Rock M Nation - Mizzou Football in 2022: Week 4 vs. AuburnA Blog for Ol' Mizzouhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50319/rmn-fav.png2022-09-27T10:30:00-05:00http://www.rockmnation.com/rss/stream/231271152022-09-27T10:30:00-05:002022-09-27T10:30:00-05:00The Revue: Sometimes games are awful... and also fun
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<p>Here we are, navigating the space between “so bad that it’s good” and “so bad that I want to die”</p> <p id="xVDhuV">Every week when I sit down to write this column, I feel a little bit like Shirley Bennett...</p>
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<p id="sxAtBc">So far this season we’ve had (1) a conclusively good watch (b) a conclusively bad watch and (iii) a watch that was good, but also bad for deeper more confusing reasons. And now we’ve got... I don’t know y’all, whatever the hell that was on Saturday. How do you write about that other than the way Nate did in his takeaways piece, which opened with <a href="https://www.rockmnation.com/2022/9/24/23369972/five-takeaways-from-missouri-tigers-football-overtime-loss-vs-auburn">the most apt piece of analysis</a> one could take away from that mess.</p>
<blockquote><p id="ztnJx7">Add this to the pantheon of games that Missouri fans point to when they say, “Naw man, they’re going to <em>Mizzou</em> this one”. You know what I’m talking about. 5th-down. Flea Kicker. DOOOOOOOOOOOOOINK. And now Peat fumbling out the back of the end zone when simply being tackled out of bounds would have been an acceptable outcome.</p></blockquote>
<p id="zkJd4c">I’ve now been alive for three of those four events, have personally been witness to one — the sound haunts me so much that I believe it altered my genetic code — and have covered Mizzou for this site during the most recent. True to meme lore, it does appear that God is giving us his hardest battles.</p>
<p id="W7KOi0">But you know what? When God gives us his toughest battles, we make lemonade. Not because those battles come with lemons, but because we dig deep, we plant lemon tree seeds, we wait approximately 24 to 31 years, we harvest those lemons and then we make lemonade. And Mizzou fails us in nearly all of those years. But hey, there’s fresh-squeezed lemonade waiting for us on the other hand, and that’s better than college football success, right?</p>
<p id="mxgq4S">Onto the Revue.</p>
<h1 id="eF14zL">The Revue</h1>
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<p id="szhQvC">If I had to give you three guesses as to which movie this is ripped from, would you get it? Probably. Most people have seen <em>Now You See Me</em> at this point, and at least a handful of people stuck around to watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXdHBP6mgdE">the sequel</a> (not me, sorry.)</p>
<p id="H4jiYy">I ask because <em>Now You See Me</em> has entered a very specific pantheon of movies for me, movies that sort of represent how you would categorize a game like Saturday’s if you absolutely had to under pain of death. And that would be, for lack of an official term, “deliriously awful.” </p>
<p id="tV8tv3">If you’ve seen it, you may be able to empathize with what I’m saying. In almost as many ways as can possibly be measured, it is objectively bad. Poorly conceived, poorly executed, poorly performed, poorly ended... this one’s got it all! And yet, there’s something truly endearing about it? I use the word delirious specifically because there’s a state one enters, a state of euphoria stemming from the misery, once things kick into Mach-10 levels of terrible. You start to float, weightless, on the lack of gravity it produces. You become one with the cosmos, letting this absolute <strong>dog</strong> lift you up. </p>
<p id="cfRlXH">Wait, am I talking about the movie or the game at this point?</p>
<p id="zr1zUQ">I don’t want to step on the Watchability Meter too much, but I don’t think I’m alone when trying to categorize this game. Somewhere in the fourth quarter, Auburn vs. Mizzou went into Sicko Mode and the entirety of the college football world noticed. Don’t believe me? Sickos Committee was on it.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">What do you call free football that no one reall wants?</p>— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) <a href="https://twitter.com/SickosCommittee/status/1573755233636950018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2022</a>
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<p id="crERkZ">The never ending offensive feebleness reminded me of that moment in <em>Now You See Me </em>where the magicians do the thing and then the cops are like, “No, don’t do it!” but then they do it anyway. Classic movie! Classic game! It was terrible and beautiful at the same time, and it should be nuked out of our memories through the use of strong, illegal chemicals.</p>
<p id="HD9WZo">Again, am I talking about the movie or the game? </p>
<h1 id="nCfiHD">Watchability Meter</h1>
<p id="ZZ6ZOx">Games like Saturdays are sort of hard to evaluate from a watchability standpoint.</p>
<p id="WOi8az">On one hand, this game was foul to its little core. A dumb, pointless, poorly-played, senseless act of violence against the game of football. There were no redeeming qualities about it apart from it being <a href="https://twitter.com/SickosCommittee/status/1573758102230519811?s=20&t=wuwqfp2T-PQNG6YpZzqvWw">a pure Sickos’ Delight</a>.</p>
<p id="pCurrV">ON THE OTHER HAND... wasn’t that an objectively entertaining game? Sure, it was messy — most college football games are. But it consisted of two teams in college football’s most decorated conference slugging it out until the final whistle blew. The <s>offensive performances left something to be desired</s> defensive performances were good enough to make it an old fashioned rock fight. There were several close brushes with victory (all of them falling in the opposite direction of Mizzou, I should add). And the end of the game provided a genuine moment of horror/delight for the competing teams and fanbases! If it weren’t this season and Mizzou were on the other side of the outcome, we might argue that this game was, in fact, very good.</p>
<p id="GUiiHO">However, you still have to take the quality of the play into consideration, and it was quite bad. It’s not enough to be a midway point, but I personally feel as if the excitement is enough to bring <strong>this week’s score up to 2 toilet paper rolls out of 5</strong>. They won’t last long, seeing as Auburn students are going to huck them up in a tree. So let’s make them one-ply. After all, two one-ply tubes is much worse than two two-ply tubes.</p>
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<figcaption>Two rolls of one-ply, you and the apocalypse. How soon you calling it quits?</figcaption>
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<h1 id="qrXA5K">Disrespectful Play Index</h1>
<p id="5J4ZuV">Disrespect isn’t always about flash. It’s not about pomp and circumstance. Sometimes disrespect runs deeper. </p>
<p id="HLtw6H">It’s not always about walking up to your sworn enemy and saying, “Hey man, you’ve got an ugly face.” Hurtful? Yes. But a sworn enemy could assume you thought such a thing. Disrespect is about finding ways to make it known that, “Hey, I don’t like you, and I’m going to make sure other people know <em>why</em> I don’t like you<em>.”</em> It’s the antipathy <strong>plus</strong> the indirect nature of it all. It’s you walking by your sworn enemy with a friend and saying, “Hmmm, look at that guy’s face. Kind of ugly, yeah?” It’s within earshot. It’s slander. It’s disrespect.</p>
<p id="RekFWi">That’s sort of what we’re getting at with this week’s play. Was it the most disrespectful play we’ve seen this year? Perhaps not. But in the face of the game circumstances and what is likely to follow in the coming weeks, it felt pretty dismissive.</p>
<p id="VvISl1">As a reminder, our categories for the Disrespectful Play Index are...</p>
<p id="nzU0iw"><strong>Category 1:</strong> How difficult/impressive was the play? (0-20)</p>
<p id="9SF241"><strong>Category 2: </strong>How hard did the defense try? (0-20)</p>
<p id="TqGuAm"><strong>Category 3: </strong>How much did his teammates help? (0-5)</p>
<p id="oUym7T"><strong>Category 4: </strong>What did the player do immediately afterward? (0-20)</p>
<p id="iE26HV"><strong>Category 5:</strong> How did everyone not involved react? (0-15)</p>
