Missouri-Florida: Dominating the line with delightfully deliberate offense

If you followed along with my work in this space last year, you know that I endeavored to provide snap counts for every Missouri player for every offensive and defensive snap that counted during the season.

If you were not...well, I just explained what this is in the last graf. You should have paid attention.

Anyway, I pored over the film of the Tigers’ 45-16 win over Florida to see who Missouri used on offense and defense, how often and in what ways. Then I tried to gather it in a way that wouldn’t bore you too terribly.

Did I fail? Did I succeed? I suppose that’s up for history to decide.

On we go with Year 2 of ... Snap Chats...

---

Takeaways

• Missouri went to work on the right side of the Florida line, running to the Tigers’ left behind Yasir Durant, Tyler Howell, Kevin Pendleton and Adam Ploudre most effectively. A tight end crashing out of the backfield as an H-back lead blocker was often in the mix as well.
• The Tigers ran 27 times for 157 yards (5.81 per) and a score to the left side, while running 18 times for 60 yards (3.33 per) and two scores to the right. Drew Lock also had a 10-yard scramble.
• Missouri was also most effective when getting outside the tackles and into space, running 19 times for 129 yards (6.79 per) and two scores to the edges. The Tigers ran for 88 yards on 26 carries (3.38 per) and a score between the tackles.
• So while the Tigers dominated the trenches -- and they did -- it was mostly the “line shifting the Gators one way, then the back taking the ball and following a lead blocker around the other way” variety than the old “line them up and run straight at them” kind.

• And Missouri was delightfully deliberate. On average, not counting the first plays of drives or after quarter or timeout breaks, the Tigers snapped the ball with about 21 seconds left on the 40-second clock.
• You don’t always have to be in such a hurry, guys. Sometimes you can go at a reasonable 2.28 plays-a-minute clip and still gash people.
• And it leaves your defense fresher to do things like rack up eight tackles for loss. Pretty much everyone had a part in those, too. Terry Beckner was the star, but Rashad Brandon and A.J. Logan on the inside got in on the act, along with Jordan Harold and Marcell Frazier on the outside, Terez Hall and Brandon Lee from the linebacking corps, corner Adam Sparks on the first play of the game and safety Tavon Ross, in his only defensive snap of the game.
• How’s that for efficiency?
• On offense, Missouri pretty much just got into the three-wide, tight end in the backfield set and rode it the whole game. The Tigers ran 68.7 percent of their plays (46 of 67) from that set.
• An interesting wrinkle, though? The 2-0-3 made a repeat appearance after going AWOL since the Auburn game. That’s the set in which Missouri splits two receivers wide and sets two tight ends (this time, Albert Okwuegbunam and Kendall Blanton) behind the line with a tailback in the backfield.
• The last time we saw it, the Tigers wrangled a 25-yard touchdown pass to J’Mon Moore on its only usage. This time, Missouri logged three touchdowns — including another scoring strike to Moore — in 10 plays.
• So...I guess what I’m saying is...MOAR TIGHT ENDSSSSS

• Here’s the funny thing about this game, defensively: Missouri didn’t really play all that great when it came to rate stats. Especially against a pretty bad offense. Florida gained 5.82 yards a play against Missouri, which is actually substantively better than the Gators have done against everyone else (5.38).
• Even taking out the two garbage time drives at the end, the average was 5.22 per play. Which is just...well...average against Florida this year. Missouri’s top four defensive sets — the 4-3, Nickel, Dime and 3-4 — each gave up at least 5.5 yards a play against the Gators. Not exactly sterling.
• Here’s where Missouri flourished, though. In the red zone, the Tigers gave up only 27 yards on 11 plays (2.45 per). Before that last touchdown drive, it was 11 yards on eight plays (1.38 per).
• Remember when it used to be opposing teams doing that to Missouri’s offense? Well, now the tables are turning.
• (And just look at that dumb playcalling against the Tigers’ base defense: 114 yards on 11 pass plays, 76 on 22 runs. Why, pray tell, not go for better than a 33-67 pass/run split with those measurables? Why?)
• Rountree edged Witter in tailback reps, but Witter held a 30-28 advantage on drives in which the Tigers were actually trying. Either way, very equitable split between the two and both were impressive during their time on the field.
• Okwuegbunam continues to lap the rest of the field at tight end, appearing 56 of 67 (83.6 percent) available snaps against Florida. Blanton’s 2-0-3 usage and his high-point touchdown grab could portend some interesting things for the stretch run, though.
• The tepid experimentation continues on the left side of the line, with Howell getting two meaningful series and Ploudre getting one. Durant and Pendleton, though, look to have a pretty strong hold on those spots.
• Tre Williams continues to creep up on Harold’s rep count by virtue of being the “third down” guy.
• And Beckner continues huckleberry-less, even though Brandon (who got the start) and Logan both made compelling cases to be his complement in the final three (or four?) games of the season.
• Hall doesn’t leave the field and Garrett only does so when the Tigers go to their 4-1-6 Dime look. They are the new Donavin Newsom and Michael Scherer. Lee also appears to be putting a little distance on T.J. Warren when it comes to that Sam spot.
• The back four is solidifying. Finally. Into the shape of DeMarkus Acy, Sparks, Anthony Sherrils and Kaleb Prewett.
• At safety, this looks like actual good news. Sherrils had the best game of his career, and Prewett has adapted well to playing out of the box.
• At cornerback...it’s a bit more problematic. Sparks and Acy both made plus plays during the game, but Florida receivers also had all sorts of room when the Gators finally did deem it necessary to throw (and, boy, it took them long enough...). You’d kind of like to see someone else who could push them at corner, but it doesn’t look like Jerod Alton and Logan Cheadle are close right now.

