OFFENSE: C

What to do here?

Missouri nearly put up 10 points on the first two drives (missed field goal), punted 10 consecutive times and then scored two touchdowns to close the game.

Against a flailing South Carolina defense, 21 points wasn’t enough, especially considering Missouri managed just three first downs from the last five minutes of the first quarter to the final 7:25 of the fourth.

Receivers not named Bud Sasser caught three passes for 31 yards, including a 26-yard Wesley Leftwich haul late in the fourth quarter. Even with the late flurry, Maty Mauk finished 12 of 34 for just 3.9 yards per pass attempt. The quarterback too often bailed from the pocket rather than step into his throws.

The last two drives aren’t exactly lipstick on the pig, but this unit languished for so long, they can’t get a grade any higher than this.

DEFENSE: B

The pass rush wasn’t as dominant as it was against Toledo or UCF, but it was much more effective than it was against Indiana, and South Carolina’s offensive line is better than the Rockets and Knights.

Shane Ray now has 8 sacks this season and needs just four in the final seven regular-season games to break Aldon Smith’s school record (11.5 in ’09).

Tackling in the secondary went from embarrassing to mediocre and at times even serviceable. Screen passes didn’t gouge the Tigers every single time. The secondary played well enough against Dylan Thompson and the Gamecocks receivers.

The team did allow a 100-yard rusher for the fourth time in five games this season and failed to create a turnover for just the second time in 49 games (each in the last two weeks), but kept Mizzou close enough while the offense mutilated itself.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B-

Andrew Baggett missed another field goal against South Carolina.

Marcus Murphy returned three punts for 46 yards and a kickoff for 33, taking advantage of Carolina’s poor kick coverage. Christian Brinser played OK, but not up to his usual standards, and Missouri allowed Pharoh Cooper a 24-yard punt return.

COACHING: B

Missouri reconstructed its offensive line mid-stride, compensating for LG Anthony Gatti’s torn ACL and RG Mitch Hall’s sub-par play. The Tigers entered the game with three new starters, including at both guard spots. The team also contended with WR Darius White missing the game due to a muscle strain.

I thought the coaches could’ve called for more running plays and quick passes when the offense first bogged down in the second quarter. Keeping the team focused and emotionally steady late in the fourth quarter was impressive, but at times it seemed like Steve Spurrier was outcoaching Gary Pinkel and the Tigers.

OVERALL: B

Missouri (4-1, 1-0) is the only SEC East team without a conference loss, though South Carolina has played four SEC games to one for the Tigers. But recovering from a bad loss to Indiana and then overcoming an emotionally-deflating three-and-a-half quarters at South Carolina to win was a big deal. At this point, the defense is just OK aside from an elite pass rush, and the offense isn’t as efficient as it usually is, but also doesn’t have the talent and depth of skill players as it did a year ago. The next two games will go a long way to determining the outcome to the 2014 season.