The Missouri Tigers will hit the road for the first time this season for a conference matchup in Lexington, against Kentucky.
For the first time this season, I neither feel excited or apprehensive for the Tigers’ pending game. It’s a sorry quality to have, but the way the season has gone so far has hardened my psyche.
That’s not to say that I don’t want Missouri to win, or that I wouldn’t be happy if they do win. That’s also not to say that I won’t be disappointed if they don’t win; I’m just past the point of believing that they can do it. To borrow Missouri’s motto, “Show me.”
We’ll have an actual game preview for you later this week, but today I just wanted to reach out to the fans. What are your feelings on the season? Do you believe the Tigers can turn their season around, and do you buy into head coach Barry Odom’s Auburn post-game diatribe?
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My feelings on the season are disappointment. I was sold a bill of goods by a head coach and various players who promised something, and have not delivered, now six weeks into the season.
If the Tigers can turn their season around, they haven’t shown us anything that would suggest a point that they can rebound off of. Sometimes, it’s improvement on offense, defense, or special teams. Missouri has shown a better ability to play up front on defense, but the offense has done little to make up for the defensive secondary’s short comings.
If Missouri is going to turn its season around, then the coaching staff has to involve the tight ends in more third down situations, and make better, consistent use of the running game.
Finally, I’d like to buy into Odom’s post-game vision. However, I, along with many fans, bought into his vision in the offseason, that this team is bowl game bound in 2017. Theoretically, Missouri isn’t out of it, yet. However, in order to obtain bowl eligibility, they can only afford three more losses.
Next: Missouri Tigers return from bye week
Can the Tigers play good enough to win five more games? It’s a long shot, to say the least. Some would also agree that Missouri may find two more wins on its radar. For now, the Tigers should take each game one play at a time, and shouldn’t look to next week.