<p id="s3pfHz"><strong>Category 6:</strong> Is there a backstory/context to consider? (0-20)</p>
<p id="VswooZ">Here’s the play in question:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cody Schrader gets Mizzou on the board with his third touchdown as a Tiger - a nine-yard rush to the endzone.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MIZ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MIZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/7OBFEudIYg">pic.twitter.com/7OBFEudIYg</a></p>— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/MizzouFootball/status/1573719377987309569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2022</a>
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<p id="xiNSj5">Seems pretty cut-and-dry? Follow along to find out why it wasn’t.</p>
<p id="O3Rnth"><strong>Category 1:</strong> How difficult/impressive was the play?</p>
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<p id="KWseYi">God, Eli Drinkwitz does love a play to the short side of the field, doesn’t he? He does unbalance the field of play a little bit by sticking two guys out to the left and pulling some extra coverage that way. That being said, he’s going with an option here and Cody Schrader isn’t the fastest guy on the field. Auburn’s defense, as shambolic as they may be at times, is still Auburn’s defense, meaning they’re stacked with <em>dudes</em>. Cook does time the pitch pretty well, however, giving Schrader a good chance. The execution needs to be pretty spot on in this instance, but everyone is giving Schrader the best possible chance at this conversion. <strong>13/20</strong></p>
<p id="7Oc560"><strong>Category 2: </strong>How hard did the defense try?</p>
<p id="yKNAbW">It’s difficult for me to say the defense didn’t try here, especially because I praise Cody Schrader’s ability on this play in a later category. However, I have a hard time believing that <em>this</em> offensive line gave <em>this</em> run defense this much trouble. But I’ll air on the side of optimism and say, “Oh boy, the offensive line sure has turned a corner <em>[crosses my fingers so forcefully that I sustain two compound fractures]</em>!” <strong>12/20</strong></p>
<p id="1zuhHw"><strong>Category 3: </strong>How much did his teammates help?</p>
<p id="5o4kcA">This has been a bread-and-butter category for our disrespecters this season, mostly because the plays have come when the rest of the team was playing like ass. So let’s check the tape to confirm.</p>
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<p id="BFm7fH">...huh. That’s actually a pretty tight seal. Schrader gets the ball 15 yards from the goal line, yet the first time anyone approaches him is within the five-yard line. That’s not great for our man Cody’s score, but at least I don’t have to spend a few dozen words eviscerating Mizzou’s offensive line (again). <strong>1/5</strong></p>
<p id="gEtSeG"><strong>Category 4: </strong>What did the player do immediately afterward?</p>
<p id="x6Jfx5">You know that thing that football players do when they get <em>really</em> hyped up? They sort of bow their legs, flex their arms and scream while their head shakes arrhythmically like a broken bobblehead from hell? Well, Cody Schrader did that and it scared the hell out of me like it does every time. <strong>14/20</strong></p>
<p id="5Qiv61"><strong>Category 5:</strong> How did everyone not involved react?</p>
<p id="ShucIO">Your honor, I have two pieces of evidence to enter into the official court record this morning.</p>
<p id="8VvxlF">Exhibit A:</p>
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<figcaption>THAT’S RIGHT. TALK YOUR SHIT, TRUMAN. LET THAT MAN KNOW. </figcaption>
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<p id="Y6ySSI">Gorgeous. Immaculate. Picturesque. Stunt on these hoes, Truman.</p>
<p id="k5t1RN">Exhibit B:</p>
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<figcaption>How did they get those tickets?!</figcaption>
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<p id="jnbP02">I appreciate that somewhere in the world — especially after the first three weeks that Mizzou has had this season — that there’s a group of people that went out, spent what is likely an unreasonable amount of money and then went absolutely mad when Cody Schrader scored to bring Mizzou within one touchdown of Auburn in Jordan-Hare. These are the people who will save Mizzou Football, and they should be in charge of hiring Eli Drinkwitz’s offensive coordinator. 6/7 for Truman, 8/8 for these folks, so <strong>14/15</strong> in total.</p>
<p id="HzZrNM"><strong>Category 6:</strong> Is there a backstory/context to consider?</p>
<p id="ZO6wRz">The announcers say a good chunk of it out loud in the linked highlights. Schrader has effectively lost his starting role at this point after taking the week one reps with the starters. It’s not that he’s a bad player — as his time at Truman State will clearly show — it’s that Nathaniel Peat has clearly proven to be the more effective playmaker against high-quality competition. But Schrader has his moments. He caught a burst of speed that he doesn’t always access for this run, and made Auburn’s defense look slow on his way to his first ever SEC touchdown.</p>
<p id="fzq16x">But here’s where the disrespect I mentioned earlier comes in. Imagine you’re Eli Drinkwitz, yeah? Your old boss Bryan Harsin is on the ropes at Auburn. Hell, he’s not even on the ropes, he’s half-dead on his way to the mat. You know that no matter what you do, he’s going down for the count. But you’ve got one last swing on the way out. One last opportunity to get your digs in <em>against the man who brought you up in the college football coaching world. </em>You could’ve flexed a little bit and thrown out Luther Burden III to highlight your recruiting prowess — hey, it’d look good in a job interview — or been a little cheeky and designed a run for Brady Cook. But no. You sent in Cody Schrader, the Kirksville Comet, to drop the hammer? Even without the win, that’s some delicious disrespect. <strong>18/20</strong></p>
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<figcaption>KO’d brother</figcaption>
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<p id="TFco9H">Cody Schrader’s touchdown was <strong>72 percent disrespectful to Auburn and its fans</strong>.</p>
<h1 id="MXiabn">Superlatives and Awards</h1>
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<p id="tpbZSe"><strong>Most Likely to be Unemployed:</strong> Checking the numbers and... nope, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=bryan%20harsin&src=typed_query">still Bryan Harsin!</a></p>
<p id="Jb5422"><strong>Butteriest Hands: </strong>Errrr...</p>
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Missouri at Auburn" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tnlLqlE47d5PvskQEvGtgTcXy6c=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24051388/usa_today_19107428.jpg">
<cite>John Reed-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="gUGLMB">Clear winner, unfortunately. </p>
<p id="Q4zVKR"><strong>Most Likely to Be Terminally Online:</strong> Anyone who posted about Luther Burden’s social media activity. Congratulations, here’s your reward.</p>
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<p id="GYc6MD">Go ahead. Touch it.</p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2022/9/27/23371567/the-revue-sometimes-mizzou-college-football-games-are-bad-and-also-fun-auburn-bryan-harsinJosh Matejka2022-09-26T07:30:00-05:002022-09-26T07:30:00-05:00MV3: A trio of dominant performances highlight Missouri’s devastating road loss
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<figcaption>John Reed-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>While there were mistakes galore on Saturday, three players put on clinical performances and gave Missouri a chance to win.</p> <p id="KLmb6u">It’s hard to <a href="https://www.rockmnation.com/2022/9/25/23371328/the-good-from-missouri-tigers-gut-wrenching-loss-to-auburn">find much to celebrate</a> after a loss like that. </p>
<p id="2CRsbf">As Nate put it in his post-game takeaways, Saturday’s 17-14 loss at Jordan-Hare will undoubtedly find a space in the reviled annals of Missouri Football History. When you witness something like that in real time, it’s difficult to put a positive lens on anything that happened in the game.</p>
