Mizzou 3-2-1: South Carolina
After each game, PowerMizzou.com takes a look at three things we learned, two things we still don't know and a prediction for the rest of the season. Here is the 3-2-1 report from a 31-21 loss to South Carolina.
RELATED LINKS: First Five Reactions | Barry Odom Post-Game | Video: Mizzou Players
THREE THINGS WE LEARNED
1. Missouri doesn't have a kicking game. Like at all. The Tigers used two kickers (Barry Odom indicated without specifically saying it that Tucker McCann didn't start due in part to academics) to miss two field goals and boot two kickoffs out of bounds providing a short field for South Carolina. The Tigers aren't good enough to make as many mistakes as they do. With an offense that is spotty at best, when you get in position to get points, you need to get points. Who knows how different the game looks if the Tigers can make even one of the two manageable kicks they missed?
2. Eric Beisel has earned long-term playing time. With a ridiculously thin linebacking corps further decimated when Cale Garrett was kicked out of the game for targeting on his first snap, Beisel led the Tigers with 14 tackles, including two for a loss. He did give up a touchdown pass, but even on that play managed to knock the ball away only to see South Carolina make the catch anyway (it's been that kind of year). Brandon Lee and Terez Hall filled in relatively well too. If you're looking for a silver lining, Missouri might have some guys who can help at linebacker and T.J. Warren seems likely to improve since he's only been at the position for a week-and-a-half.
3. The Tigers should lean on the run more. A lot more. Damarea Crockett and Ish Witter combined to run the ball 24 times for 162 yards. Perhaps if that number had gone up by 50%...or if Missouri had handed the ball off even once in the first quarter, things would have looked different at the end. After running it very well much of the second and third quarter, the game changed when Mizzou went for the jugular with a 40-yard deep ball that turned into an interception which turned into a 98-yard touchdown drive which turned into a loss.
TWO QUESTIONS WE HAVE
1. When is Drew Lock no longer a young quarterback? Lock has now started 17 games. That's a full season-and-a-half. He's over a third of the way through his career. And he's got two wins over teams with a pulse. Now, to be fair, Lock may not have been the main reason for the loss. He may not be the main reason for many losses. But he's also never been the main reason for a win. For perspective, here is Lock's stat line next to that of Jake Bentley, a true freshman starting his third game for South Carolina.
2. How important is pride? Because at this point, barring three straight wins (akin to a miracle at this point) and an APR reprieve, Missouri isn't going bowling. The players and Odom were (honestly, almost a bit strangely) emotional after this one. They talked of sending the seniors out right, of righting the ship and fighting and clawing to make the best they can of this lost season. To say it is one thing. To do it is another. It has been 12 years since any Missouri player played a game that started with no possibility of going to a bowl. They're about to play three in a row. We'll see how they react.
ONE PREDICTION
What's to predict? We've already said we don't think Missouri's going to win another game. What else is there? At this point, all that matters is the offseason. The next three weeks are about guys auditioning for jobs, proving who wants to be here and finding out who doesn't. Predictions? Nah, we got nothing.