---

Missouri When Running...
Off LT: 13 for 98 (7.54 avg.), TD
LT/LG: 8 for 38 (4.75 avg.)
LG/C: 6 for 21 (3.50 avg.)
Left Side: 27 for 157 ( 5.81 avg.), TD

C/RG: 7 for 23 (3.29 avg.), TD
RG/RT: 5 for 6 (1.20 avg.)
Off RT: 6 for 31 (5.17 avg.), TD
Right Side: 18 for 60 (3.33 avg.), 2 TD

Scramble: 1 for 10

—————

Missouri’s Tackles for Loss

Play 1
Adam Sparks avoids a block and blows up a screen (-3)

Play 25
A.J. Logan busts through middle of line, grabs hold, Terry Beckner cleans up (-1)

Play 26
Beckner unblocked, eats face (-4)

Play 27
Terez Hall knifes through blocks, blows up a screen, Beckner assists on tackle (-1)

Play 39
Tavon Ross avoids lineman’s block, busts up play (-5)

Play 43
Brandon Lee’s blitz forces cut back inside, where Logan cleans up (-1)

Play 44
Rashad Brandon busts through middle, forces play outside to Marcell Frazier (-1)

Play 49
Jordan Harold flushes outside, Beckner closing in, Hall cleans up pass behind line (-3)

---

Offensive Set Success

3-WR/2-RB
Run: 35 for 176 (5.03 avg.), TD
Pass: 9-of-11, 174 yards (15.8 avg.), INT
Total: 46 plays, 350 yards (7.61 avg.), TD, INT

2-WR/3-RB
Run: 9 for 28 (3,11 avg.), 2 TD
Pass: 1-of-1, 4 yards, TD
Total: 10 plays, 32 yards (3.20 avg.), 3 TD

4-WR/1-RB
Run: 2 for 23 (11.5 avg.)
Pass: 4-of-7, 42 yards (6.00 avg.), 2 TD
Total: 9 plays, 65 yards (7.22 avg.), 2 TD

3-WR/1-TE/1-RB
Pass: 1-of-2, 8 yards (4.00 avg.)

—————

Defensive Set Success

4-3
Run: 19 for 67 (3.53 avg.)
Pass: 4-of-6, 81 yards (13.5 avg.), INT
Sack: 1 for -4
Total: 26 plays, 144 yards (5.54 avg.), INT

Nickel
Run: 4 for 18 (4.50 avg.)
Pass: 9-of-12, 98 yards (8.17 avg.)
Total: 16 plays, 116 yards (7.25 avg.)

Dime
Run: 1 for 4
Pass: 4-of-7, 40 yards (5.71 avg.), TD
Total: 8 plays, 44 yards (5.50 avg.), TD

3-4
Run: 3 for 9 (3.00 avg.)
Pass: 3-of-4, 37 yards (9.25 avg.)
Total: 7 plays, 46 yards (6.57 avg.)

5-3
Run: 2 for 4 (2.00 avg.)

5-4
Run: 1 for -5

---

Offense

Quarterback
Drew Lock -- 59
Micah Wilson — 8

Running Back
Larry Rountree — 31
Ish Witter — 30
Dawson Downing — 6

H-Back
Albert Okwuegbunam — 45
Kendall Blanton — 15
Jason Reese — 6

Tight End
Albert Okwuegbunam — 2

Wide Receiver
J’Mon Moore — 55
Emanuel Hall — 54
Johnathon Johnson — 32
Richaud Floyd — 18
Dominic Collins — 12
Albert Okwuegbunam — 9
Nate Brown — 7
Daniel Ellinger — 6
Steven Spadarotto — 6
Kendall Blanton — 1

Line
Trystan Castillo — 61
Tre’Vour Simms — 61
Paul Adams — 58
Kevin Pendleton — 53
Yasir Durant — 37
Tyler Howell — 27
Adam Ploudre — 8
Alec Abeln — 6
Samson Bailey — 6
Jonah Dubinski — 6
AJ Harris — 6
Kyle Mitchell -- 6

---

Defense

End
Marcell Frazier — 34
Jordan Harold — 26
Tre Williams — 20
Chris Turner — 11
Nate Anderson — 10
Franklin Agbasimere -- 3

Tackle
Terry Beckner — 39
A.J. Logan — 20
Rashad Brandon — 16
Kobie Whiteside — 13
Walter Palmore — 10
Akial Byers -- 9
Markell Utsey — 4
Tyrell Jacobs -- 3
Marcell Frazier -- 1

Rush End
Marcell Frazier — 10
Jordan Harold — 3
Nate Anderson — 2
Chris Turner — 2
Terry Beckner — 1
Tre Williams — 1

Linebacker
Terez Hall — 50
Cale Garrett — 47
Brandon Lee — 36
Eric Beisel -- 11
Joey Burkett — 10

Nickelback
T.J. Warren — 20
Cam Hilton — 8
Joshuah Bledsoe — 4

Cornerback
DeMarkus Acy -- 50
Adam Sparks — 47
Jerod Alton — 10
Logan Cheadle -- 10

Safety
Kaleb Prewett — 49
Anthony Sherrils — 45
Thomas Wilson — 14
Ronnell Perkins — 10
Tavon Ross — 1