After each game, we take a look at what we learned, what we still don't know and make a prediction going forward. Here is the 3-2-1 report from the Mizzou's 31-13 loss to South Carolina.
                      THREE THINGS WE LEARNED
1. Those who projected this offense as the best in the SEC may not have been on to something. Oh how things can change in a week. After rolling to a number of school records in their game versus an over matched Missouri State, Drew Lock and the Missouri offense could not consistently get the ball into the end zone against South Carolina. The Tiger offensive unit eclipsed the 400 total yard mark again finishing with 423 yards. And the offense was even fairly balanced gaining 178 yards rushing and 245 yards passing. But on the Tigers' three red zone trips the unit was only able to come away with three points. Lock does not shoulder all the blame for those issues obviously. There were costly drops by J'Mon Moore and Dimetrios Mason on top of an injury to Damarea Crockett that caused him to miss most of the second half. Regardless of the reasons, a very concerning trend continued. Lock struggles leading the Mizzou offense to more points than their opponents in SEC games. The Tigers are 3-14 in the 2+ seasons that the junior quarterback has been the Tigers' primary starter at the most important position in football.
2. The defense was significantly better this week. It wasn't great by any means. There were plenty of opportunities for that unit to pick up the offense and special teams and it did not happen enough. But after the disaster of last week giving up 24 points and 359 yards to an offense with one of the most explosive players in the conference and a top young quarterback is no doubt a step in the right direction. Can the defense maintain the momentum or, dare we say, even continue improve, the offense will not have to be the best in the conference for the Tigers to win some conference games.
3. Barry Odom wears the emotion of losses on his sleeve. Losing, obviously, is not fun for the coaches or the players. As Herman Edwards so famously said, "You play to win the game." It's a pretty simple concept, that is oh so hard to execute at times. All Power 5 head coaches have been very successful at what they do to get themselves in the position to lead a P5 program. And almost all the players were a part of very successful high school programs due to the team having a player skilled enough to eventually play major college football. But when all those successful competitors are forced to compete against one another some of them are going to end up the loser. Gary Pinkel always appeared to try and hide his emotions after games. Whether his team won or lost, he always came off pretty solemn. Barry Odom does not seem to worry about that as much. He was visibly frustrated after the South Carolina game. His shirt was unbuttoned, his eyes were looking down at his stats often instead of out on the crowd of reporters and he even got a little short with his answers to the questions lobbed his way. In itself, none of that means that Odom can't become a very successful head coach. It is a noticeable change from what we have seen at Mizzou for quite some time though.
                     TWO QUESTIONS WE STILL HAVE
1. Are the leaders on this team up to the task? Lock was asked after the week one win over Missouri State if he said anything to Tucker McCann after McCann's disastrous start to the season. Lock's answer was no, which was somewhat surprising. As a captain, and the face of the program, building one of your key players back up after negative results seems like it it should be a responsibility. He should want to do that. If Lock doesn't, who does? Are the other captains up to the task? Jordan Harold, Paul Adams and Eric Beisel all seem like great young men, but none of their words carry as much weight as the starting quarterback. In the end it may not matter who takes on this job, but whoever does needs to emerge quickly. If not, it could be another lost season very soon.
2. Can this team make a bowl game? With this schedule this team should make a bowl. That was the projection by many who cover the team for a living before any games were played. And it's not even the loss to South Carolina that gives those observers the most pause. It's how the Tigers have looked getting to 1-1. Uninspired defense against a team that was shut out by North Dakota. An offense that looks like it is going to have the same problems against defenses with any semblance of a pulse. And lest we forget, special teams that are sure to drive the most fervent Tiger supporter mad. It could be worse. Missouri could have lost to Missouri State. But that may be the only way it could be worse which has the Tigers' bowl chances looking very bleak.
                        ONE BOLD PREDICTION
Mizzou is going to finish September 3-1. The Tigers will get their mojo working against an improved Purdue team. Then they will close out the month with an upset over Auburn. The Alabama Tigers always seem to struggle when they are projected to have a good season and play well when those expectations are low. It's college football. Why should anything make sense?
