Mizzou Beats Miami (Ohio): Links And Reflections
by Bill C. on Sep 4, 2011 11:43 AM CDT
in Mizzou Football 2011
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Here are some morning-after thoughts on yesterday's 17-6 Missouri win at Faurot Field. Links at the bottom. I intended to get this done a couple of hours ago, but ... well ... babies.
You Got Love, Don't Turn It Down/Turn It Loud, Let It Build/We Got A Long Way To Go/But You Gotta Start Somewhere
The truest response to yesterday's game is, like the song from which the above lyrics came, quite unsatisfying. I thought I was being rather conservative when I predicted something in the neighborhood of a 20-24 point Missouri victory, but in the end that was a bit too optimistic. With a quarterback unaccustomed to FBS-level football, and a coordinator figuring out what works and what doesn't for his new guy, the offense was incredibly hit-or-miss yesterday. A well-coached Miami defense ate up the short passing game, and while the Missouri running game was solid, it was inconsistent. In serious flux these past few weeks because of a ridiculous number of injuries, the Missouri offensive line made mistakes and committed penalties, and it led to passing downs. Mizzou faced 14 third downs, and in 12 of them, the Tigers needed at least five yards.
Yards To Go On Third Downs
<5: twice
5-6: five times
7-8: five times
>8: twice
That's not how you succeed offensively.
Missouri's defense continued the "bend for a while, then swarm when the opponent sniffs the end zone" routine that worked so well last year -- if you're fast and talented enough, it can work wonders; West Virginia has one of the best defenses in the country, and they bend as much as Missouri -- and the Tigers came away with a never-truly-frightened, 11-point win over the defending MAC champions.
For now, that's good enough. It has to be, doesn't it? It may be unsatisfying, but it will suffice, and for one simple reason: it could have been a lot worse. Just look around.
Bombs Dropping Down/Please Forgive Our Home Town/For Its Insignificance
Preach, Eddie. In the end, what happened in Columbia was rather meaningless because of what was happening everywhere else. Auburn -- defending national champion Auburn -- needed some onsides kick luck to beat Utah State.
Oregon State lost to Sacramento State. Iowa State and Kansas State needed late touchdowns to get past Northern Iowa and Eastern Kentucky, respectively. Washington needed a late pick to avoid falling to Eastern Washington. Indiana fell to Ball State in Kevin Wilson's first game. Texas Tech trailed Texas State after a quarter. Texas led Rice by a touchdown at halftime. UTEP needed overtime to beat Stony Brook. Wyoming beat Weber State by three. Michigan State looked as directionless as Missouri in beating Youngstown State. South Carolina fell behind by double-digits to East Carolina before turning it on. USC almost blew a lead at home to Minnesota. Louisville (against Murray State) and Utah (Montana State) sleep-walked. Kentucky looked dreadful in crawling past Western Kentucky. Purdue needed a blocked field goal in the final seconds to get past Middle Tennessee. Clemson trailed Troy at halftime.
in other words, this was a true survive-and-advance weekend. We want to think Missouri is better than most of the teams I just listed, and they probably are, but Mizzou won by double-digits and never really faced an "Oh god, are we going to lose this game?" moment. Good enough. For now.
(This says nothing of the fact that Mizzou trailed Illinois at halftime and trailed San Diego State after 59 minutes just last year, and they still went 10-3.)
Welcome Back/Welcome Back, Welcome Back, Welcome Back
Don't ever leave us again, Dominique Hamilton. The missing piece on the line over the last half of last season, Hamilton registered 5.5 tackles, made at least three run stuffs, recovered a fumble, and generally looked like the best player on the field. Think Missouri could have used him while they were getting gashed by Baron Batch and Marcus Coker last year?
I'm Special/So Special/I Gotta Have Some Of Your Attention/Give It To Me
Those of us who lived through the 1998 season probably have an inordinately strong appreciation for special teams. With any of the last 5-6 special teams units, the 1998 team would almost certainly have gone 9-2 or 10-1. Instead, they were brutal in the return game and even worse in the kicking game, and it cost them dearly. Now? Missouri's got a special teams unit that, when paired with a bend-don't-break defense, can win games with little to no offensive help. They got brass in pocket. Grant Ressel made all three kicks (including a 38-yarder that looked like a PAT) and bombed two touchbacks in four kickoffs, T.J. Moe averaged 15 yards over two punt returns ... and they didn't even come close to winning Special Teams MVP honors. That, of course, goes to Trey Barrow.
