wasn't pressured much. There were too many penalties--three on Paul Adams and one on Tyler Howell--and the ground game, again, was below average. The line has been better than expected, but can still improve. FINAL GRADE: B

Charles Harris had three sacks and another tackle for loss. (Jordan Kodner)

DEFENSIVE LINE: Much, much, much better. The vaunted UGA running game never got going, producing just three runs of more than nine yards on the night. The Bulldogs averaged 2.7 yards per carry. The Tigers didn't put much pressure on Jacob Eason early, but did end the night with four sacks and seven tackles for a loss. Welcome back, Charles Harris. FINAL GRADE: B+

LINEBACKERS: Again, the ground game was contained and the linebackers are a big part of that. Donavin Newsom had nine tackles and broke up a pass. Michael Scherer had nine of his own. Terez Hall left with an ankle injury. FINAL GRADE: B+

SECONDARY: Cam Hilton popped back on the scene and played very well, intercepting one pass and breaking up another just before the final touchdown. Aarion Penton was very good, the final play notwithstanding. Thomas Wilson had ten tackles, but was frequently targeted in the first half. Missouri played some dime defense, putting freshman DeMarkus Acy on the field at corner and Ronnell Perkins at safety. But ultimately Eason threw for 308 yards and led the Bulldogs on a winning drive through the air. FINAL GRADE: C-

SPECIAL TEAMS: Tucker McCann put the ball through the uprights which was good to see. Corey Fatony was fantastic. The return games weren't a big factor on either side, largely because McCann put every kick into the end zone. A much improved effort here. FINAL GRADE: A-

COACHING: Missouri attacked when it should have slowed down and got conservative when it probably should have attacked. A 15-play drive--which should take somewhere around 8 minutes--took just 5:49 off the clock and ended in an interception in the end zone when a 15th straight run would have put the Tigers in position to kick a field goal to go up nine with less than eight minutes left. Then, with 3:32 to play, Missouri ran it on third and 11, despite UGA having two timeouts left. The coaching staff put the game on the shoulders of the defense. It didn't work. When it doesn't work, the grade suffers. There were positives too. The team was ready to play and is clearly improving. But in the fourth quarter this was probably the biggest factor in the loss. FINAL GRADE: D+

Advertisement