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The Good with the Bad
Posted on 9/20/26 at 1:21 pm
Posted on 9/20/26 at 1:21 pm
Pass blocking was elite. Simmons delivering the ball was not elite
Adjustments were made running the ball. 10 of Jamal's carries were between the B Gaps. He gained 76 yds on those carries. He had 57 yds on 11 carries at or outside the tackles. Overall runblocking grades were not anything to write home about. The 2023 line took a while to get it going. This team has to have it in the tool box by next weekend. Keeping Taylor on the sidelines and limiting possessions is going to be a must.
The pass rush is coming along with help from the interior. Donta Simpson is the best pass rushing DT since Jordan Elliott. Hopkins is a menace. Kitchen really stepped up in Smith's absence. Hope Smith isnt injured long term. Overall, team has 8 sacks through 3 games, two more than last year at the same point.
The run defense had an underrated game. They created 20 stops last night with Jalen Marshall leading the way up front with 3. Hot Rod led the 2nd level with 4.
Dotson, Graves, Banner, and Florence all had coverage grades of 69.7 or higher. The long TD killed Laulea's grade. Greco's night needs no further discussion.
State will hammer them if they play a similar game next week.
Adjustments were made running the ball. 10 of Jamal's carries were between the B Gaps. He gained 76 yds on those carries. He had 57 yds on 11 carries at or outside the tackles. Overall runblocking grades were not anything to write home about. The 2023 line took a while to get it going. This team has to have it in the tool box by next weekend. Keeping Taylor on the sidelines and limiting possessions is going to be a must.
The pass rush is coming along with help from the interior. Donta Simpson is the best pass rushing DT since Jordan Elliott. Hopkins is a menace. Kitchen really stepped up in Smith's absence. Hope Smith isnt injured long term. Overall, team has 8 sacks through 3 games, two more than last year at the same point.
The run defense had an underrated game. They created 20 stops last night with Jalen Marshall leading the way up front with 3. Hot Rod led the 2nd level with 4.
Dotson, Graves, Banner, and Florence all had coverage grades of 69.7 or higher. The long TD killed Laulea's grade. Greco's night needs no further discussion.
State will hammer them if they play a similar game next week.
This post was edited on 9/20/26 at 2:10 pm
Posted on 9/20/26 at 7:38 pm to navynuke
Hearing any updates on smith?
Posted on 9/20/26 at 8:34 pm to Arktigers
Nothing through the usual channels
Posted on 9/20/26 at 10:30 pm to navynuke
Drink didn't seem overly concerned when asked about it post game.
Posted on 9/20/26 at 10:48 pm to Faurot fodder
That good to hear
Posted on 9/21/26 at 8:56 am to navynuke
Here's hoping Simmons figures it out this week. He seemed out of sync the whole game.
Posted on 9/21/26 at 9:11 am to Ridgewalker
I'm a glass half full kind of guy. Keep in mind we did this on the way to getting a Cotton Bowl win against Ohio State that season:
Second note, I will give props to Troy (not saying we should not have man handled them) -- but they did come to play and appear to be very well coached. Not sure if you guy saw the comments from the Troy coach after the game:
Throw that in a long with our defense not being able to really get off the field in the first half, it was a tough game. Have to play better next week, no doubt about it. It's going to be loud and they are going to be bringing all of the cow bell.
Second note, I will give props to Troy (not saying we should not have man handled them) -- but they did come to play and appear to be very well coached. Not sure if you guy saw the comments from the Troy coach after the game:
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If tweet fails to load, click here. Throw that in a long with our defense not being able to really get off the field in the first half, it was a tough game. Have to play better next week, no doubt about it. It's going to be loud and they are going to be bringing all of the cow bell.
Posted on 9/21/26 at 9:20 pm to Claws and Effect
quote:
defense not being able to really get off the field in the first half
This squad has to start tackling better in the first half. They have 33 missed tackles so far and Rodriguez leads the team with 5. This defense spills to him. That will cost them in SEC play if he doesnt turn it around.
This post was edited on 9/21/26 at 9:31 pm
Posted on 9/22/26 at 9:09 am to Claws and Effect
quote:
Throw that in along with our defense not being able to really get off the field in the first half
Troy had one, long drive in the first half, and it ended with a FG.
Otherwise, they had two turnovers and punted three times.
Mizzou scored 24 points in the second quarter.
Posted on 9/22/26 at 9:54 am to navynuke
Special Teams...
Against kU - we had a lot of issues on Special Teams, those were fixable - and against Troy appear to have been fixed.
Defense...
Against Troy - two massive plays accounted for 14 of their 17 points. That debacle of coverage with 6 seconds left in the first half just can not happen. If I recall, big plays were a problem early last year too - fixable then, and should be now. Needs to be fixed this week.
Offense...
As navynuke stated, pass blocking was fantastic, running game is improving and does takes time to hit on all cylinders. I don't know what was up with Simmons - if we get the Troy version, we are in trouble. If we get the KU version... well let's hope we get the kU version. Everyone has bad days - let's hope this was his and is the only one for the year. I guess we will see on that. Hope he can shake it off and move forward.
At MSU - we MUST move the chains and manage the game. 3 and outs will kill us, especially if we start the game with multiple short/no point possessions. We need to let them set their cute cowbell record and then silence them. Speaking of the Cowbells - I know it's a tradition, and the SEC tried to ban them previously - then caved. I really don't understand this. It is obviously an advantage given to only 1 team in the conference. Why don't all the rules apply to everyone equally?
Against kU - we had a lot of issues on Special Teams, those were fixable - and against Troy appear to have been fixed.
Defense...
Against Troy - two massive plays accounted for 14 of their 17 points. That debacle of coverage with 6 seconds left in the first half just can not happen. If I recall, big plays were a problem early last year too - fixable then, and should be now. Needs to be fixed this week.
Offense...
As navynuke stated, pass blocking was fantastic, running game is improving and does takes time to hit on all cylinders. I don't know what was up with Simmons - if we get the Troy version, we are in trouble. If we get the KU version... well let's hope we get the kU version. Everyone has bad days - let's hope this was his and is the only one for the year. I guess we will see on that. Hope he can shake it off and move forward.
At MSU - we MUST move the chains and manage the game. 3 and outs will kill us, especially if we start the game with multiple short/no point possessions. We need to let them set their cute cowbell record and then silence them. Speaking of the Cowbells - I know it's a tradition, and the SEC tried to ban them previously - then caved. I really don't understand this. It is obviously an advantage given to only 1 team in the conference. Why don't all the rules apply to everyone equally?
Posted on 9/22/26 at 10:11 am to LOTOTiger
Because they've historically been so bad no one cared. String some good years together and that might change.
Posted on 9/22/26 at 12:49 pm to Drydock
I blame Christopher Walken and Will Ferrell.
Posted on 9/22/26 at 12:55 pm to LOTOTiger
It's going to be LOUD AF in that dang stadium with those stupid cowbells, kind of BS that the SEC allows it.
I imagine Drink has the boys practicing with the speakers TURNED ALL THE WAY UP non-stop this week.
I imagine Drink has the boys practicing with the speakers TURNED ALL THE WAY UP non-stop this week.
Posted on 9/22/26 at 2:20 pm to Claws and Effect
quote:
kind of BS that the SEC allows it.
In theory - they are only allowed to ring them during pregame, timeouts, halftime and after they score. We all know that is not realistic, and there are no in game penalties for fans ringing the bells (although they can be fined afterward by the SEC, but that doesn't really help the opponent). If I'm an MSU fan, I'm thinking pay the fine against a ranked team.
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