I’m always entertained by the idea of ‘bulletin board material.’
Eli Drinkwitz is no stranger to trash talk, but he usually waits until after the game to speak up. Coaches are kind of like that.
Players on the other hand…
Bryce Lovett was a redshirt in 2023, Tyreak Sapp was released by the Browns in August. This game was three years ago, and Luther Burden has been in the NFL for two seasons. With him are two other St. Louis are players in Jamal Roberts and Tyler Hibbler, obviously having some fun.
I’ve never been a big trash talker myself, I always think it’s more
powerful to whip somebody’s ass and then look them straight in the eye afterward with a handshake. But everyone’s different.
Motivation is weird though. I have no idea why Florida players would need a three year old photo to motivate them when what should be motivating them is they need to win the game to be considered a playoff team. The season is still early enough where one result can fully swing your season one direction or the other. The Gators are 4-0, but they have two behemoths left on the schedule in Georgia and Texas, and 3 losses may not get you in the playoff.
They also play South Carolina, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, and Florida State. OU and South Carolina are in Gainesville, but having road games against Kentucky and Missouri are the biggest questions. Maybe use that motivation for the game instead of a 3 year old photo. I don’t know. Maybe I’m weird.
Yesterday at Rock M and Rock M+
It was a big football day yesterday, as we’re all prepping for the Florida game. Soccer, Volleyball, Softball, and Tennis will all be in action today, but that’ll be the first action of the week. So let’s see what we were talking about Florida:
- Let’s start with Sammy’s Q&A with GatorCountry.com’s Andrew Spivey, who think the Gators pull out a late victory:
Florida has struggled in Columbia but I think they pull out a late win. I have Florida winning 31-24.
Spivey is usually chattier, so perhaps he’s got some nerves. I’m still not entirely sure what to make of Missouri this year, so I’m holding back my own prediction.
- Jaden looked into whose stock is going up, and who’s going down, and he squared up on the Tigers Linebackers:
Heading into the season, tackling was something that wasn’t a projected issue for this defense in terms of the returning production and incoming transfers. Nate Edwards pointed this out in the springas Nicholas Rodriguez’s tackling accuracy was 94.5%, while Robert Woodyard Jr. arrived from Auburn at 89.7%.
But so far it has been an issue for the entire team, and the Tigers’ starting linebackers haven’t being absent to it. Rodriguez’s tackling grade per PFF has slipped from an 87.2 (2024) and 78.4 (2025) to a 46.9 this year. Woodyard’s has gone from a 79 to 58.2.
Not a great sign for a crew that was supposed to be one of, if not the best, unit on the defense.
- Where have the Tight Ends been? It’s a question Colin tries to answer:
But through four games this season, the lack of production from the position has become difficult to overlook.
Mizzou’s tight ends have combined for just seven receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown, all coming from Brett Norfleet. That puts the Tigers well behind their production at the same point in recent seasons. The room had 17 catches for 189 yards and four touchdowns through four games last season, 11 catches for 58 yards in 2024 and six catches for 67 yards in 2023.
In watching the games, it’s noticeable the lack of throws to tight ends, but it also feels like Austin Simons is best on the deeper throws, plus the offense hasn’t been great on 1st and 2nd downs, so it feels like there’s still a lot of room for growth. Hopefully we see more of that with Norfleet against Florida.
- Sammy picks Florida to make the Playoffs in the Race for the CFP:
The Gators look like the real deal under first year head coach Jon Sumrall after a 4-0 start. The 52-28 win over Ole Miss was a statement, and running back Jadan Baugh is a legitimate Heisman contender. Mizzou will have their hands full on Homecoming come Saturday.
Mizzou, still on the outside looking in. A win tomorrow changes that… a little.
BASKETBALL PREVIEWIN’
My Non-Conference Previews are still rolling out, yesterday was a brief look at the Pitt Panthers:
There are 16 players on the Pitt online roster, and only one played any minutes for the team last season. That player is Macari Moore, who saw action in 22 games for about 6 minutes a game.
Everyone else either graduated or entered the transfer portal. So Pitt had to go shopping and what they were able to pull out of the portal is enough to be competitive.
It’s not a matchup to be super excited about. But one you definitely have to win.
- Over on Rock M+ DataMizzou posted the first of 9 preview pieces he’s got planned, this one is free for all who want to read:
Growing up in Mid-Missouri many, MANY years ago, televised sports were a luxury item. In the early 1990’s you might get the NFL game of your pick on Sunday afternoons. A couple of times a year you’d get to see your preferred MLB team on television when they visited the Chicago Cubs or Atlanta Braves – if you’re old enough to know, you know. Mizzou Football was in a terrible spot. They rarely were put on the televised windows for their weekly beating. In the early 1990s, it was a different world. But…there was Mizzou Basketball to save the young sports soul’s day.
It’s a great table setter for the preview season, and should get you excited for the Mizzou Basketball season. I’m knee deep in SEC previews, and we’re tracking any late changes to rosters.
To read more, subscribe! And more is coming.
Rock M RADIO: BTBS previews Gata’
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