Punt No. 1: 50 yards, comes within a yard of being downed at the 1.
Punt No. 2: 57 yards
Punt No. 3: 40 yards, comes within a yard of being downed at the 1.
Punt No. 4: 52 yards, out of bounds at the Miami 8
Punt No. 5: 35 yards.
Punt No. 6: 38 yards, downed at the 1.
Punt No. 7: 41 yards, out of bounds at the Miami 9.
Meanwhile, Miami missed a field goal and a PAT and averaged 20 fewer yards on their two kickoffs. Winner, winner.
--------------------
Mizzou Wins!
MUtigers.com: Franklin Leads Mizzou Past Miami (OH), 17-6
The Trib: Franklin, Tigers win sloppy opener
The Trib: Times are a-changin' for Missouri football team
Post-Dispatch: Mizzou beats Miami (Ohio) 17-6
PowerMizzou: A win is a win
KC Star: Franklin, defense lift MU over RedHawks 17-6
Franklin
PowerMizzou: Franklin good enough, looking to improve
The Missourian: Missouri football quarterback James Franklin learning speed of game
KC Star: Franklin gives himself low marks in Missouri's victory
Defense
The Missourian: Missouri defense forces red zone stops in win over Miami (Ohio)
KBIA Sports Extra: Defense and depth key in Mizzou home opener
KC Star: MU notebook: Hamilton returns with a flourish
The Trib: Defense holds after allowing touchdown
Multimedia
The Missourian: PHOTO GALLERY: Friends reconnect at first tailgate party for Missouri football
PowerMizzou: PHOTOS: The Sideline View
PowerMizzou: PMTV-HD: Pinkel Post-Game
PowerMizzou: PMTV-HD: T.J. Moe
PowerMizzou: PMTV-HD: Marcus Lucas
Behind Enemy Lines
Oxford Press: MU falls in Treadwell’s debut
Oxford Press: RedHawks unable to execute in red zone
Other
The Trib: Tigers fans get early start
PowerMizzou: Sunday Grade Card
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Comments
howzabout dom hamilton being our first outland trophy winner?
it’ll be nice making opposing offenses a little more one dimensional with him stuffing the middle.
"My friend! My friend!" You big crybaby. Go bury him in the yard before he stinks up the place.
My opinion on the game
It went just like I thought it might.
-We had a sophomore quarterback seeing his first real playing time. Yea I know he saw action last year but other than the McNeese State game and maybe the CU game (if he played) every time he came in, he was running. I think his passing game will come along rather quickly.
-We had tons of injuries in camps and it showed. The O-Line played well for so much moving around this fall. They will gel more as they get more reps.
-That was a 10 win team from last year. So for everyone who said we were suppose to win by 20+, well the MAC is not some knock off conference. I also wonder how much of the heat played a factor.
Just my $0.02
Great moments are born from great opportunity.
Follow me on Twitter @muwxman
We won
And there’s more college football on today!
And my fantasy draft!
And the kids gone for 24 hours!
The weather in KC is outstanding!
Cheers everyone!
by tigers and chiefs fan on Sep 4, 2011 12:45 PM CDT reply actions
the weather here really is beautiful today
"If I ever saw an amputee getting hanged, I'd probably just start calling out letters" - Demetri Martin
"Eggs this guys overdone, then I hit the slope on them call it rise over run"- Chiddy
O I E M I Z Z O U
3rd'd.
"My friend! My friend!" You big crybaby. Go bury him in the yard before he stinks up the place.
Tropical Storm Lee on the way
rain from the outer bands here today. Lots and lots and lots of rain tomorrow. Much needed, so not much complaining from me. I’ll hang in the house and read.
that's what i'm doing,
but i feel guilty because of the weather. i should go at least go play a quick 9.
"My friend! My friend!" You big crybaby. Go bury him in the yard before he stinks up the place.
that's what I did.
