Of all the sports I could watch I enjoy college football the most. A big chunk of that is because I think football is the greatest sport in the world. But the other part is that I enjoy watching teams be inconsistent and having to overcome themselves.
College football is the highest level of football where “general dumbassery” still exists as a potential outcome. That applies to both the players and the coaches, mind you. The NFL bores me because it’s always best on best, everyone is schemed up to the perfect level (except you, New York Jets), and the creativity is low while the tactics are high, leading to a very boring version of the sport. In my opinion, anyway.
I do like “best on best” occasionally but I really enjoy “best on mess”, where massive inequalities are faced every week and, sometimes, you get a wild outcome that you never expected. North Carolina State against Vanderbilt, for example. Kentucky against Texas A&M, for another. Stories where a program that’s funded like a world super power loses to a collection of misfit toys, or a third-year quarterback who has experienced football his entire life and still makes the dumbest choice possible, and the only one where his team can lose.
I love that stuff.
So, what does this have to do with Missouri, you ask? Well, Saturday was a dumbass kind of night. The focus was clearly not there. The schemes were not working. The penalties were numerous. And it allowed a program that is nowhere close as well funded as Missouri to hang around and make everyone uncomfortable for 60 minutes (well, more uncomfortable than the weather, anyway).
But - and I must stress this fact - Missouri won.
It didn’t feel like it. And no one is happy about it. But winning a college football game is hard, and if you can crank the dumbassery dial to 11 and still win by 10, then that’s fine by me.
The concern, of course, is that all the negative stuff carries over and costs Missouri a game in conference play against quality opponents.
To which I respond: have you watched Eli Drinkwitz teams play? The vast majority of conference games under Drinkwitz feature a talented Missouri team that is unable to consistently execute but then wins late anyway despite themselves. It’s kind of their thing.
So, no, I didn’t enjoy the Troy game. Have not enjoyed rewatching it while putting this piece together. But in the college realm a clunker of a game from your favorite team is always a potential outcome. And if you win your clunkers then I’m fine with it.
Here’s the advanced box score:
Advanced Box Score
Advanced Box Score
Troy dominated possession, running 24 more plays than Missouri thanks to several factors:
Troy moved slow and ran a ton of plays, nearly 2 more per possession than Missouri.
The Trojan 3rd-down offense was much better than Mizzou’s.
Missouri’s average field position was 16-yards higher than Troy’s, thanks to two turnovers that gave Mizzou short fields of less than 20 yards to the end zone.
The punt return touchdown by DaMarion Fowlkes.
But if you ignore raw number totals and focus, instead, on a per play basis, it was fairly even. Missouri had a better yards per play, created more scoring opportunities, walked away with a higher point average per scoring opportunity, and - of course - did not turn the ball over. And that’s how you win by 10 despite rarely having the ball.
When Missouri Has The Ball
Missouri’s Offense vs. Troy’s Defense
I have quipped multiple times on the podcast that A-game Austin Simmons will be referred to as “Austin” and F-Game Austin Simmons will be referred to as “Fustin”. Late on Saturday night I posted a poll on social media trying to figure out what we would be calling Mr. Simmons this week:
“Dustin Simmons” sounds like your local auto insurance agent in Macon, MO.
49% of the 202 voters believe that we got a D-game from Mizzou’s starting quarterback, so Dustin it is! I would have put him in a low-low-C or D territory so I’m mostly in agreement. That touchdown pass was wild, and I’m still unclear on if he meant to throw it that low or if Donovan Olugbode is just that talented of a receiver (or both!) but, outside if his first five throws of the game, Simmons went 6-15 for 45 yards. Yuck.
On the flip side, Jamal Roberts had a better day! Or, at least he did in the second half. After a dismal 14% success rate rushing day against kansas, Roberts hit the lofty height of a 40% success rate on 5.7 yards per carry and a touchdown.
For the game Missouri managed a 45% success rate through the air and 37% on the ground. You’d expect more against the 95th-ranked defense (now ranked 87th, fyi).
Run The Dang Ball
Goal: 46% rushing success rate
Actual: 37% rushing success rate
Winner: Troy
Create Explosive Plays
Goal: 6 explosive plays generated
Actual: 6 explosive plays generated: 4 on the ground, 2 through the air
Winner: Missouri
Finish Your Dang Drives
Goal: 5 points per scoring opportunity
Actual: 4.5 points per scoring opportunity
Winner: Troy
When Troy Has the Ball
Missouri’s Defense vs. Troy’s Offense
I know it felt like Troy’s offense could not be stopped for most of the game but that’s mostly a trick of their specific strategy. For the game they had a 28% success rate throwing the ball and only a 37% success rate running the ball. The trick, then, is that they generated three explosive plays for 145 yards and scored on two of those explosives. Additionally, they had a 41% success rate on 3rd-down for the game, but 60% 3rd-down success rate in the 1st Half. They were able to keep Mizzou’s offense on the sideline and bored while mostly doing nothing with the ball except nailing two lightning strikes to keep the game close.
Also…hellooooooooooooooooo Mizzou’s 38.9% havoc rate!!!!!!
Limit The Explosions
Goal: 6 or fewer
Actual: 3
Winner: Missouri (although this is one of those “letter of the law vs. spirit of the law” debates)
Attack the Left Side of the Line
Goal: 20% havoc rate from the defensive line
Actual: 81.5% havoc rate from the defensive line (!!!!!)
Winner: Missouri
The Little Things
“The Little Things” Report Card
Demerits
On our postgame podcast Nathan Hurst cited my claim that I still didn’t know what this team was, with an addendum of “it’s a sloppy team”. And there’s part of me that agrees with him, especially when you look at the penalties. But, also, this is a team that won with The Little Things on Saturday, so I’m not sure if it’s a completely sloppy team. Maybe just one that likes to break the rules a lot?
Extra Points
Success Rate by Quarter
This chart makes it look like a game that was dominated by defense. It also reinforces just how few plays Missouri was able to run against Troy’s defense. Luckily, when you only have to go a combined 35 yards for two of your touchdowns, it doesn’t really matter how many plays you’re running.
What downs did the yards happen?
Seeing that Missouri generated 66% of its total yards on 1st-down on a night when they went 2-11 on 3rd-down really reinforces what you already saw. Meanwhile, Troy’s two explosive pass plays on 2nd and 3rd down really mask how ineffective their offense was for most of the night.
What quarter did the yards happen?
Missouri was fairly consistent in yards generated per quarter. Troy’s offensive production took a nose dive in the second half when they couldn’t connect on any big pass plays.
First Downs Gained
After generating 27 1st-downs against UAPB and 14 against kansas, Missoui created 9 first downs against Troy. The good news? Five of those came on the ground thanks to Jamal Hardy, who takes an early-season lead with 9 total 1st-downs generated on the year. Simmons throwing to Lee (8) is second, with Simmons throwing to Olugbode and Xai’Shaun Edwards tied with 7 each.
Conclusion
Missouri won a clunker of a game with a D-effort from its quarterback, boosted by two turnovers created and a special teams touchdown. Now the hard part starts as Mizzou hits the road to open its SEC slate against a Top 30 team with one of the hottest quarterbacks in the nation.
Oh, one more thing: as of right now, all of Missouri’s remaining opponents (minus Arkansas) rank in the SP+ Top 30. Ok bye.