The Missouri Tigers focused on getting healthy before Vanderbilt
The Missouri Tigers will welcome the Vanderbilt Commodores on October 22, 2022, for their Homecoming in Columbia. As much as Mizzou is focused on game planning, they are equally as focused on getting healthy.
Missouri’s top wide receivers, Dominic Lovett and Luther Burden have been banged up for a few weeks. Players on the defensive side of the ball have also been laboring throughout the last few weeks.
Most of the Missouri Tigers that are hurt are impact players. Making no excuses, but the Tigers lost three games on essentially six plays. This is not to say a healthy Mizzou team wins all or even some of those games, but a healthier bunch greatly increases the chances of victory.
The Tigers enter the bye week hoping to exit it with many pieces of their offensive core back in action. It is difficult to compete in any conference, especially the SEC when missing key players.
The Missouri Tigers have the following guys nursing injuries
Elijah Young: Young entered the season as the starting running back on the depth chart. Cody Schrader, Nathanial Peat, and injuries have changed that. Young is a solid back, and the Missouri Tigers want and needs him back. They do have the luxury of Schrader and Peat, to not rush Young.
Luther Burden: Burden entered the Florida game as probable while being limited in practice all week with an ankle injury. A major contributor to Luther’s advantage over his opposition is his explosiveness and ability to separate from defensive players. Burden was hobbled during the against the Gators – leaving more than once to get attention from Mizzou trainers. A full two weeks of recovery should have him in good health against Vanderbilt, where he can demonstrate just how explosive he is.
Dominic Lovett: Dominic did not practice the entire week of the Florida Gators game and was listed as questionable. He did start the game, and was productive, finishing the game with 4 receptions and 39 yards. Lovett should be near 100% come October 22nd. The additional week to heal and minimal practice will allow Lovett the time necessary to recover.
Barrett Banister: There is little fanfare around Banister with the two big weapons in Lovett and Burden grabbing most of the headlines. Banister is a sure-handed, reliable receiving threat. In three of his four games played, Banister has 3 or more receptions. The Tigers plan to have him back after the bye week.
Chad Bailey: Starter, Bailey missed his second consecutive contest against Florida. Coach Eli Drinkwitz described Bailey as 50/50, and more so as a doubtful, ahead of the game – so few expected him to play, which he did not. A difference-maker upfront, the hopes are he will be back after the break.
Kris Abrams-Draine: Arguably the best tackler the Missouri Tigers have on the corner has not played since week 4 at Auburn. A lower-body, leg injury is one that can drag on for weeks. The timing of the bye week is ideal for Adams-Draine. Hopefully, he will be back after. The Tigers defenses miss him.
The Missouri Tigers defense ranks top ten in the country, so the injuries on that side of the ball, have not been as impactful. The offense needs the wide receivers healthy to post wins in the SEC Quarterback, Brady Cook is still the starter, but his ceiling is as high as the weapons he has. The pressure will continue to mount on the young QB until he turns in a big win.
Drinkwitz says the bye week is a good chance to get a look at younger players. He lists Sam Horn, Tavorus Jones & Marquis Gracial among several others.
— Ben Arnet (@BenArnetKOMU) October 12, 2022
Drink says he'd consider giving a young QB a series here or there and it's being talked about, but that chance must be earned.
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