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Missouri fans will just be happy their Tigers got the W.
The Tigers trailed at Arkansas State for much longer than most people anticipated, their offense sputtering before pulling out a 27-20 victory.
5 TAKEAWAYS
Maty Mauk has to use his feet: With RB Russell Hansbrough limited due to an ankle injury, Mizzou’s ground game has been virtually non-existent so far this season. Mauk helped remedy this, though, rushing 10 times for 75 yards while extending key drives.
Kentrell Brothers is really, really good: The linebacker has back-to-back 16 tackle performances to his name, along with two interceptions against Arkansas State. Brothers has been the heart and soul of Missouri’s defense in 2015.
Five-wide doesn’t work if you don’t catch the ball: Missouri offensive coordinator Josh Henson continues to surprise me with his five-wide sets. They looked good at times, but Missouri receivers had too many drops to make it effective.
Scherer adds another dimension: Linebacker Michael Scherer was a typical MIKE last season, leading Missouri’s defense while piling up tackles in its second layer. Scherer seems to have built on his skill set, as he had a career-high three tackles for loss while consistently getting into the Arkansas State backfield.
Fatony exceeding expectations: Missouri freshman punter Corey Fatony had another impactful game Saturday, averaging 48.9 yards per punt. Missouri coach Gary Pinkel was gushing about Fatony after the game.
REPORT CARD
Offense: C- — Mauk threw three touchdowns but the offense surrendered three interceptions. Missouri’s backs were too dinged up to be effective, and receivers Nate Brown and J’Mon Moore had too many drops.
Defense: B — Missouri had 15 tackles for loss, the most for the Tigers since 2002, but their secondary looked leaky in the first half.
Special Teams: B+ — Fatony helped the Tigers win the field position battle, while K Andrew Baggett was perfect on his field goals and extra points.
Coaching: B — With Hansbrough banged up, it’s tough to criticize Pinkel and his staff for the team’s offensive woes. Coaches can’t catch passes, either.
Overall: B- — The Tigers continue to look stout on defense, but offensive woes will make the team happy it escaped Jonesboro with a W.
GAME PLAN
You have to question why Hansbrough was even on the field, with the running back’s ankle clearly bothering him throughout the game. Missouri helped remedy his absence by spreading the ball around on offense, to some success.
New defensive coordinator Barry Odom continues to show he’s more creative than his predecessor. The Tigers ran everything from a classic 4-3 base to a 3-2-6, using Scherer in ways he wasn’t used last season. Missouri was mildly successful in limiting dynamic Arkansas State WR J.D. McKissic (198 all-purpose yards but zero touchdowns).
GAME BALLS
- LB Kentrell Brothers: After another 16-tackle performance, Brothers is on pace for a special season.
- LB Michael Scherer: His 3 tackles for loss were a career-high.
- QB Maty Mauk: The Tigers don’t get this done without Mauk’s contribution to the ground attack.
INJURY UPDATE
RB Russell Hansbrough (ankle) and C Evan Boehm (ankle) both started after sustaining ankle injuries last week, but Hansbrough was clearly bothered by his and may be questionable for next week.
Gary Pinkel said his top four running backs, including Ish Witter and Morgan Steward, were dinged up.
Mike Shaw is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Missouri, Texas A&M and Arkansas. Follow Mike on Twitter @michaelvshaw