<p id="yKcJHB">That being said, finding candidates for this week’s MV3 wasn’t all that difficult. As you’ll read below, a trio of names stood out to most of our writers with the leading candidate appearing on every ballot. Missouri’s loss to Auburn hurt (a lot), but it wasn’t without some bright spots. Let’s let them shine!</p>
<h1 id="5zuwu2">1. Ty’Ron Hopper</h1>
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<cite>John Reed-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="dNmBdg">Blake Baker’s defense was stifling on Saturday morning, and their fearless leader turned in his best game at Mizzou to date. Ty’Ron Hopper was a maniac on Saturday, totaling 10 tackles — 3 of which took yardage away from Auburn — while also registering a sack and two more QB hurries. Nate wanted Missouri to create havoc, and Hopper was a one-man havoc generator on the plains.</p>
<h1 id="NevDe0">2. Dominic Lovett</h1>
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Missouri at Auburn" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AOIkP9fvXmCFMBJYvs5vsx28zaQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24051680/usa_today_19106608.jpg">
<cite>John Reed-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="V2NQir">With all due respect to Luther Burden III — who seemed to be struggling through an injury much of the day and is still a true freshman — it’s pretty obvious who the best receiver on Missouri’s roster is at the moment. Dominic Lovett continues to be a <em>dude</em> in an offense that struggles to generate anything. Lovett was the Tigers’ best threat through the air once again, topping 100 yards for the second straight week on only five catches.</p>
<h1 id="9BPrHi">3. Jack Stonehouse</h1>
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 04 Central Michigan at Missouri" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yIYh4Gd-pzZwarMhhjjM7nfsFTM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24053092/1235078814.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="B9jwMi">Did you ever anticipate Jack Stonehouse making one of these lists? Getty Images sure didn’t — we had to reach back to Central Michigan last season to find this image. But in a game where field position was at a premium, Stonehouse was a weapon for the Tigers, booting the ball at an average of 48 yards per kick. He even smacked a 68-yarder to completely flip the field at one point. In a game of mistakes, Stonehouse didn’t make any that were noticeable.</p>
<p id="p2Biil"><em>Others receiving votes: Jaylon Carlies, Nathaniel Peat</em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="ePSdJQ">
<p id="5dA6PP">Now it’s your turn! Tell us who your MV3 are in the comments or <a href="https://twitter.com/RockMNation"><strong>on Twitter!</strong></a></p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2022/9/26/23371534/mv3-trio-of-dominant-performances-highlighted-missouri-devastating-road-loss-auburn-college-footballJosh Matejka2022-09-25T12:50:30-05:002022-09-25T12:50:30-05:00The good from a gut-wrenching loss to Auburn
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Missouri at Auburn" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eePvKhK_cztbb2S_1UFHIlfh7WM=/0x0:3600x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71413461/usa_today_19107463.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>John Reed-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It is a needed skill of every college football fan: finding the good in a heartbreaking loss. Luckily for Mizzou, there were actually some positives from yesterday’s defeat.</p> <p id="tycgNW">We all know how the game against Auburn ended Saturday. There is no need to rehash it, other than to say that the football gods decided to have a sense of humor at our expense.</p>
<p id="7WBDKp">That being said, for how horribly painful that defeat was, there are plenty of silver linings to take from this game. I’m going to delve into them here and attempt to brighten up your Sunday afternoon.</p>
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Missouri at Auburn" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aLqS7FNeApvVoJnEGqhIhFfv6SY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24052815/usa_today_19107897.jpg">
<cite>John Reed-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<h2 id="d9Jvq6"><strong>Running Game Success</strong></h2>
<p id="ho4ijM">The Mizzou ground game had struggled for much of the 2022 season, as the offensive line failed to get much push up front and no running back seemed to emerge from a crowded backfield.</p>
<p id="9LKpD9">On Saturday, that changed. After being down 14-0 early, the Mizzou running game began to thrive right when they needed it most. They only ran for 103 yards as a team, but that was good enough to out-gain an Auburn team that prides themselves on running the football.</p>
<p id="UPxjti">The stats are not what needs to be focused on, either. It was the way in which this team ran the ball that was so encouraging. The offensive line was getting great push and opening holes for the backs against an SEC defensive line, something they were rarely able to do against an FCS team, Abilene Christian, last week. At times, they were just whipping the Auburn front, and it led to their two lone scoring drives of the game.</p>
<p id="GIAPvX">On top of that, the running backs were running with an edge that got fans’ blood pumping. Nathaniel Peat carried the ball 20 times for 80 yards, and he had plenty of chunk yardage plays that were products of him just running through arm tackles and using his speed. Likewise, Cody Schrader was running with an anger about him, as he seemed to always fall forward and was nearly impossible to stop with just one defender.</p>
<p id="om0l5V">Unfortunately, it seemed like once the game was tied, both offenses went into their shells and were content with it. The ground game showed flashes of potential in that first half; now it is just about building off of that.</p>
<p id="sLEmlZ">Hopefully this is a sign of things to come, because nothing will help Brady Cook like an effective ground game that can balance the offense.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="NCAA Football: Missouri at Auburn" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/e-agGsC-NJL_sIUcc-Ep9zPdgCk=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24052821/usa_today_19107726.jpg">
<cite>John Reed-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
<h2 id="u0i5XA"><strong>Defensive Domination</strong></h2>
<p id="BzQqFn">The first quarter was rough. Robby Ashford and Tank Bigsby looked like they had this Mizzou defense figured out, as the visiting side just could not contain either of Auburn’s elusive playmakers.</p>
<p id="uo7iDy">Then, Blake Baker’s defense figured it out. And that was all she wrote for Auburn offensively.</p>
<p id="koLeIZ">After their two early scoring drives, Auburn did not sniff a scoring opportunity until overtime hit. The Mizzou defense was suffocating for the rest of the game, only allowing Bigsby to run for 7 yards in the final three quarters. Ashford could not get anything going through the air, and the front seven adjusted to stop him from scrambling out of the pocket.</p>
<p id="Yo1Qhj">Even when the Missouri offense was seemingly punting the ball back as soon as they touched it, the defense stood tall and kept them in this game. Blake Baker has proven this season that he can make the necessary in-game adjustments in the never-ending chess match that is SEC football. Now, it is just about putting together a full 60 minutes for this defensive unit.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 04 Central Michigan at Missouri" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RvwHF4zr5-hpWaaM50fCpR-ikoA=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24052823/1235078814.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<h2 id="j1NJSk"><strong>A Punter!</strong></h2>
<p id="OsaAcO">Throughout fall camp, Eliah Drinkwitz was arguably most concerned about the competition at punter to replace Grant McKinniss. No true replacement stood out among the rest, and the position remained iffy through weeks 1-3. On Saturday, those concerns may have been put to bed.</p>
<p id="77iJsw">Redshirt freshman punter Jack Stonehouse had an overall great day on the Plains. A 61-yarder in the second half completely flipped the field, and he consistently pinned Auburn inside of their own 30-yard line throughout the game. Sure, there were still some bad ones here and there, but overall, it appears that Stonehouse has solidified himself as the punter of the future for Mizzou.</p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2022/9/25/23371328/the-good-from-missouri-tigers-gut-wrenching-loss-to-auburnParker Gillam2022-09-24T15:01:04-05:002022-09-24T15:01:04-05:00Five takeaways from Missouri’s Overtime Loss vs. Auburn
