College Football

[joeD]

Mmm hhh. Two injuries that will hurt Mizzou down the line. Hansbrough (as I said) and Boehm. 

Of course, the eye test. If you watched the Alabama game, then you know. Uphill struggle deluxe.

[stlfisher]

Yeah, it was frustrating to watch. Run game was atrocious. Defense is going to be very good. Muak had 4 or 5 passes the receivers flat out dropped. Basically, we looked young. We have to see how quick they get together, but Lock looked great. Punt return was terrible. Run game is biggest concern.

[ozark trout fisher]

Sure, Mizzou looked a little sluggish offensively. But I struggle to get worked up about that. The game plans for these FCS foes are intentionally vanilla. They aren't going to be giving teams a chance to get film of their best stuff in advance of matchups that are actually losable. The two groups I most worried about (WR and DL) both looked pretty good. I feel like most of our fans would have been happier if we won by the same margin, but the score was 51-20-just because it's more fun to watch good offense than good defense. But the ONLY thing that matters in this kind of game is taking control early on and winning easily. Missouri got that done.

What could be a concern is Boehm and/or Hansbrough miss time. Right now it seems neither is seriously injured, but it's definitely within the realm of possibility both could miss the game in Jonesboro on Saturday. That's still probably a win, but it would suddenly get at least a little bit interesting. Ultimately, we should be okay as long as we have them back for the Kentucky game near the end of September. You'd think (or at least hope) we can beat Arkansas State and UConn even without our top two offensive players. 

[Al Agnew]

I know it was a vanilla game plan, and that Boehm and Hansbrough were out, but geez, it looked like the o-line simply got pushed around by an FCS team.  I don't care what kind of game plan it is, the o-line should have been opening up holes for whoever was running the ball against those guys.  The holes weren't there.  That was my one big concern while watching the game.  Mauk's play wasn't great, but a lot of it was receivers dropping balls and running the wrong route, and even poor pass protection at times.  His interception was horrible, but I suspect he simply thought his receiver could outfight that kind of opposition for the ball--I'm not sure he makes that stupid decision against an SEC defense.  Lock looked very good, but this WAS a vanilla game plan against an FCS team--Lock has yet to see a good D-1 defense, or have to use the whole playbook on a good D-1 offense.

[Flysmallie]

I didn't see much of the Mizzou game, watched parts of some other games, but was totally underwhelmed by anything I did see. NCAA football is loosing it's appeal to me at this point. I'm tired of nationally ranked teams playing powder puff teams and acting like they have done something. It's time for NCAA to get their crap together. I won't be watching anymore of it unless it's raining or snowing outside.

[Smalls21]

The Buckeyes sure looked good last night!!

[stlfisher]

I didn't see much of the Mizzou game, watched parts of some other games, but was totally underwhelmed by anything I did see. NCAA football is loosing it's appeal to me at this point. I'm tired of nationally ranked teams playing powder puff teams and acting like they have done something. It's time for NCAA to get their crap together. I won't be watching anymore of it unless it's raining or snowing outside.

I think the conferences are trying to limit them, but there is a benefit.  The powder puff teams need those games as the payouts are pretty important to their athletic departments. I look at it as preseason for the most part.  IMO they should limit it to 2 games against powder puffs, 2 against power 5 non conference, and then conference play.  Teams that play 4 complete powder puffs are being held accountable...Baylor is good example.

 

[stlfisher]

I know it was a vanilla game plan, and that Boehm and Hansbrough were out, but geez, it looked like the o-line simply got pushed around by an FCS team.  I don't care what kind of game plan it is, the o-line should have been opening up holes for whoever was running the ball against those guys.  The holes weren't there.  That was my one big concern while watching the game.  Mauk's play wasn't great, but a lot of it was receivers dropping balls and running the wrong route, and even poor pass protection at times.  His interception was horrible, but I suspect he simply thought his receiver could outfight that kind of opposition for the ball--I'm not sure he makes that stupid decision against an SEC defense.  Lock looked very good, but this WAS a vanilla game plan against an FCS team--Lock has yet to see a good D-1 defense, or have to use the whole playbook on a good D-1 offense.

I agree.  Vanilla game plan for sure and clearly in the 3rd quarter they were trying to establish the run, but the Oline was horrible and they shouldn't be...it is almost the same as last year.

[Flysmallie]

I think the conferences are trying to limit them, but there is a benefit.  The powder puff teams need those games as the payouts are pretty important to their athletic departments. I look at it as preseason for the most part.  IMO they should limit it to 2 games against powder puffs, 2 against power 5 non conference, and then conference play.  Teams that play 4 complete powder puffs are being held accountable...Baylor is good example.

 

Yeah the only reason that I can accept it is because of the funds that the smaller schools receive. That pretty much makes their season. But with that good comes a lot of bad. There has to be a better way.

[ozark trout fisher]

Eh, early season college football is really just the buildup for when the "real" games start towards the end of September. Of course games against SEMO don't mean anything (unless you lose) but it's important to get players experience and confidence before the games that matter. This is not unique to college football. The NFL has a 4 game preseason to serve the same purpose. College basketball teams usually play a couple D-2 teams in exhibitions and then keep warming up against the dregs of D-1 for a few weeks after that.

Speaking of cupcake opponents, Arkansas State is NOT one. Maybe at home (just ask USC, who beat the heck out of them Saturday) but a road game is different. They have a new stadium, and somehow got a ranked SEC team to come to their place for the first game there on a Saturday evening. It's safe to say it will be a tough atmosphere. I think Mizzou wins, and relatively comfortably by the end...but it's close for three terrifying quarters.

Give me something like 31-14.