Being the “SEC Main Character” has been a recipe for disaster this year, with Ole Miss and Florida rocketing to national fame thanks to big wins before being KO’d the following week. With Missouri’s statement win over Florida leading the Tigers to be the toast of the town, the lazy expectation was that, for a third week in a row, the Main Character would suffer a defeat to a lower foe.
Thankfully, that was not the case.
Thanks to a dominating defensive performance and a selectively effective offensive
effort, a lopsided yardage total eventually led to a comfortable, three-score win over a team that had Eli Drinkwitz’s number over the past three meetings. Here’s what I noticed from the win.
1. Yet another slow start on offense
After making a big deal of converting five 1st-downs and scoring on their opening drive against Florida, Missouri’s offense once again had a slow start against Texas A&M. Five rushes for 15 yards, 12 passing attempts for 37 yards and an interception, a 26-yard punt…the 1st Quarter was nothing anyone was proud of.
In the end, that slow start bequethed further offensive struggles against an A&M defense that deserves an offense that’s so much better than what they had. But whether it was the quality of defense or the traditional muddy approach to opening games, the typical offensive struggles of the first 15 minutes returned to form.
Over the course of the game the Missouri offense fully embraced the run game to run out the clock and strangle the resistance out of A&M which is objectively good. But the schedule doesn’t get any easier so it would be nice if Mizzou could execute straight out the gate going forward.
2. Hello, Nicholas Rodriguez!
With six minutes left in the 3rd quarter, Texas A&M had run 34 plays and Nick Rodriguez had 11 tackles. In addition to his sack and several pass break ups, Rodriguez might have had his best game of the year, and certainly was a standout amongst a defense that was particularly nasty all game. I mean, I’m not even singling out Donta Simpson and his two sacks! Or Trajen Greco who had a pass break up that led to an interceptions AND an interception! In the same game!
Marcel Reed has regressed tremendously under Hollmon Wiggins, but Missouri’s defense made him look even more ineffective than normal. Which leads me to my third point:
3. Corey Batoon continues his claim for Football Employee of the Year…
When Blake Baker was poached by LSU (after claiming he was staying) I think a lot of people were disappointed with his replacement, mostly because the name wasn’t recognizable. His scheme fit, though, and the potential was always there given his experience. The first year could be waved away as, “well, Missouri brought in some big names and talent that year, of course it was good.” And last year’s defense could be explained by a lot of guys sticking around for a second year.
But that wasn’t the case for this year with every defensive starter leaving from the ‘25 team. And it hasn’t mattered.
Batoon has taken a bunch of transfers and backups and unleashed a defense that, yes has warts, but has been just as effective as any of those other iterations.
Sure, this whole thing could fall apart as we get through the hellaciously backloaded schedule. But, halfway through the year, Batoon has done a masterful job with not a lot of continuity and it’s been tremendous to watch.
4. Special teams is still an adventure
We saw a 50-yard field goal made with very little angst. We saw punts pin A&M at or beyond their own 20. We saw multiple punt returns for 8-10 yards, saving the Missouri offense a 1st-down. There was good stuff!
But there was also the blocked field goal to end the 1st half. The shanked punt that gave A&M the ball in scoring position. Ya know, bad stuff.
When Erik Link was fired moved on to other opportunities and John Papuchis was brought on, the hope was that the consistent negatives would be minimized and Mizzou could enjoy a more steady special teams approach. So far this year – and certainly this year – that has not been the case.
5. The Aggie Monkey on Drinkwitz’s Back is Finally Off
Heading into this game Eli Drinkwitz was 0-3 against Texas A&M as Missouri’s head coach. He was also 1-5 against Mike Elko in his career with the one win coming all the way back in Drink’s NC State/Elko’s Wake Forest days. The Aggies have been a consistent thorn in Drink’s side since he arrived in Columbia and was one of a few SEC teams that Drink had yet to beat.
That is no longer the case.
A&M is a far cry from the team that ripped off 11 straight wins and appeared in the Playoff last year, but that doesn’t matter. This Eli Missouri team beat a Mike Elko Texas A&M team and the Tigers FINALLY made a dent in that particular win-loss column. Feels good, man.
