Missouri started off SEC play on the wrong foot, falling 21-13 to Kentucky in Lexington.

The Tigers had previously owned the Wildcats, as well as the SEC East the past two seasons. With Saturday’s result, one has to question the power structure in the division, as well as the future of Missouri’s season.

5 TAKEAWAYS

Injuries expose depth concerns: We already knew Missouri wasn’t deep at running back after Russell Hasnbrough’s absence, but the lack of good offensive line and tight end options after key injuries to those personnel groups may be even more concerning for the Tigers. The Tigers also looked shaky on defense after losing starters from that side of the ball.

Drew Lock can’t fix the drops: Look, I get why Missouri fans are excited about freshman QB Drew Lock and want him to start right now. But Lock can’t fix all of the dropped passes from Missouri receivers, including two that could have been touchdowns against Kentucky.

Missouri misses Marcus Murphy: The former KR/PR specialist would be gladly welcomed back in Columbia. The Tigers still don’t have anything close to the spark he provided in Aarion Pention or Anthony Sherrils.

Donavin Newsom rising to the occasion: It’s scary to think that Newsom is just Missouri’s third-best linebacker after his performance in Lexington. He was all over the field en route to tallying seven tackles, but the linebacking corps as a whole couldn’t plug up the holes that Kentucky’s line created.

SEC East is wide open: Not that Missouri had a cakewalk during the team’s first two SEC East titles, but this game exposed the Tigers to division parity unlike any they’ve seen since 2012. Missouri still has chance to return to Atlanta, but the Tigers could just as easily fall three or four spots in the division standings with Florida, Tennessee and Georgia looming.

REPORT CARD

Offense: D+ — The offense appeared to have more life with Hansbrough early, but the Tigers couldn’t sustain a consistent rushing attack as the pass game continued to suffer.

Defense: C+ — The Tigers experienced uncharacteristic problems stopping runs up the middle and covering Kentucky’s tight ends, but 21 points aren’t a ton to surrender against a quality SEC opponent away from home, especially when that team’s quarterback was as efficient at Patrick Towles was.

Special Teams: B+ — Corey Fatony was fantastic and Andrew Baggett made all of his kicks, but kickoff coverage continued to be a concern.

Coaching: C — Missouri sustained too many injuries to blame this loss on the coaches, but Gary Pinkel and his staff still haven’t fixed the offense.

Overall: C — A tough SEC road game didn’t go Missouri’s way, but it’s too soon to tell if this was a one-game setback or the beginning of an SEC East power shift.

GAME PLAN

When it comes to the quarterback situation, the Tigers don’t seem to have much of a plan. Pinkel said that Drew Lock would play a series in the first and second half, but the Tigers didn’t put the freshman QB in for the second half. More and more Missouri fans are clamoring for Lock to be the starter this season, but no Golden Boy can account for the concerning number of dropped passes by Tigers receivers. Pinkel also had every reason to trust Mauk, who has been spectacular in the fourth quarter the past two seasons, to finish the game.

As for the defense, it was surprising that DC Barry Odom didn’t try more 3-4 base looks given how Kentucky controlled the middle of the field. It seemed like there were fewer 3-4 looks in this game than the previous three, so perhaps a possible transition to a new base is hitting the wall for conference play. Kentrell Brothers’ injury certainly made things difficult after the third quarter.

GAME BALLS

  • LB Donavin Newsom: Had a career-high seven tackles, two of them for loss, and also helped stall a third quarter drive with his first career sack.
  • P Corey Fatony: Got back to his old self after a so-so game against UConn, placing five punts inside the Kentucky 20-yard line and averaged 40.7 yards per punt.
  • RB Tyler Hunt: Continued his campaign for more playing time by being a consistent threat on third downs, while also catching two passes for 37 yards.

INJURY UPDATE

  • RB Morgan Steward did not travel to Lexington, and Pinkel indicated he wouldn’t play the rest of the year because of a hip injury from last August
  • RB Russell Hansbrough played after missing last week’s game
  • S Ian Simon left the game with a head injury after an attempted interception in the third quarter
  • RT Nate Crawford left the game with an ankle injury
  • TE Sean Culkin left the game in the first half
  • LB Kentrell Brothers left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury