Mizzou football grades: Analysis of Missouri Tigers’ Game 2 win over Middle Tennessee
It was a great game for Mizzou wide receiver Luther Burden, and not so much for the Missouri Tigers’ offensive line.
The Tigers were tested by Middle Tennessee but scraped by with a 23-19 win at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. The Missouri Tigers are now 2-0 heading into a clash against Kansas State next week.
The Wildcats earned a 42-13 win over Troy to improve to 2-0 on Saturday.
Here are our postgame grades from Missouri’s Week 2 win over Middle Tennessee...
Missouri’s cornerbacks
Mizzou’s noted secondary duo of Kris Abrams-Draine and Ennis Rakestraw didn’t have the most consistent game. But they took care of business when it was crunch time.
Middle Tennessee still completed passes on both Rakestraw and Abrams-Draine when they were in one-on-one situations. Those are the moments in which you trust your experienced cornerbacks to make the right plays.
Even so, Abrams-Draine had a pass breakup, and Rakestraw was still consistent in coverage. MTSU also had a receiver that was 6-foot-5 and 259 pounds. That’s a disadvantage for both Rakestraw and Abrams-Draine.
Grade: C
Missouri’s running backs
One of the adjustments the Tigers made was in the ground game, and that adjustment stuck thanks to the Tigers’ two backs.
Nathaniel Peat and Cody Schrader combined for over 100 yards on the night and sliced through the Blue Raiders’ tackles for consistent gains. Those gains turned into consistent offense.
Peat’s 49-yard reception where he was untouched for a touchdown was the play that gave MU some separation. It was a testament to Peat’s readiness and his speed.
The two have been the most consistent part of the new-look Missouri offense, showing their experience and skill in their own ways.
Grade: B
Missouri’s offensive line
Against a defensive line that Alabama exploited with runs and quarterback draws, Missouri’s offensive line struggled to contain the rush.
The Tigers’ first scoring drive ended in a field goal, but that drive never got a chance to finish in the end zone thanks to a false start and holding penalty on the offensive line.
The line also gave up three sacks in the first half. In the second half, the Blue Raiders were consistently affecting any run plays to the outside. The Tigers also allowed the pressure that led to a safety and gave MTSU the chance to take the lead. That kind of mistake is what costs teams games.
MU’s line cannot repeat a performance like this next week against Kansas State.
Grade: F
Mizzou WR Luther Burden
Missouri’s best offensive player was at a different level Saturday evening.
He was tough to bring down. He was quick to the edges. He was clearly the weapon that MU’s offense needs every single Saturday.
Burden’s 44-yard reception in the third quarter set up a crucial score for the Tigers to stay ahead of MTSU. It was an example of the sophomore’s new role in the offense where he’ll be targeted much more and in different ways.
He also has a looming threat on special teams as a punt returner that has to be respected. The Tigers will need that next week.
Without Burden, MU might not have won this week.
Grade: A
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