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Missouri at Auburn" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/l13Y2ayaZzoaxl8-Sd7-RfKHvTQ=/0x0:3600x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71410572/usa_today_19106600.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>John Reed-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A man that flies from his fear may find that he has only taken a short cut to meet it</p> <p id="ztnJx7">Add this to the pantheon of games that Missouri fans point to when they say, “Naw man, they’re going to <em>Mizzou</em> this one”. You know what I’m talking about. 5th-down. Flea Kicker. DOOOOOOOOOOOOOINK. And now Peat fumbling out the back of the end zone when simply being tackled out of bounds would have been an acceptable outcome.</p>
<p id="1R3hNu">These sorts of things happen but you only care about this one because it happened to your team. And, yes, it sucks. Full stop. </p>
<p id="MIjinw">It sucks even worse for Auburn fans because now they have to keep Bryan Harsin around for a few more weeks. So, mixed bag!</p>
<p id="ORYjrT">Here’s the thing: Auburn had this game won four separate times and couldn’t quite close it out until Missouri committed an unforced error. Mizzou had a two opportunities of their own to win it so it was certainly a game of, “Who doesn’t want it the least?”. But there were certainly some things to take away from...whatever the hell it was we just watched.</p>
<h2 id="i8Y1B6"><strong>1) Missouri might not be good but they can fight</strong></h2>
<p id="44iI8J">Granted, Auburn isn’t very good, either. But we’ve seen Drinkwitz Missouri teams go on the road and completely fall apart. Like, say, against <a href="https://www.bringonthecats.com">Kansas State</a>! Heading into today’s game it would have been very easy for the Mizzou to go down by 14 and pack it in. Instead, the offense found opportunities to stay in the game and the defense pounced on a rotating cast of backup quarterbacks to muck up the game and keep both Tigers in a rock fight. Given the amount of vitriol we have poured onto this team in the first three weeks, it’s absolutely worth pointing out the fight and give them credit.</p>
<h2 id="zwBPnc"><strong>2) The running game FINALLY found some life</strong></h2>
<p id="BdHFO7">Heading into this game, Auburn’s defense was Top 30 in almost every run-game statistic you could think of; Missouri, Bottom 30. But Peat and Schrader were able to find holes with a patchwork offensive line against a very good Auburn defensive front. I’m not going to assume all things are fixed at this point but it was nice to finally see the ground game operating at least semi-competently.</p>
<p id="GX8Qe4"><strong>3) This defense is legit</strong></p>
<p id="F1SXwI">Here’s the thing: Blake Baker needs 15 minutes to figure out what you like to do and then shut it down. Missouri opponents thrive in the 1st quarter and then slowly get snuffed out as the game goes on. That was the case again this week as Auburn tore up Missouri on 15-straight runs to start...and then got nothing for the rest of the game. It’s annoying that they need to taste their own blood to become effective but, hey, at least they get better as the game goes on. It’s not perfect but it’s a massive upgrade from last year!</p>
<h2 id="238Mkd"><strong>4) Jack Stonehouse is a dude</strong></h2>
<p id="IOhoiv">Sean Koetting has been an excellent kick off guy and did well punting in last year’s bowl game against Army. But in a battle of field positioning, Jack Stonehouse is your guy. He does have a nasty habit of outkicking his coverage...but he also buries punts in opponent territory and quite literally flips the field. That’s a great weapon for a struggling offense to lean on and Stonehouse absolutely delivered on Saturday. </p>
<h2 id="r9nbp1"><strong>5) Eli Drinkwitz is a coward</strong></h2>
<p id="S6qrQk">This is what you were waiting for, right? Eli goes into “bunker-mode” far too often and dials up conservative schemes and plays to not-lose. Credit to the ballsy down-field throw (out of nowhere!) towards the end of regulation, but then what? You’re on the opponent’s 3-yard line. College kickers, no matter how good, are wildly inconsistent, and Thiccer has shown cracks in the armor in the past weeks. To that point in the game, the offense had shown repeatedly they could open holes against this Auburn front. AND WHAT DOES ELI DO? Takes two straight knee. That’s cowardly football, and that’s not just because they missed the following field goal. You play to win and aggression is usually rewarded and, of course, the football gods push the cowardly kick to the right.</p>
<p id="wijxYy">Even before that, Drink dialed up very few passes against an Auburn secondary that was not good at defending any kind of throw. Thankfully the run game found its groove but that’s an aberration on the season as that has not been the case at all this year. </p>
<p id="iconjd">Where was Luther Burden? Where was the wildcat? If you have a quarterback that can’t connect downfield, where’s the creativity in getting your playmakers the ball? This was just another data point in Drinkwitz’s awful record against peer programs and road trips and, at this point, he’s not going to change. It’s clear Drinkwitz plays not to lose but that’s not how you win a college football game. Be better, Eli.</p>
<p id="fUQzit"></p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2022/9/24/23369972/five-takeaways-from-missouri-tigers-football-overtime-loss-vs-auburnNate Edwards2022-09-24T11:11:32-05:002022-09-24T11:11:32-05:00Live Game Thread: Mizzou vs. Auburn
<figure>
<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 17 Abilene Christian at Missouri" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wW_sD5rurSkRNUm25UIjBDz684A=/0x0:4846x3231/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71410080/1243305286.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>Missouri plays their fellow Tigers on the road Saturday morning in a game that has huge implications for both sides.</p> <h1 id="usmuHP"><strong>Missouri 14 | Auburn 17</strong></h1>
<p id="PrMRb2">Final</p>
<h2 id="2mpOt2"><strong>First Quarter Notes</strong></h2>
<ul>
<li id="SqFsbd">Robby Ashford proving to be tough to tackle early on, converts a 3rd and 12 on their opening drive.</li>
<li id="A4DR0h">2 fourth down conversions by Auburn on their opening drive lead to an Ashford rushing touchdown.</li>
<li id="x5g42a">A Brady Cook interception sets Auburn up at the Mizzou 22-yard line.</li>
<li id="0JCqO3">Auburn punches in another rushing touchdown, as Ashford and Tank Bigsby continue to have success on the ground.</li>
<li id="lxOQXR">Drinkwitz is showing early that he is willing to take shots down the field, but Cook has yet to complete one.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="cljYJn"><strong>Second Quarter Notes</strong></h2>
<ul>
<li id="7FZHWV">Nathaniel Peat is running the ball well early, falling forward on every run and picking up yardage after contact. Cody Schrader takes after him to close the drive, finishes it off with a touchdown.</li>
<li id="JKrgzu">Isaiah McGuire with a strip sack on 3rd down, Auburn does recover Great pass rush from the entire line on that play.</li>
<li id="YS7o1k">Mizzou driving again behind the 3-pronged rushing attack of Cook, Peat, and Schrader.</li>
<li id="JZUkXy">Missouri closes the half with an impressive drive to tie things up, showing a lot of grit to fight back in this game.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="E55ALC"><strong>Third Quarter Notes</strong></h2>
<ul>
<li id="s5miWw">Robby Ashford goes out with an injury, meaning that Holden Geriner steps in at quarterback for Auburn. True freshman started the season as the 4th string quarterback on the roster.</li>
<li id="Olj7Ea">Brady Cook with a misread on the option play, gets stopped on 3rd and 1.</li>
<li id="gPQ7g0">Ty’Ron Hopper with a huge 3rd and 10 sack to force another Auburn punt.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="rTNza0"><strong>Fourth Quarter Notes</strong></h2>
<ul>
<li id="zgOtlf">Jack Stonehouse with an impressive 68-yard punt, showing signs of life as the starting punter.</li>
