Mizzou 3-2-1: West Virginia
MORGANTOWN, WV--After each game, we'll take a look at three things we learned, two questions we have and one prediction based off that week's game. Let's get right to the report from a 26-11 loss to West Virginia.
Three Things We Learned
1. Missouri is still going to struggle to score points. The Tigers moved the ball pretty well at times, particularly in the second quarter. But one drive stalled due to a fumble, one to a missed field goal and the Tigers couldn't get much of anything going after halftime. There were some signs that this offense is better than last year's. But as we have said all offseason, it will be virtually impossible for it to be worse. Just being better can't be the goal. It needs to be much better. In terms of yardage, it actually was. The Tigers averaged 281 yards per game and 4.38 per play in 2015. On Saturday, they got 462 yards on 100 snaps (for those who didn't major in math, that's 4.62 yards per play). There was some improvement. Next up is more improvement. And consistency.
READ: FIRST FIVE POST-GAME THOUGHTS
2. There will be a quarterback rotation. At times on Saturday, it was tough to tell what the rhyme or reason to it was. Drew Lock lit it up for a time in the second quarter, then came out for Marvin Zanders. Down 23-3, Zanders--who didn't complete a pass, but had 47 yards on 11 rushing attempts--was at QB while Missouri was trying to erase a three-score deficit in the final 12 minutes. Zanders said it can be tough to get a rhythm going when the QB is being switched in and out, but Lock said that wasn't the case.
"We had done a good job of practicing it," Lock said. "We've practiced it a lot and we've done it to where Marv's run two plays and on third and ten I need to come in in practice. Just be ready. I have to be right next to Coach Heup (offensive coordinator Josh Heupel).
We've practiced it and we were ready for it."
Head coach Barry Odom said Missouri's staff is comfortable running the full offense with Zanders in the game and didn't really change based on who was at quarterback.
"Coach Heupel had gone into it with an idea of when we wanted to get Marvin in," Odom said. "Marvin will run the offense. We're not disappointed or afraid to put him in and open the playbook and let him go. We designed some things running-game wise for him specifically today. He's shown the ability to be able to run the offense and call the same plays if Drew is in there or Marvin. I'm excited about those guys about how they've really worked and progressed to where they are today. I think we'll get a lot better at that spot."
Missouri played some games during the week, excusing Zanders from media day and then downplaying his role during interviews. The element of surprise won't be there in future weeks. Missouri is going to use two quarterbacks, likely in every game.
3. The kicking game is officially a concern. To be fair, Tucker McCann is a freshman. He was in high school a year ago. And no matter how hard you try, you can't simulate trying a field goal in front of 60,000 people....58,000 of whom hope you fail. McCann missed a chip shot field goal wide left on a snap hook. He missed another one wide from 42 yards. The one he made wasn't exactly beautiful. He also punched a low-line drive on a kickoff that led to West Virginia starting a drive beyond it's 40-yard line. Odom expressed unwavering confidence in the the true freshman.
"I trust him, I believe in him, I've seen him do it in practice," Odom said. "By the time he leaves Mizzou, we'll write a lot of stories about him because he's going to make some big-time kicks. It's different for him out there first time out. I've got confidence in him.
"I've got to get those guys in position wherever the ball is, whether it's at the 23-yard line or the ten, where we feel comfortable kicking a field goal and coming away with it."
Two Questions that Remain
1. Was Saturday an aberration for the defensive line? Missouri has developed a reputation as "D-Line Zou." Not on Saturday. West Virginia's starting left guard was suspended for this game. The starting left tackle got hurt when it was 3-0. And despite that, Missouri didn't have a sack all day (and wasn't particularly close) and allowed an even five yards per carry on West Virginia's 48 rushing attempts. The Mountaineers used a quick passing game with Skyler Howard frequently getting rid of the ball before pressure could arrive and West Virginia never really hit a long passing play.
"Seemed like to me the quick dumpoff passes, by the time we got him, he threw the ball already," Rickey Hatley said. "Real frustrating."
But the more concerning part was the running game. WVU gashed the Tigers up front, particularly on two third-quarter scoring drives that put the game out of reach.
"There were a couple times it felt like there was a crease and the running back hit it and whether or not that was the linebacker fit correctly or incorrectly or the D-line, we'll get better," Odom said. "I must not have given a very good speech at halftime because we came out and played pretty poor and they came out and executed.
"The integrity of the defensive run points at that point, that wasn't very good. They did respond there defensively, but we'll continue to get better."
Second-team all-SEC pick and potential all-American Charles Harris was held to just two tackles on the day.
"I don't care who it is, I don't really see no team that's hard to get sacks on. Either you get there or you don't get there," Harris said. "I had a couple times I could have got there, but didn't bend enough. It's just that little extra step you could have gave just to make the play. I'm gonna go back to the drawing board, go back and watch film, make sure I get there so it doesn't happen again."
2. Will there be dissension? Missouri's defense wasn't great. But when the game was in doubt, the Tiger offense put exactly three points on the board. The defense would have to have been perfect to give Mizzou a chance. So, building on last year's struggles, will the defense lose patience with their offensive teammates?
"You know, I mean defense, I can only speak for defense, we got this adversity last year so we kind of already know how to tackle that," Harris said. "We just keep doing our own thing, keep doing our own job."
"It was (frustrating)," senior cornerback Aarion Penton said. "But we've got to do more as a defense. We had some takeaways, I think if we try to stay on our feet, make something happen, get in the end zone, that would be a lot better for us.
"It shouldn't necessarily, but as a defense, that's still our goal. As a defense, we need to put up points ourselves. We can't just rely on the offense. We can do it too."
One Prediction
Missouri's offensive line will be better than many had feared. One game isn't enough to make a snap judgment. But the Tigers gave up only one sack and largely gave the quarterbacks time to throw. The running game still needs work (Alex Ross, Ish Witter and Damarea Crockett combined for just 103 yards on 30 carries--about a quarter of them after the game was pretty much over), but the front five held up well.
"We knew that there was no question marks from those guys," Lock said. "I was super excited to come out there and play with them. A lot of young guys that are eager to play and I think that they came out and played very well today. Hats off to them. I expect the same out of them every other game now."
There wasn't much of a rotation. It appeared Tyler Howell, Kevin Pendleton, Samson Bailey, Alec Abeln and Paul Adams played virtually the entire game. If Missouri can stay healthy there, the Tigers will be better than many of the preseason prognostications.