It was great.
"If I ever saw an amputee getting hanged, I'd probably just start calling out letters" - Demetri Martin
"Eggs this guys overdone, then I hit the slope on them call it rise over run"- Chiddy
O I E M I Z Z O U
Just glad we're not one of the many losers from yesterday.
Even some teams that won were embarrassed.
Washington, K-State, Iowa State to think of a few off the top of my head.
"When among evil companions, try to fit in." - Wild Bill Donovan
If Dom Hamilton was number one on defense,
Andrew Wilson had to be a close second. Don’t know the stats, but being there, he appeared to be everywhere.
by MUPete on Sep 4, 2011 1:00 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
I was not impressed with the O-line.
Lots of snap issues, penalties, etc., and not a terribly good job of protecting the pocket. Hopefully things will improve once we get Ruth back.
Overall, I think Miami would probably have beaten KU, KSU, or ISU yesterday. They would be a mid-to-low-level B12 team. However, a lot of our troubles were of our own making, not theirs.
I was not impressed. Period.
I’m glad we won. It was an ugly, awful win. But still a win. Maybe it was our SDSU game for the year. I still had to take a day to calm down.
Rather than compare our performance to the other teams that struggled, I’d rather compare our performance to the teams that didn’t struggle that we’re going to have to beat later this season if we want Mizzou’s first conference championship since 1969: aTm hung 46 on SMU, Baylor 50 on TCU, Okie State 61 on LA Laff., OU 47 on Tulsa, TTU 50 and the Longhorns scored 34. Even KU scored 42. I’d even like to think about us competing at the level of Bama, LSU, etc. etc. You know, teams that actually win national titles now and then.
We scored 17. SEVENTEEN!! Just over half of the Bill C reported average score of 27-30. 3 of 13 on 3rd down!!! I can’t believe Miami’s defense is all that and a bag of chips. Miami’s performance during the season might convince me.
A big pat on the back to our defense. Would have been a shutout but for the red zone turnover. Still, bend but don’t break drives me crazy, but they dialed it up when they had to. I still long for less bending (8 of 18 on third down is too much) and more 3 and outs.
Too many penalties on both sides of the ball.
With regard to special teams, good news is we’ve got GREAT PUNTING. It’s too bad we had to prove it 7 times.
Our team did not perform like a team that RMN voters figured to go 11-1. Pinkel’s teams seem to have a history of generally improving as the season goes along. I hope the staff figures out how to best use Franklin’s talents while he figures out the passing game. And I have no doubt that they will and he will.
Faster, please.
"Gentlemen, this is a football."-Vince Lombardi
"Slow down coach, you're going too fast."-Max McGee
It's going to be tough adjusting to the rash of injuries.
I sure wish we were playing Western Illinois this week.
Still pulling together my thoughts this time.
I still think there are decent odds that this is an “Add BYU and everybody sticks together” situation, but … whereas I was 50-60% sure of that about three days ago, I’m about 10% sure of that now.
I just listened to "The End" by the Doors on Youtube.
It’s not a matter of if, it’s only a matter of when.
While I am confident in the fate of Missouri (B1G or SEC – 85% probability, Big East/ACC – 10% probability, MWC – 5% probability), I am not confident that Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas or Kansas State end up in a superconference. Please do not lobby to tie our fate to theirs.
"When among evil companions, try to fit in." - Wild Bill Donovan
That's a general comment, not to you, Bill.
"When among evil companions, try to fit in." - Wild Bill Donovan
It doesn't surprise me at all that the Big XII is falling apart
It was clear after last year that none of the problems had been solved and that Texas was doubling down. I thought the conference might last no more than fire years, but even I’m stunned at how quickly this is happening.
5x14, not 4x16
Of course part of that is me hoping the Big 12 stays together because without the Big 12 KC falls of the college sports map. And I’d crazily enough prefer a truly stable Big 12 over switching conferences.
Of course a truly stable Big 12 has about a 1% chance of happening at this point it seems.