<li id="ymCvyI">Nathaniel Peat really appears to be taking over as the top running back, the Stanford transfer is running hard and finishing runs with aggression.</li>
<li id="XkptkU">Missouri defense is keying in on the Auburn rushing attack, forcing Ashford to beat them downfield. Auburn only has 3 first downs in the second half.</li>
<li id="rIDQ7r">After multiple 3-and-outs from both sides, Ashford finally completes a deep ball to get Auburn in scoring position.</li>
<li id="LLO1xt">Mizzou gets a massive fourth down stop at their own 30-yard line, Auburn questionably went for it instead of kicking a field goal.</li>
<li id="lyrsDI">Brady Cook’s best throw of his career sets the Tigers up inside the Auburn 5-yard line. Dominic Lovett with a great adjustment to catch the ball on the sideline.</li>
<li id="eLasgf">Harris Mevis misses the game-winning kick. This game goes to overtime.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="L3CxbM"><strong>Overtime Notes</strong></h2>
<ul>
<li id="zKeLVH">Martez Manuel nearly gets an interception on Auburn’s opening drive. They have to settle for a field goal.</li>
<li id="0Mx59w">Carlson misses the first attempt, but a Mizzou offside allows him to re-kick, that of which he would convert.</li>
<li id="Oid0xK">Nathaniel Peat nearly has a touchdown, but fumbles it into the end zone. The game is over.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="FmNDX3"><strong>Pregame Updates</strong></h2>
<div id="KP2ikA">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rise and shine, it’s Gameday!<br><br> Auburn<br> Saturday, September 24<br>⏰ 11 a.m. <br> Jordan-Hare Stadium<br> ESPN<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MIZ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MIZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/GuhE6TDhfg">pic.twitter.com/GuhE6TDhfg</a></p>— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/MizzouFootball/status/1573643968511938562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2022</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="8AXnQ9">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mizzou - Mitchell Walters warming up with the first string O-line at right guard over Connor Wood. This would be Walters‘ first career start. Also Xavier Delgado back at left guard after missing the last game</p>— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dave_Matter/status/1573695787246264320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2022</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="e7HM4G">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Auburn has made it official: Robby Ashford starts at quarterback today <a href="https://t.co/BVe8Eh0jIm">pic.twitter.com/BVe8Eh0jIm</a></p>— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dave_Matter/status/1573691070583640065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2022</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<h2 id="4y0a6L"><strong>Game Info</strong></h2>
<p id="3SaYmC"><strong>TIME: </strong>11:00 CT</p>
<p id="e0yOA3"><strong>DATE: </strong>Saturday, September 24th, 2022</p>
<p id="f0QJsv"><strong>LOCATION: </strong>Auburn, AL</p>
<h2 id="Ozolca"><strong>Missouri-Auburn football: Follow the game, TV Channel</strong></h2>
<p id="IG3u3h"><strong>TELEVISION:</strong> ESPN</p>
<p id="CYdYih"><strong>STREAM</strong>: Watch ESPN</p>
<p id="Wm0Cg5"><strong>TWITTER</strong>: <a href="https://twitter.com/MizzouFootball"><strong>@MizzouFootball</strong></a></p>
<p id="FQRsqL"><strong>FACEBOOK</strong>: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MizzouFootballShowMe/"><strong>MizzouFootballShowMe</strong></a></p>
<p id="bTkiNY"><em><strong>ESPN+</strong></em>: <a href="http://go.web.plus.espn.com/c/482924/555830/9070?sharedid=RockMNation&subId2=[]sb[p]22544166[t]w[r]rockmnation.com/archives[d]D"><strong>ROCKMNATION</strong></a></p>
<p id="8oAKZ7">Looking for FuboTV? Try our signup link: <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https://www.fubo.tv/lp/sports/?irad=343747&irmp=482924&sharedid=RockMNation&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https://www.rockmnation.com/2020/10/3/21500015/game-thread-mizzou-looks-to-climb-rocky-top-for-first-win-of-the-season&xcust=___sb__p_22544166__t_w__r_rockmnation.com/authors_" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>FUBOTV</strong></a></p>
<h2 id="07s0Q1"><strong>Missouri-Auburn Football: Betting odds, predictions</strong></h2>
<h2 id="aOyq9i">Mizzou comes in as +10.5 underdog against Auburn according to <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/featured?category=game-lines"><strong>DraftKings Sportsbook</strong></a>
</h2>
<h2 id="FlAG5r"><strong>Fan Questions:</strong></h2>
<ol>
<li id="u7OOah">Who will lead the Tigers in rushing?</li>
<li id="iPKt46">How many turnovers will Mizzou force today?</li>
<li id="emUj3b">How many catches and yards will Luther Burden have?</li>
<li id="PNRZtF">Will the two teams combine for more than 50 points?</li>
<li id="B7Hckf">Will Harrison Mevis hit a 50+ yard field goal?</li>
</ol>
<h2 id="hysomY"><strong>Last... Give us your score predictions, and MVP for the game in the comments below!</strong></h2>
<p id="Hto6E9"></p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2022/9/24/23363346/live-game-thread-mizzou-vs-auburnParker Gillam2022-09-23T14:00:00-05:002022-09-23T14:00:00-05:00PREGAMIN’ AUBURN
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/g016LHU6abxtYxzPSkQPSvvNaOM=/310x0:2407x1398/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71407151/thisisfine.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>THIS IS FINE????</p> <h1 id="Ow2R2x">♫ I’m So Sophisticated ♫</h1>
<div id="eIjYOF">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Road Game Fit.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MIZ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MIZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/OzDa2G9x0a">pic.twitter.com/OzDa2G9x0a</a></p>— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/MizzouFootball/status/1573007343172067329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2022</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p id="8V858S">It would appear that the </p>
<h1 id="cQssq1"><em>M I Z Z O U</em></h1>
<p id="fd5Xuc">is here to say, though I will say it’s growing on me the more that I see it. </p>
<p id="l7iqsp">I’m a noted fan of all-whites, so the black helmet is an overall downgrade for me. However, I think it could’ve worked with a gold M. Still, I can’t complain overall. It’s a pretty clean look.</p>
<h1 id="Ecmp4V">What’s On Tap?</h1>
<p id="tWQRr6">Did you know that Alabama has its own brand of whiskey? I didn’t! </p>
<p id="ruSYdZ">A “high-quality aged moonshine whiskey,” <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conecuh_Ridge_Whiskey">Conecuh Ridge</a> was designated as the state’s official spirit in 2004 after several years of it being illegally produced in the 20th century. The official brand is called “Clyde May’s,” a name that derives from the original family who legalized the spirit.</p>
<p id="GelDwa">In any case, something tells me you’re going to need a powerful drink while watching Saturday’s game, so we’re going to go with the official <a href="https://clydemays.com/recipes/alabama-slammer.html">Clyde May’s take on an Alabama Slammer</a>, a gingery whiskey cocktail that should be pretty easy to power through while you watch Auburn and Missouri battle to determine Bryan Harsin’s fate. The Alabama Slammer is generally very fruity and sugary, but this sounds a little more palatable.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OSzOLmxMzRWff6HCPi64elRqoQM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24048036/Screen_Shot_2022_09_23_at_10.04.17_AM.png">
</figure>
<blockquote>
<p id="4ndSjU">Ingredients:</p>
<p id="uAhkgu">Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon (or any bourbon/moonshine if you don’t have any Clyde May’s on hand)</p>
<p id="x62EyD">Lime</p>
<p id="Wc7PL6">Ginger Ale</p>
<p id="w5lQYX">1. Fill Collins glass to the rim with ice, pour in Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon.</p>
<p id="21hMKU">2. Squeeze in some fresh lime juice.</p>
<p id="vjsJE1">3. Top it off with your favorite ginger ale.</p>
<p id="WBne3z">4. Stir gently. Sip effortlessly. Cry while watching Missouri/Auburn beef It.</p>
</blockquote>
<h1 id="hQXC8T">Know Thy Enemy</h1>
