Missouri Tigers Back In the ‘Dawg’ House… So What’s Next?

While it’s usually a place for dogs, it was the Missouri Tigers who now find themselves in the dog house after a 34-0 disaster at home last Saturday at the hands of the Georgia Bulldogs.

In one of the most maddening, gut-wrenching, insulting “salt in the wounds and then more salt in the wounds” games that put me in a serious state of confusion and distress, I’ve let time try and ease my pain a little.

In the four days since this absolute beat down, I’ve had some time to contemplate, to reflect and come back down to earth. Mizzou will be okay. We will all be okay.

Oct 11, 2014; Columbia, MO, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Hutson Mason (14) runs the ball and is chased by Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Shane Ray (56) during the second half at Faurot Field. Georgia won 34-0. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The Tigers now have their work cut out for them if they have any hope finding their way back to Atlanta (although after last week, I wouldn’t want to have anything to do with the state of Georgia if I were them). Despite how bad it was last Saturday, Mizzou fans have every reason to keep their spirits up.

Ouch… That Hurts

Still, it’s hard not to wonder just what happened last week. The Tigers anemic offense put up some really, dreadfully, disgustingly bad numbers on Saturday. This awfulness was harder to watch than Joe Theisman’s leg being snapped in half over and over again on a loop.

For the Missouri Tigers, it was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. To the tune of 97 total yards on offense and every other drive ending in a really bad turnover, Mizzou outdid itself for awfulness on offense.

Now, before we start pointing fingers and trying to figure out who to blame, a lot times, things like this just happen.

You just can’t get in sync, the quarterback is in just a terrible funk, nothing is working on offense, the mistakes are left and right and it’s just one of those days. One of those “you slept through your alarm, on the day where traffic is worse than normal, and you spilled your coffee all over your brand new shirt and slacks right before the big presentation and you forgot your wallet at home” kind of days.

But Missouri couldn’t afford to have one of those days in one of the most pivotal moments of the season.

Oct 11, 2014; Columbia, MO, USA; Georgia Bulldogs safety Quincy Mauger (20) leaves the field after the game against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field. Georgia won 34-0. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

We’ve been saying this all year, it’s come back to coaching. This team simply wasn’t prepared well. Head coach Gary Pinkel must do a better job getting his team ready and cater their preparations each week to the opponent they’re playing. Then, they must manage the game better, call better plays and look somewhat competent when trying to clock manage the game.

While quarterback Maty Mauk was the one that threw four interceptions, the coaching staff is equally to blame by not calling better plays and not leaving their young QB exposed by the vulnerable offensive line– which by the way has been very disappointing. The Tigers clearly have a lot of work to do.

Did Georgia Game Prove Tigers Aren’t All That Great? Or Did They Catch Them On An “Off Day”?

I think the answer to these questions is: “yes.” It’s entirely possible that Georgia caught them on a really bad day– which would be the second time this season if you consider the Indiana game.

The Tigers had tremendously high expectations for 2014, and rightfully so. It’s really hard, especially in the conference they’re in to live up to high expectations. In that regard, this team is still trying to find itself. While talented, the Tigers are still loaded with youth, and it’s understandable some of the issues they’ve had.

But putting last season’ success aside, this team is talented and it should be performing better.

If you were to ask me these questions just a couple of weeks ago, I would have said the team has played really, really well l barring their one flop against Indiana. The South Carolina game wasn’t exactly an offensive performance of the ages. But the defense more than made up for it, and QB Maty Mauk and company pulled it together at just the right time and looked darn good doing it.

Oct 11, 2014; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Gary Pinkel watches the team warm up before the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Faurot Field. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

But the Tigers offense looked woeful in all 60 minutes of Saturday’s game– at home– against Georgia. There’s no sugarcoating it, they were horrendously, terribly, embarrassingly, outright pathetically BAD. Honestly, they were historically bad. As in, “Vanderbilt played Georgia better than that” bad. As in “me, George Costanza, and a team of umpa lumpas go out and play them better” bad. It was that bad.

And it shouldn’t be playing out like this. Taking what we know about the talent– or at least competence– that this roster is filled with and what we know about the coaching staff’s ability to create greatness out of its players, this team should still be undefeated. And I really mean that. It’s not like Georgia looked all that great in this game.

The Tigers defense was outstanding last weekend. It was the only thing that kept this from being 70-0.

It’s really hard to gauge what’s going wrong, and how good or bad this team really is. It will have to prove itself in the weeks ahead and play better if it stands any chance at defending its east division title.

Tigers Still Alive

That all being said, Missouri is still very much alive for the SEC East title. The Tigers dug themselves a hole Saturday. But in no way is it insurmountable. But they now what they have to do. They have to be perfect the rest of the way out.

We know now that Georgia, who holds the tie-breaker over Mizzou, should they finish with the same record, has the upper hand, and completely controls its own destiny. But they– like Missouri– still have a daunting schedule ahead.

Georgia must still face Auburn, Florida and Arkansas in the SEC. Any one of those could hurt them in their vying for Atlanta. If Missouri finds a way to run the table and Georgia falters once, Mizzou regains control. But running the table isn’t an easy task.

The Tigers will travel to Gainseville this coming Saturday for a date with the Florida Gators. That will be very telling of this team’s seriousness about holding onto these high hopes. Then Mizzou comes home for Homecoming with Vanderbilt. If they lose that, fire the whole coaching staff and maybe even give the program the death penalty.

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South Bound & Down

After that, a much improved Kentucky team, who two weeks ago was viewed as a cupcake on the schedule too. Not so much anymore. Tennessee is a dangerous program on the rise. Texas A&M’s offense won’t make things any easier. And Arkansas to close the year is no lay up either. Still, they’re all winnable games if Missouri comes out to play, unlike this past weekend.

Whatever the case, Missouri is still alive. Barely breathing and desperate for a little bit of Oxygen. A win at Florida may provide that; and then a nice shallacking of Vanderbilt will take them off the ventilator.

Until then, Mizzou fans must watch– and hope– that things don’t turn out last week. Because that was painful.