But 4x16 = 64 = 16 team playoff
(or 8 team playoff)
(or 4 team playoff)
BUT IT = PLAYOFF
"When among evil companions, try to fit in." - Wild Bill Donovan
imo mizzou football is in a transition phase...
it started last year and will continue at least for this year…
as you mentioned bill, this team is built to suck the margin for error out of opponents with defends and special teams, not score 40+ points. i think pinkel is perfectly happy winning games 17-6 and 23-13 instead of 45-31. it seems to me that many fans still long for the days of chance mcdanielson and the video game scores, so the new approach is creating some heartburn…
that said, i hope franklin figures it out and we score a ton of points, but i don’t think we have to and pinkel won’t force it…
maybe pinkel is subconsciously preparing us for the big legends division…
m-i-z... z-o-u!
on a side note
it is the most beautiful day of the year here in colorado… 72 and sunny with a nice breeze… hopefully no more 90+ days
m-i-z... z-o-u!
High today DFW was 97.... WOW 100 degree days over finally
Expected high on Labor Day 85
Now… If it would just rain…
i'll bet you were praying for the hurricane to come just a little closer, eh?
"My friend! My friend!" You big crybaby. Go bury him in the yard before he stinks up the place.
Oh my yes... That would have been nice
You would not believe the devastation to plant life
Trees, shrubs, everything is just dead or dying…
But so is the ragweed… Greatness for my allergies…
BTW... Women's soccer, currently 4-1-1
with a tie against #19 Illinois, a win against #7 tOSU and a loss on the road to the only other ranked team they’ve played – #20 San Diego, is leading 2-0 at TCU. Around the 80th minute.
Also, from Blumberg:
BlumbergOTB #Bengals have waived former #Mizzou TE Chase Coffman.
Rational Mizzou Talk, whether you like us or not.
Also, Volleyball swept Auburn in the finals of the Blue Raider Bash (Mid. Tenn St.)
They are currently 8-1 on the season – their only loss being to MTSU (but not as a part of the MTSU Blue Raider Bash tournament, strangely enough).
Rational Mizzou Talk, whether you like us or not.
I only recognized John Sebastian and The Pretenders
in the lyrics, which makes me old as dirt, I suppose.
Fair enough.
Home Teams get what an automatic -3.
Great moments are born from great opportunity.
Follow me on Twitter @muwxman
if aTm manages to lose to SMU tonight
beergut’s post-game thread is going to establish a new unintentional comedy scale.
his vaunted website
has 9 comments on the game thread @ halftime. half of those by longhorn trolls.
"My friend! My friend!" You big crybaby. Go bury him in the yard before he stinks up the place.
well, ya know, roughly half. :-)
"My friend! My friend!" You big crybaby. Go bury him in the yard before he stinks up the place.
Trey Barrow is such a great story...
because he’s an amputee. According to that above picture, anyway.
by ZouDave on Sep 4, 2011 7:47 PM CDT reply actions 3 recs
And, during the off-season he works at IHOP.
^^get it, I hop….one legged man….I hop^^
Even in Mexico....kU SUCKS!
by OKCTiger on Sep 4, 2011 10:01 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
BOOM! He'll be here all week folks.
Don’t forget to tip your waitress.
Even in Mexico....kU SUCKS!
by OKCTiger on Sep 4, 2011 8:19 PM CDT via iPhone app up reply actions
This is the first time
I have seen an “iPhone” app identifier. Can you change that?
by tigers and chiefs fan on Sep 4, 2011 9:05 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
And what do you think
Of the App? It seemed clunky to me. Easier for mobile commenting.
by tigers and chiefs fan on Sep 4, 2011 9:06 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
App is good, not great, but good. Not all of the RMN content is on the app,
so still go to the mobile site via Safari. Only way to get auto-updates if I’m using it for a game-day tread seems to be to use the “full site” version via Safari…can go to it from the mobile version. All that being said…the App is a nice alternative.
Even in Mexico....kU SUCKS!
I found it easier to bring up the app yesterday at the stadium than the Safari edition ...
… but for some reason I couldn’t get it to let me comment.
And it is on!
DanBeebe Fake Dan Beebe
:)RT @ChipBrownOB: Texas A&M will be hearing from legislators that Aggies’ departure from the B12 no longer has their blessing, sources say.
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