Along with its home-road splits, another contrasting aspect of Missouri this season has been the struggling offense with the stellar defense.

Coach Barry Odom was asked about both on the SEC media teleconference.

About the offense, he said: “I think there are a number of things that go into that, we have playmakers… We have to do better on third down, better on first down… the dropoff, there are a lot of things that go into it but it comes down to simplifying it so we can make plays and we have to run the ball better.”

Odom said QB Kelly Bryant has gotten better every week as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

About the defense, he said the unit’s performance speaks for itself.

“Well, when you look statistically, we are playing well, but it’s a team game,” Odom said. “If we score three, we have to hold them to two. We are all trying to do our part. I think we are top 10 in total defense, we are playing fast, playing together, I think it’s important that our defense plays at a high level… the turnover margin, if that’s in our favor, our chances go way up. I expect them to play better.”

Odom was asked what impresses him about Tennessee.

“They play well together,” he said. “The quarterbacks are playing well, they have good players, good scheme, good coaches, they play hard, they play together. The record shows it, last three games they have three wins.

Asked about the bowl ban and the distraction of the long way wait from the NCAA, Odom said the Tigers have tried to focus on other things.

“When you look at the opportunity of the seasons and not knowing when that would be handed down, most of our guys have handled that the right way but human nature creeps in, to be honest,” he said. “If we spend a lot of time thinking about that, it takes away from our preparation… we have learned to be patient. we have to understand to live in the here and the now and we can’t do anything about that.”

Odom was also asked about defensive coaches getting head coaching jobs.

“Well, with any job, it comes down to fit,” he said. “I don’t know if offensively, defensively, there has been more offensive guys hired but I don’t know if they go into it thinking that but I think it’s more about fit, more than the direction of where you want to go. I also know that your label, whether you are an offensive guy or a defensive guy, comes down to the staff you plan on building.”