Missouri Tigers: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats
Missouri Tigers: Key To The 2022 Offense
Hit more downfield pass plays, and start winning again when the running game works.
The Missouri offense struggled to consistently crank up the big plays with the passing attack. Things had slipped after losing Drew Lock, but the 10.1 yards per reception were the lowest since the 2010 team only averaged 10.6 yards per grab.
With the addition of top recruit Luther Burden and with a new quarterback situation, things should open up a bit.
And then there’s the ground game – the team needs to take advantage of the times when it works.
Missouri was 13-0 from the start of the 2019 season when it ran for 180 yards or more, and then came the loss to Arkansas despite running for 251 yards, and that was followed up by the bowl loss to Army after running for 195.
Hitting the downfield plays should help the ground game, and vice versa.
And on the flip side …
Missouri Tigers: Key To The 2022 Defense
Be better against the run.
Missouri has been been steadily worse against the run over the last four years, allowing 3.7 yards per carry in 2018, to 3.77 in 2019, to 4.53 in 2020, to 5.32 last season.
Of course Army was able to get past 200 yards on the ground, and getting pounded on by Texas A&M and Georgia wasn’t bad, but the Tigers were ripped up by SE Missouri State and Vanderbilt.
Kentucky rolled for 341 yards, and Tennessee did whatever it wanted running for 458 yards and 7.7 yards per pop.
Missouri gave up over 200 rushing yards seven times last year and nine times in the last 15 games. That comes after a stretch of allowing fewer than 200 10 times in 11 games.
Missouri Tigers: Key Player To The 2022 Season
WR Luther Burden, Fr.
Let’s just throw even more pressure on a freshman who’s already being considered one of the best players in the SEC and sure-thing future NFL star.
The all-around big-time playmaker is supposed to step right in and give the Missouri offense a spark. He doesn’t have to be a volume-catch No. 1 target, and he doesn’t have to be fitted for his Hall of Fame jacket after one season, but if he comes close to living up the hype and can be a home run hitting threat, everything changes for the attack.
Missouri Tigers: Key Transfer
LB Ty’Ron Hopper, Jr.
The Tigers did just fine with its last big linebacker transfer. Blaze Alldredge went from being a huge tackler for three years at Rice to leading the way with 89 tackles with 4.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss for Mizzou.
Hopper wasn’t as good at Florida as Alldredge was at Rice, but he’s a fast middle linebacker who should get all over the field.
Missouri Key Game To The 2022 Season
at Florida, Oct. 8
It was a huge moment last season when Missouri survived at home against the Gators for a 24-23 win. This time around it’s a gateway game to the second half of the season.
The Tigers have to deal with Auburn on the road and Georgia at home – at best they’re 1-1 in the SEC before the trip to Gainesville.
With road games at South Carolina and Tennessee still to deal with, along with tough home dates against Kentucky and Arkansas, the season might be made or broken by what Mizzou can do here.
Missouri Tigers: 2021 Fun Stats
– Missouri 3rd Quarter Scoring: 59 – 4th Quarter Scoring 109
– 4th Down Conversions: Opponents 18-of-23 (78%) – Missouri 11-of-19 (58%)
– Fumbles: Opponents 10 (lost 5) – Missouri 5 (lost 2)
2021 Missouri Preview
Offense, Defense Breakdown
Season Prediction, What Will Happen
Missouri Top 10 Players | Schedule & Analysis