Barry Odom announced on Monday that he planned to get more involved in the defense, saying he would help his former unit out anyway he could.
On Saturday did just that, except the result didn’t change.
Missouri dropped its fourth straight game, falling to Kentucky 35-21. Odom called plays for the defense on the sidelines instead of defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross.
Players said Odom installed more of his defensive scheme from last season, which ranked among the nation’s best. He personally coached players this week in practice alongside Cross and helped prepare the defense more for Saturday’s game.
“Guys are used to Odom’s scheme more than Cross’” Missouri safety Cam Hilton said. “It’s our first year with Cross’ defense so we need time. We’re a young team, we don’t fully understand the game. We’ll get there.”
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Odom said he’ll continue to call plays for the defense going forward.
Players said Odom made the scheme more pass-rush friendly, compared to Cross’ read-and-react philosophy that’s been asked of them this season.
“We had a chance to do what we want to do within the scheme,” defensive end Charles Harris said. “I feel like it was pretty evident. (The defensive line) got in the backfield a lot more, we had great penetration, just a matter of wrapping up and coming downhill on the backside.”
"I’m used to his play calls," cornerback Logan Cheadle said. "To get out there and play under somebody, I kind of think the way he things because I’ve been playing in his defense for a while so it made it kind of easier, just be kind of second nature to just go play and not think too much."
"Just making it easier on us," linebacker Joey Burkett said. "Not so many reads and checks pre snap just so we can communicate with the D-Line and the secondary so we’re all on the same page.
"It felt good to run the stuff that I learned when I first got here," Aarion Penton said of the changes. "I feel like we played faster without thinking. Communication was good. We got to fight a little bit longer and from the start."
Despite Odom’s intervention, Missouri gave up 200 yards passing and rushing for the fourth consecutive game. Kentucky became the fourth straight team to have over 500 yards of total offense against the Tigers this season. Prior to this season, Missouri had never had four straight games where it gave up 500 yards of total offense.
"It’s frustrating for sure but we’re dealing with a lot of injuries, guys out, but I think it still gave us a little defensive spark," Cheadle said. "It’s our first week under his play calling so it’s going to take us a little time to get back into it, but I think we’ll be fine. Obviously today it didn’t come out like we wanted to, but certain times it felt like we were playing better."
Kentucky became the first Southeastern Conference team in 10 years to have two running backs each run for 175 yards in the same game as Benny Snell and Stanley “Boom” Williams combined for 367 yards.
The problems for Missouri’s defense were the same they had been all year. Tackling, and the inability to get stops.
“Our defense’s problem is we need to wrap up,” Hilton said. “We always have a lot of third downs during the game, we just need to get off the field. If we get off the field, the game is going to change.”
Missouri was playing its first game without linebacker Michael Scherer and defensive tackle Terry Beckner Jr. and both players losses showed throughout the game.
The defensive line was in the backfield more often, but the Tigers didn't finish off many plays and missed plenty of tackles.
And while Brandon Lee and Eric Beisel did a good job of offsetting Scherer’s absence, Missouri’s defense looked lost at times where the senior’s leadership could have made a difference.
Cornerback TJ Warren attributed the defense’s poor play to effort, which starts at practice during the week and spills over into the game.
“We need to be more willing to put more in at practice and everyone just has to buy in more,” he said.
Hilton and Warren led the team with 10 tackles apiece.
INJURY UPDATE
Offensive lineman Alec Abeln did not play because of a recurring foot injury, giving former walk-on Adam Ploudre his second consecutive start. Linebacker Terez Hall reinjured his ankle in practice this week and also sat out.
Linebacker Donavin Newson left the game with a left quadriceps strain and didn't play the entire second half. Odom had no update on his status.
The lack of depth at linebacker led to Warren being converted into a nickleback at practice this week. He said he played some safety in high school, which helped him learn the position and said he expects to stay there for the near future.
HOWARD SEES HIS FIRST ACTION
Throughout the season it has been assumed that sophomore defensive lineman Nate Howard would redshirt after having knee surgery this past spring and appearing to be buried on the depth chart.
Instead, Howard got into his first game of the season on Saturday, which burned any chance he had of redshirting this season.
Odom said Howard’s strong play in practice the past few weeks led him to make the move and it appears Howard will be a regular in the rotation for the rest of the season.
“He’s going to give us a pass rush guy off the edge that will compliment some of the things we’re going to do moving forward,” Odom said. “We’ve got to get him more game ready. There’s certain things that he could do today and I think we got the chance to get him in position that he can help us a lot more than he did today.”
NOTABLE FIRSTS
Freshman wide receiver Dimetrios Mason had two touchdowns on Saturday, which were his first as a Tiger. Linebacker Eric Beisel got his first career start and cornerback Logan Cheadle had his first career interception.
“It was bittersweet,” Beisel said. “I never thought my first start would be a loss like this.”
