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Bill Connelly's Take on the game
Posted on: October 5, 2024 at 09:26:27 CT
optigr50 MU
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Spoiler alert, sports journalists apparently call this "insight" nowadays?
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Is Missouri ready to play like a contender?
No. 9 Missouri at No. 25 Texas A&M (noon, ABC)
Top-10 teams are supposed to beat Boston College and Vanderbilt by more than nine combined points. Despite a solid overall defensive showing, Missouri hasn't really lived up to its preseason hype, but then again Eli Drinkwitz's Tigers also haven't had to yet. But they have to now. Texas A&M has its flaws, but the Aggies are better than both BC and Vandy, and it's time for an underachieving offense to find fourth or fifth gear.
Mizzou and A&M have been similar teams. Neither loses ground much on offense, and neither has turned the ball over much. But Mizzou has gained 20-plus on just 4.8% of snaps (114th), A&M 5.7% (96th). A&M has bounced between two different quarterbacks, with Conner Weigman struggling and then getting hurt and the more run-oriented Marcel Reed starting the past two games (both wins). Mizzou, meanwhile, has one quarterback who hasn't quite rediscovered last year's magic.
Last season, Brady Cook attempted about 3.3 deep shots (25 or more yards downfield) per game and completed 42% of them. Through four games this year he's 1-for-7.
TruMedia
Cook and the Tigers have still been efficient nearer to the line of scrimmage, he still has both of last year's primary deep threats in star Luther Burden III and sophomore Marquis Johnson. They combined to catch 15 of 26 deep shots for 638 yards and six TDs last year; this year they've caught one of six.
It feels like just a couple of explosions could turn what is a closely projected game. A&M's Mike Elko has been canny in discussing his QB situation -- Weigman is evidently healthy enough to start, though switching from the more explosive Reed would be a risk -- and this one feels awful even on paper.
===============================
Is Missouri ready to play like a contender?
No. 9 Missouri at No. 25 Texas A&M (noon, ABC)
Top-10 teams are supposed to beat Boston College and Vanderbilt by more than nine combined points. Despite a solid overall defensive showing, Missouri hasn't really lived up to its preseason hype, but then again Eli Drinkwitz's Tigers also haven't had to yet. But they have to now. Texas A&M has its flaws, but the Aggies are better than both BC and Vandy, and it's time for an underachieving offense to find fourth or fifth gear.
Mizzou and A&M have been similar teams. Neither loses ground much on offense, and neither has turned the ball over much. But Mizzou has gained 20-plus on just 4.8% of snaps (114th), A&M 5.7% (96th). A&M has bounced between two different quarterbacks, with Conner Weigman struggling and then getting hurt and the more run-oriented Marcel Reed starting the past two games (both wins). Mizzou, meanwhile, has one quarterback who hasn't quite rediscovered last year's magic.
Last season, Brady Cook attempted about 3.3 deep shots (25 or more yards downfield) per game and completed 42% of them. Through four games this year he's 1-for-7.
TruMedia
Cook and the Tigers have still been efficient nearer to the line of scrimmage, he still has both of last year's primary deep threats in star Luther Burden III and sophomore Marquis Johnson. They combined to catch 15 of 26 deep shots for 638 yards and six TDs last year; this year they've caught one of six.
It feels like just a couple of explosions could turn what is a closely projected game. A&M's Mike Elko has been canny in discussing his QB situation -- Weigman is evidently healthy enough to start, though switching from the more explosive Reed would be a risk -- and this one feels awful even on paper.
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Bill Connelly's Take on the game - optigr50 MU - 10/5 09:26:27