<p id="NMfV7c">If you’ve been paying attention to our content over the past week, Nate’s opening statements in this week’s preview won’t surprise you.</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="eN7PO6">Let’s get this out of the way up top: Auburn is Missouri with a better defense.</p>
<p id="Ga6FwT">The head coaches are - essentially - the same. Drinkwitz was Harsin’s OC at both Arkansas State and <a href="https://www.obnug.com/"><strong>Boise State</strong></a> and was heavily influenced by the Boise alum’s schemes. Harsin uses more personnel matchups and subterfuge than his former protégé but both he and Drinkwitz use a run-oriented offense with a lot of pre-snap motion and shifts to open up the horizontal passing game to eventually hit deep shots. <strong>They are the Spiderman-pointing-meme to its core.</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p id="r0B9pe">There are differences, to be sure. Auburn has a functional run game, for one, and has a slightly better defense than Missouri — though who’s to say how much Mizzou is still being penalized for last year in SP+.</p>
<p id="6mzdJn">One weakness of Auburn’s that Mizzou may be able to exploit is Auburn’s woeful pass defense. Surprise, surprise: Mizzou has some pretty good playmakers in the passing game!</p>
<blockquote><p id="yRFuam">Missouri’s offensive line can’t open holes for running backs to get through and Auburn is a dominating run defense. So please, for the love of god, focus on the passing game and get your two best weapons constantly involved! It does need to be successful, however, otherwise you’re just going three-and-out quickly without taking time off the clock.</p></blockquote>
<p id="l38veO">Nate also points to one of Drinkwitz’s old nemeses — points per scoring opportunity — as a key to finishing off his old boss’s tenure on the plains.</p>
<blockquote><p id="M0Osoe">Three games into the season the [Missouri] Tigers are averaging 4.05 points per scoring opportunity, 87th in the country. That can’t stay stagnant if this team expects to actually win SEC games. The good news? Auburn’s defense is 110th in point per scoring opportunity given up. Movable object, meet stoppable force!</p></blockquote>
<p id="Bb74Z9">On defense, Missouri was provided a blueprint for victory during Auburn’s recent 41-12 thumping at Jordan-Hare. Penn State was able to throw Harsin out of his rhythm and forced the Tigers to go through the air which, uh, didn’t work. </p>
<blockquote><p id="VKIAny">Penn State’s defensive front knocked back Auburn’s line on the first two drives, went up a few scores, and removed the ground game as a reasonable option for the rest of the game. To wit, Tank Bigsby - Auburn’s <s>only</s> best playmaker on offense - finished the game with 9 rushes and 2 catches total.</p></blockquote>
<p id="hFtqqQ">We also know that Blake Baker’s defense thrives off of creating <em><strong>havoc </strong></em>in the backfield, and they’ll need some of it on Saturday morning as Auburn starts backup Robby Ashford in place of injured TJ Finley and redshirting Zach Calzada. </p>
<blockquote><p id="i1lMQn">Passes defensed, forced fumbles, quarterback pressures, interceptions, and PLEASE some tackles for loss (and sacks). Outside of the Louisiana Tech game this Missouri defense has been limited in their havoc production and to have any shot against stopping Auburn, they’ll need to shoot for <em><strong>at least a 25% havoc rate</strong></em>.</p></blockquote>
<p id="dRe61w">Seems like a good time for Isaiah McGuire and Trajan Jeffcoat to have breakout games, no?</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QXcQNHHocHrzCwBVXQSYtLxsJPs=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24038562/AsktheMasthead2022.png">
</figure>
<h2 id="4jZ7f2">Mizzou put its second win on the board over Abilene Christian, but the consensus seems to be that they disappointed. What was your biggest concern about last weekend’s performance... and how does it get fixed?</h2>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Abilene Christian v Missouri" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xfl9WYKf5-IIPBe3olcEMG6sSEc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24038580/1243307670.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="WI7rJo"><strong>Nate Edwards, Football Editor:</strong> The fact that they the starters stayed in until the last few drives of the 4th quarter. Why? Is it because Drink was confident that the backups couldn’t maintain a 20ish point lead? Is it because he thought the starters needed more reps? Is it because he hates most of the guys that he’s recruited and never wants to see them play football at the collegiate level? Regardless of why, the move smacked of a careless investment in the long-term health of this program, and knowing that we’re not going to see any of the talented youth that he’s acquired over the past two years on the field is one of the largest points of contention I have with this staff.</p>
<p id="FXHnfe"><strong>Parker Gillam, Beat Writer:</strong> The offensive line. It had been a concern in the first two games, but it was never more glaring than against the lone FCS opponent on the schedule. From not being able to manufacture a consistent ground game to Brady Cook facing near-immediate pressure when he dropped back, it was rough. I can only wonder what SEC defensive lines will do against this front five.</p>
<p id="EEIegx">Yes, Xavier Delgado was out, and if he can get back into the lineup that bolsters the unit. Still, I can see this O-line hurting this team all season long.</p>
<p id="p2Endj">As for fixing it, I think the easiest adjustment, although it presents new risks, is to allow Brady Cook to use his legs more. Draw up some more designed runs, QB draws, etc. That keeps a D-line on their toes and forces them to contain rather than attack. It would also assist the ground game, as the defense would be keying in on the running backs (and Burden sometimes) far less.</p>
<p id="6WYfd3"><strong>Josh Matejka, Deputy Site Manager: </strong>I think Parker nailed it. The offensive line, which has been a concern all year officially became a <em>problem</em> against Abilene Christian. It’s one thing to get manhandled against Kansas State and entirely another against a slightly above-average FCS program. And it’s not as if the linemen were getting physically dominated either. They just looked awful.</p>
<p id="Vbwvce">As for fixing it? I’m not sure. You can always find creative ways to get Brady Cook out of the pocket, but part of the strength of this team is getting the ball to its playmaking receivers. If you’re intentionally moving away from that strength, what benefit are you bringing to the whole team? I don’t know... and I’m hoping Drinkwitz (and Marcus Johnson) have better ideas than I do.</p>
<p id="QWSxfp"><strong>Levi Hutmacher, Digital Media Producer: </strong>I echo the above concerns with the offensive line. And I honestly don't think it can be fixed anytime soon, unless they somehow find another gear as their SEC slate is basically here. Getting pushed around by an FCS school with millions of dollars less to play with in their program is not good at all.</p>
<p id="BSeE3n">As I said above, I do not believe it can be <em>fixed</em>. However, I believe the “fixing” needs to come from Eli himself. We haven’t seen much diversity in his offensive play calling. And I honestly don’t think he is open to changing the way he calls the offense. To me, the one step forward in helping Brady and these running backs out a little bit more is by Drink transforming his offensive strategy.</p>
<p id="Hspzo8"><strong>Jackson Meyer, Football Contributor: </strong>I’m going to be in agreement with just about everyone and say the offensive line was the teams biggest concern. The harsh reality is that the offensive line struggled against Abilene Christian, which isn't exactly a good sign. </p>
<p id="aeBsBb"> So, how do you fix it? Truth be told, I'm not sold that it can be fixed just yet. I’d say that you need to potentially max protect on passing downs just to give Cook more time. I think most of his struggles have came from the anticipation of getting clobbered. I also think that maybe even putting an offensive lineman at the TE position wouldn't be an awful idea. I know that’s outlandish, but at this point, new things ought to be attempted.</p>
