What Eli Drinkwitz established as one of the key defining moments of Mizzou’s 45-17 victory over Florida came on just two plays within the middle eight of the contest.
“I thought Caleb Goodie’s two catches were the difference,” Eli Drinkwitz said. “He hasn’t had as many opportunities as he would like, but he came up big with a first-half touchdown and obviously the first drive of the second half on that third-down dig catch was huge.”
The opportunities haven’t been there for Goodie. Heading into Homecoming,
he had just one catch on nine targets, and his snap count drastically decreased from 54 in weeks 1 and 2 to 24 in weeks 3 and 4.
But after a month, we finally saw what Goodie’s home-run ability brings to Mizzou’s offense in a successful manner. Based on how Goodie was used at Cincinnati and Colorado State, it’s evident that he arrived to Columbia as a downfield vertical receiver.
So far this season through five games, Goodie’s average depth of target is 23.2 yards. Here’s the comparison to every other Tiger who is above 10:
- Naeshaun Montgomery: 14.2.
- Jordan Harris: 14.
- Kenric Lanier II: 12.
- Cayden Lee: 12.
- Donovan Olugbode: 11.1.
- DeMarion Fowlkes: 10.6.
A significant jump compared to his teammates. But visually, it’s been interesting to see what and how Mizzou was trying to get the ball to the senior from Breaux Bridge, LA. He was double-covered on a deep post against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. In the same game, he and Matt Zollers connected on a short stick route in front of the chains.
Against Troy, he was schemed up in running comeback routes; both failed, while he ran a crosser against Mississippi State. The best opportunity he truly had at a home run ball came against KU on a max-protect deep post, but it was dropped.
The speed has always been there for Goodie. Mizzou hasn’t found ways to get him the football to showcase that ability…until Saturday.
Breaking down the two plays Drinkwitz highlighted, Goodie’s first touchdown of the season came on a 31-yard strike from Austin Simmons in the right corner of the south end zone.
The Tigers come out in 12 personnel, with Norfleet and Donovan Olugbode lined up at the top of the screen, with Harris and Goodie at the bottom. Harris motions to the opposite side of the formation, leaving Goodie alone on the perimeter.
The Tigers’ offense creates plenty of hesitation with play action, and Norfleet running a crosser route through the teeth of the defense. It draws enough attention from the centerfield safety in Cover 3. Goodie, who is one of the fastest players in football, beats the cornerback vertically for the score.
The Tigers manipulated the coverage with the motion and crosser from the tight end, allowing Goodie to win downfield.
His second catch is an even more interesting watch. Cayden Lee had been torching Power 4 teams and finished Saturday with a team-high 110 yards. On this play, Mizzou starts out in a bunch formation.
Olugbode motions to the opposite side, and post-snap the Gators are in a man-to-man look on defense. Both safeties, DJ Coleman and Alfonzo Allen Jr., have their attention drawn towards Lee and Olugbode, leaving the middle of the field open.
Goodie runs a backside dagger, beating his man inside. Simmons does a great job getting to his fourth read, where Goodie not only makes the catch, but uses his speed to gain 17 yards after the catch.
It’s important to know that Goodie isn’t going to be a 6-10-catch receiver like Olgubode or Lee, as the two make up 54.7% of the Tigers’ targets. But that was never going to be his role to begin with.
But with Goodie’s ability to stretch the field vertically, his plays are like home runs. You’re not getting them often, but when you do, they’re game altering and exciting.
Florida didn’t represent Goodie becoming a bigger chunk of Mizzou’s offense, but it showed how the Tigers can create even more opportunities to be explosive in the passing game. Austin Simmons set a career high in passing with 340 yards and used the full strength of the receiver room.
