A quarter of the way through the regular season, the Mizzou football team has looked good, but there are still areas to improve.
These first four weeks have been a bit of a rollercoaster for Mizzou football. Obviously the season didn’t start how it was “supposed” to, but over the past three games, Missouri has looked unstoppable.
From Week 1 to Week 4, here are the grades for every aspect of the team so far this season.
Offense: B+
Averaging 38 points per game and gaining nearly 500 yards per game may seem like it deserves a higher grade, but there are multiple flaws to this offense that need to be addressed during the bye week.
Every team has turnovers, but the timing and nature of Missouri’s turnovers have been detrimental. In Week 1, it cost them the game. A fumble returned for a touchdown and a redzone interception caused the Tigers to lose.
Even against South Carolina, the offense provided multiple opportunities for the Gamecocks to get back into the game.
The good news is Kelly Bryant got more involved in the run game and he’s been throwing it decently well. The offense should only improve as the season goes on.
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Defense: A
Factoring in the Wyoming game is why this isn’t an A+. Giving up 37 to Wyoming doesn’t look good, but they’ve been one of the best defenses in the country ever since.
Only giving up 14.5 points and less than 300 yards per game inspires hope for those missing the Mizzou defenses from a few years back. The most impressive aspect of the defense, however, is how many points they are scoring.
In three-straight games, the Tigers have returned an interception for a touchdown.
Against West Virginia, Nick Bolton grabbed a pass out of the air and bolted to the end zone. SEMO gifted a pick-6 to Cale Garrett, and Ronnell Perkins changed the momentum of the South Carolina game with a 100-yard pick-6 just as Gamecock quarterback Ryan Hilinski was getting in a groove.
All of those don’t factor in the fumble recovered in the end zone by Garrett in the Tigers’ last game.
This defense could single handedly win Missouri games in the SEC.
Special Teams: A+
Bravo Tucker McCann. The senior kicker was asked to double up this year after being asked to punt on top of placekicking. He’s killed it.
McCann is 7 of 9 on field goals and 18 of 19 on extra points, but his punting has impressed. When momentum seems to be shifting away from Mizzou, McCann reverses the field with a 60-yard punt, making the defense’s job much easier.
Richaud Floyd finally found his niche. He has excelled as a punt returner and he even returned one for a touchdown against SEMO.
The special teams have been exceptional so far.