<h2 id="P0x7Vj">Going off topic a bit... this is the first time Mizzou has played at Auburn in 10 SEC years, and the trip is being used as a conversation starter over how the conference will structure schedules moving forward. What’s your ideal setup for the new-look SEC that’s coming in 3-4 years?</h2>
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEC 04 SEC Championship Game - Georgia v Alabama" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/z9uNyi76e3CPWSa8TI7vGltNqXI=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24038581/1237063951.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="zdzORN"><strong>Nate Edwards:</strong> The Pod system is the best for me. Break up the 16 teams into four, 4-team pods; each team plays its pod, plus 5-6 teams from other pods and the two teams with the best conference record play in the SEC Championship. Other conferences are moving to that model because it allows for schools to play everyone in the conference in a tighter window, as opposed to the “first trip to Auburn EVER” system that we currently have.</p>
<p id="dda48t">There’s no wrong way to do this - and no pod that will actually give Missouri an advantage - so let’s get a healthy does of Big XII and rivalry in Missouri’s pod and take it from there:</p>
<ul>
<li id="vMlwYy">Pod 1 - Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas</li>
<li id="rvdtTd">Pod 2 - Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, LSU</li>
<li id="ZpjmLY">Pod 3 - Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, Vanderbilt</li>
<li id="mW4QPw">Pod 4 - Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky</li>
</ul>
<p id="palnEI"><strong>Parker Gillam:</strong> As weird as it may be, I’m actually a pretty big fan of the “pod” system that’s been flying around. You can put Oklahoma, Texas, A&M, and Mizzou in the same pod (Arkansas could also make sense). That would be logical geographically, fans would be more excited for those opponents on the schedule, and the Tigers could be fairly competitive within it.</p>
<p id="itE3hu">You’d then have Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, and South Carolina in one pod. Alabama, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Auburn would round out another, with LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and then Arkansas finishing it off. You’d play two teams from every other pod each season and all of your podmates (? needs a better name) once.</p>
<p id="AAqt4a">For postseason play, maybe the SEC starts their own 4-team playoff between each pod winner? Maybe just the top two teams meet? All in all, I’m just intrigued by this idea and could see it being very entertaining while also bringing back some geographical pride. </p>
<p id="Jbbi1d"><strong>Josh Matejka: </strong>I don’t understand not having divisions at all, which Sankey seemed to suggest somewhat recently. I’d rather see them keep two divisions. But like Parker, I’m a fan of the pods. It feels in spirit with the divisions of other American sports and opens up avenues for future pre-postseason style tournaments. It also allows you to play on and develop specific rivalries while offering a fix for some of the Big 12 grafting that has taken place over the years. </p>
<p id="jUDU1R"><strong>Levi Hutmacher: </strong>Oh gosh I am not the best person to be answering this but I will give it a shot. So I actually do really like Parker’s pod idea.</p>
<p id="w3Z0CS"><em><strong>Pod 1</strong></em><br> Mizzou, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M</p>
<p id="DtzgED"><em><strong>Pod 2</strong></em><br> Kentucky, Georgia, Vanderbilt, South Carolina</p>
<p id="kwpl2b"><em><strong>Pod 3</strong></em><br> Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi St, Ole Miss</p>
<p id="FcaTZH"><em><strong>Pod 4</strong></em><br> Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Auburn</p>
<p id="sUZNrO">I originally had Tennessee in pod 2 and Georgia in pod 4, but I didn’t think it would be cool to have Alabama and Georgia in the same pod. So, this is a little more regionally focused and I think it works out pretty well? You play everyone in your pod once, then one team from each of the other pods each season. </p>
<p id="Jc71qZ">Now, this is two games less than the current SEC slate so you either add another common opponent from the other pods (like Arkansas for Mizzou) or add another P5 non-con opponent. Then go into an SEC post season tournament, like Parker suggested, with the best team from each pod meeting for a four-team playoff.</p>
<h2 id="hornez">Mizzou is a bit of a mess, and they’ll be in similar company on Saturday. Auburn is in a constant state of crisis, especially under Bryan Harsin... can he figure it out with this team, or is their yearly coup already in full swing?</h2>
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<img alt="Penn State v Auburn" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vPzceN0q7XHY-pGF7IPF4MasHvw=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24038583/1243305472.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="dKsfMC"><strong>Nate Edwards:</strong> The boosters fired the athletic director on August 26th so Harsin is clearly next. Whether its after losing to Missouri this week or losing to Georgia a few weeks later, there’s no way he sticks around to a Year 3 on The Plains.</p>
<p id="lMptZV"><strong>Parker Gillam:</strong> Credit to Harsin for being able to weather that storm over the offseason and keep his job, because I thought he was going to be out of the door this past summer.</p>
<p id="Wsgy5p">Still, I think his time is coming to a close on the plains. This Auburn team, just purely based off their schedule, will likely not make a bowl game. That generally spells doom for most SEC head coaches, especially one at a top-flight program that has already been on the hot seat. He doesn’t have an elite team, but there’s enough talent for them to be performing better than they’ve shown.</p>
<p id="CKbXTx">I thought he was an odd hire from Boise, and I think his tenure at Auburn ends abruptly within the next month.</p>
<p id="4o2Uye"><strong>Josh Matejka:</strong></p>
<div id="9E3Jdz"><div style="max-width: 432px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.1111%;"><iframe src="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthumbs.gfycat.com%2FBowedMiserlyBlacknorwegianelkhound-max-1mb.gif&key=9ef4a209439e42bc59783ba959d50197" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div></div>
<p id="zh9340"><strong>Levi Hutmacher: </strong>Oh, he is gone. Once the fan base and trigger happy group of donors and decision makers have their mind made up, Bryan is toast. If Mizzou strolls into Auburn on Saturday and just totally embarrasses them, he is gone before he meets the press for post game questions.</p>
<p id="CuKcDh"><strong>Jackson Meyer: </strong>Unless Auburn makes a bowl, their is a solid chance that Harsin is on his way to exiting the program. That fanbase and the boosters have quite the influence, and let’s just say Harsin doesn’t seem well received.</p>
<h2 id="jeiRjw">PICK ‘EM! Despite their floundering, Auburn is still opened as a -10.5 favorite over Missouri in what now feels like a must-win game for Mizzou’s bowl eligibility hopes. Can the Tigers take advantage of Auburn’s struggles, and who will be the key in them doing so?</h2>
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 17 Abilene Christian at Missouri" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HNQwjSb5G3VGow0LACo-5rF6sF8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24038584/1243309014.jpg">
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<p id="JStV4h"><strong>Nate Edwards:</strong> It’s an Eli Drinkwitz team on the road. He’s not allowed to win. But does he cover? I think Auburn win by 10 so... no. </p>
<p id="5vpUqp"><strong>Parker Gillam: </strong>For all the struggles Mizzou has had, Auburn has had their very own. Run defense and quarterback play have been their concerns mainly. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Robby Ashford is going to get a lot of playing time this week at QB, so bank on the Tigers being a run-first team this Saturday. That’ll put the Mizzou defense to the test, as they allowed a mobile quarterback in Adrian Martinez to have success on the ground. On the other side of the ball, it’s all up to that offensive line. Auburn may be having a down year, but they still have some freaks in their front seven. They could dominate this game if the Missouri O-line allows it.</p>
<p id="T5ubmH">10.5 is a big number, and I think this is a very low-scoring, close game throughout. Both coaching staffs are going to try to avoid putting their QBs in a position to make a game-changing mistake, so expect some conservative play-calling. </p>
<p id="R0HWXp">I think explosive plays will win this game, and it’s either going to come from Luther Burden or Dominic Lovett for the Mizzou side, or it’s going to be Tank Bigsby on the other side. I just don’t have enough faith in this Missouri offensive line to hold up against this Auburn team, and it is hard to see those other Tigers losing on their home field two weeks in a row. It’s close, but Auburn wins 20-17.</p>
<p id="fxJXfE"><strong>Josh Matejka: </strong>The line has moved down to -7 or -7.5, which I feel is a much better indication of how this game goes. As BK referenced on the pod this week, I think Drinkwitz is going to pull out all the stops in this one for... reasons. Auburn is a mess and as much as it may be nice to say Harsin can rally the troops for one last win, we’ve seen how these games tend to go. There’s no way Auburn comes inspired into this game.</p>
<p id="QhO8px">However, did I mention that Mizzou’s offensive line is a <em><strong>problem</strong></em>? Until they go out and show they can at least show up with a pulse, I’m declaring them D.O.A., especially against teams with as much talent as Auburn. Auburn will win a horrible, terrible, no good game that ends somewhere around 24-20.</p>
<p id="KEU9Hn"><strong>Levi Hutmacher: </strong>As odd as it is to say this, I feel like Auburn is a bigger dumpster fire at the moment than Mizzou is. We have seen this Mizzou team resurrect itself from the dead in previous seasons as the year has gone on. Perhaps this is the Barry-Odom-lighting-a-fire-during-half-time turning point in the season that gets everyone excited and hopeful for the future. </p>
<p id="DkGa2V">Also, as others have noted, Drink is going to want to show off in front of Auburn. I expect to see some new plays, a few tricks, a few treats, and hopefully a win. Why do I still have hope after decades of disappointment? I have no clue. But hope is all we need, friends.</p>
<p id="qnXKVO">Mizzou wins this one 24-10... maybe.</p>
<p id="e2fMqz"><strong>Jackson Meyer: </strong>Football is a game of matchups and I don’t think Missouri matches up well here. If Auburn has one good thing going for them, it’s there defensive line. Take a nod at the Missouri offensive line... it’s hard to say Missouri doesn't struggle. I’m unfortunately going to take Auburn to win and cover, 31-17.</p>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2022/9/23/23363116/pregamin-auburn-mizzou-college-football-previewJosh MatejkaParker GillamNate EdwardsLevi Hutmacher2022-09-20T19:09:44-05:002022-09-20T19:09:44-05:00Defensive Presser Notes: Auburn
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 10 Missouri at Kansas State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nvZEy-zp-HUEqeMPH8xzxrUEAOI=/0x0:5994x3996/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71394461/1243184558.0.jpg" />
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<p>Defensive coordinator Blake Baker and select defensive players met with the media to preview Auburn and recap the Abilene Christian game.</p> <h2 id="OxK0Q4"><strong>Blake Baker | Defensive Coordinator</strong></h2>
<ul>
<li id="5tzXK5">“There’s spurts in every single game that we’ve been dominant, but there’s times where we let up explosive plays. We need to put 60 minutes together.”</li>
<li id="Lq6Rih">“All 3 of those backs could start almost anywhere. They all are unique in their running style, but they all have good balance, speed, vision.” <strong>On the Auburn running back room</strong>
</li>
<li id="K4ZTsl">“We’ve been preparing for both guys so our prep won’t change.” <strong>On Auburn QB TJ Finley being ruled out</strong>
</li>
<li id="5QW3TH">“He runs them like a normal play, so I know they’re in his arsenal.” <strong>On Harsin’s trick plays and his experience with them</strong>
</li>
<li id="bns0Gc">“There’s no way in the world I’d be where I am without Bryan Harsin. He took a chance on me as a third year graduate assistant. He’s a really good ball coach, and he made me a better coach for sure.” <strong>On the influence Harsin has had on Baker as a coach</strong>
</li>
<li id="oSIBNs">“The biggest thing is consistency. We’re playing a lot of guys at that position, so the effort is there. We need to create more havoc.” <strong>On the defensive line’s performance thus far</strong>
</li>
<li id="4CNgvx">“He’s a joy to coach. He’s been putting that on film all through fall camp, being physical at the point of attack and getting to those screens. I wish I had a room full of Ennis Rakestraw’s.” <strong>On Rakestraw’s interception and how happy he is for him coming back from injury</strong>
</li>
<li id="Ezcvv7">“I’m pleased with the progress he’s made in such a short period of time. You could definitely be seeing more of him in the future. He’s been doing a lot of work even outside of the film room and the practife field.” <strong>On Miami transfer CB Marcus Clarke, who appeared sparingly last week</strong>
</li>
<li id="79H0Fk">“Our goal is to get a 25% havoc rate every week, and we haven’t got close to that these past two weeks.” *<strong>Havoc rate meaning negative plays forced, turnovers, etc.</strong>
</li>
<li id="1fLXKa">“I wasn’t wearing a hoodie this time of year in New Orleans or Miami, that’s for sure. This is the farthest north I’ve ever lived, so I don’t really feel the heat up here.” <strong>On why he wears a hoodie when it is 95 degrees outside</strong>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="QHm6Ou"><strong>Jayden Jernigan | Defensive Line | Senior</strong></h2>
<ul>
<li id="6SJvF0">“His vision is very clear, and when he sees the gap, he hits it and goes. Much like our opponent, K-State with their back, he finds holes and gets going.” <strong>On Auburn’s Tank Bigsby</strong>
</li>
<li id="tflic3">“Communication is one aspect. We communicated very well against K-State.” <strong>On the key to stopping rushing attacks like Auburn’s</strong>
</li>
<li id="bhxhbE">“We just needed to fix our mindset. We came in on gameday without thinking too much about our opponent, overlooking them a little bit.” <strong>On the halftime adjustments to stop ACU’s rushing attack</strong>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="QaxHCn"><strong>Martez Manuel | Safety | Senior</strong></h2>
<ul>
<li id="2uLzg2">“Super blessed that I could get it off. I feel free. When I had it, I just kinda had to stick my arm up.” <strong>On being able to play without his cast for the first time last week</strong>
</li>
<li id="Yz6nIp">“They got a lot of good running backs. #9 (Robby Ashford) can run too. Coach Baker is going to draw up some good stuff and we’ll get after it.” <strong>On the Auburn run game</strong>
</li>
<li id="F9cRNQ">“Hopefully we ain’t playing in a monsoon, but gap integrity is a big theme again.” <strong>On what they took from Kansas State to apply to this game</strong>
</li>
<li id="gzrNBN">“He’s just got that ‘it’ factor. Now it’s about making sure his mind stays level and he does it again this week. He has a good drive too, every time he lines up he’s trying to win.” <strong>On Dominic Lovett’s big performance against ACU</strong>
</li>
<li id="YvPsS7">“I wish I could tell you. We’ve won two road games since I’ve been here, we’re emphasizing it though. We can’t make it bigger than what it is. We gotta lean on each other.” <strong>On how this team can improve at playing on the road</strong>
</li>
<li id="zNNsXt">“To see him finally get rewarded for the work he’s been doing, that was really awesome.” <strong>On Ennis Rakestraw’s interception</strong>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="Qnyr75"><strong>Jaylon Carlies | Safety | Junior</strong></h2>
<ul>
<li id="15T09v">“Just staying calm in different moments. Sometimes we didn’t keep our poise.” <strong>On what they take from the first road game to Auburn</strong>
</li>
<li id="aelHnf">“Disrupting a lot of their explosive plays, keeping the ball in front of us.” <strong>On what the theme of the week is for Auburn</strong>
</li>
<li id="pBE0Kl">“It doesn’t change it all, we still gotta play the same game.” <strong>On the different starting QBs at Auburn</strong>
</li>
</ul>
https://www.rockmnation.com/2022/9/20/23363182/defensive-presser-notes-auburnParker Gillam