What Eli Drinkwitz said after Mizzou's disappointing loss at Tennessee
The Missouri Tigers went to Rocky Top on Saturday afternoon to take on No. 21 Tennessee, and things did not go well.
A week after losing to No. 2 Alabama, Eli Drinkwitz’s squad didn’t look like it had made many improvements, losing 35-12 against the Vols.
There was a QB change early in the game, as starter Shawn Robinson was replaced by Connor Bazelak, but neither quarterback was able to do much scoring.
After the game, Drinkwitz addressed the media. Here’s what he said:
On the QB situation moving forward:
Eli Drinkwitz said he's not going to make any decisions right now about the quarterback situation, but he said he was pleased with Bazelak's game management.
"There were times I thought (the offense was) really clicking. … Flashes but just not the consistency." #Mizzou
— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) October 3, 2020
On a back-breaking interception in the fourth quarter:
Drinkwitz: "Thought we were gonna mount a comeback there in the fourth quarter, and the interception sort of took the wind out of our sails." #Mizzou
— Bennett Durando (@BennettDurando) October 3, 2020
On inconsistent play from the receivers:
https://twitter.com/colereporter/status/1312472836460568576
On Jalani Williams getting the start:
Drinkwitz: Jalani Williams started because Gillespie had some personal issues to address back home during the week. Williams started becuase he got more practice reps.
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) October 3, 2020
Can the Tigers turn things around moving forward? They’ll take on another tough defense at LSU next weekend.
I thought Bazelak definitely showed some promise. He seemed to have pretty good control of the offense, and definitely has some arm talent. I think there is something to build around with him. In a normal season I think Missouri gets to six wins, but in the conference only schedule they will be fortunate to get to 4-6.
This year 4 wins = 6. Beat Vandy, UK, SC and Ark and it’s Bowl city.
You’re looking more like 1 win and thats if you get by Vandy. The life of a Mizzou fan must be hard right now LMAO.
Nothing like a fan of a team that just ended a 20 game conference losing streak talking smack. No that’s funny.
MuTigers nothing like Mizzou fan realizing that their back at the bottom.
35 months between SEC victories says it all, Sparky.
Lol!
Clueless flat back fans. Lol!
The designed QB runs with Robinson were a head-scratcher. Bazelak is the QB moving forward. There’s potential on the pass attack. Several times there were some pass plays that I thought might merit a drive to put them back in the game.
Best of luck to Mizzou in the rest of their season
It definitely looks to me like the Vols have moved up to the elite of the conference. Great game, dominant oline.
“Elite?!?” They beat South Carolina and Mizzou. South Carolina returns half of their pieces from a terrible 2019 team, and Mizzou looking at a one win season.
Joe, its time for you to show your colors. I am going to assuming it’s Clemson Orange.
Double 0, my colors have never been a secret. As I’ve stated before, growing up in both Ga and SC, I spent much of my life as a UGA fan in a hardcore Clemson family before I spent 4 of my 8 college years at South Carolina where I ended up drinking the water. Since the Gamecocks are a historically bad football program, I know one when I see one. I’m not saying that TN is bad at all. In fact they are quite good. I’m just saying they’ll need to beat more than just a pair of cellar dwellers like Mizzou and South Carolina to be considered “elite.”
Sleepy joe, the UT online is for real. This team’s going to knock off Uf or uga before the seasons done
Tennessee is no where near elite. Georgia and Florida is on another level.
What about Mississippi State? They are going back down to earth big time. If Arkansas can beatState why not everyone else too? Since they gave Arkansas the game. LSU had made no adjustments at the half. That is on the DC. He finally made adjustments.I still believe Missouri will win more games than Arkansas!
Hey Adam Spencer. Last year you went on the comment section to tell a Vol fan to shut up until they are relevant. Did they teach that professional attitude at Mizzu? Looks like UT fans can speak and you should shut up. No more putting your trash and irrelevant team in all your articles. I will post this on Twitter since that’s were you get all your stories.
Missouri, put on your ruby slippers, close your eyes, click your heels three times and repeat…”There’s no place like the Big XII…”
Speaking of oz, I see a house fell on state.
Unfortunately a building fell on the ZOU and the Tiger fan base.
lol arkansas hasn’t beaten missouri in 4 years
All that matters is this year. Go on and rant about 2012 about how Great You Were. Youre going downhill fast.
blatantly corrupt officiating
Lol
That pass interference call was a laugh out loud. As were some of the spots. As were the numerous holding penalties by TN that went uncalled. And a whole lot more. Maybe recruiting strategies work with refs?
There wasn’t time for a comeback because even though Drinkwitz acted semi-quickly, he didn’t react soon enough.
It takes a deep playbook to run the offense Missouri needs but the confusion before the snap gives the defense too much time to think also.
Sean Robinson is more talented than this, i just don’t know why he’s not showing it at the most important time in his football career and i have to think it’s a complexity issue.
Bazelak looked better than Robinson but there is still to much hesitation running the play. This will get better for both quarterbacks.
There were way too many dropped passes again this week. I don’t know who is coaching this O-line but I have to say it looks like nobody.
Why does the defensive line give the opponent a half yard on every snap? Horrible coaching.
Whoever is coaching the secondary has a unique strategy and it will stay unique forever, because leaving pass receiver open till they catch the ball 10-20-30 yards down the field will never come into style in the game of football.
Right now Missouri is leading the league in wasting their talent AND their talent is leading the league in playing like zombies. All you have to do to beat them is walk up to the line and snap the ball quickly.
Now I want to know who will argue with me on this, Walters is a returning coach with his returning system. Highly regarded (arguably from me). This defense is under-achieving and a lot of the problem is coaching.
A coaching staff cannot wait until the 7-8th time an officiating crew has blatantly cheated them to complain.
You’re a sore loser.
Which whine are you going with. The refs robbed us turned into the coaches are the problem. Here is a 3rd option. Mizzu is trash and their record reflects that.
omg, darthy said the t word, try saying this “they don’t like darthy at home” three times and maybe you’ll find yourself in a fan forum that think you have a magic word slam. lol
What Drinkz SHOULD have said:
“I finally figured out who my starting QB is.”
“We played better than total crap at least a little of the time.”
“We aren’t very good but unlike previous Mizzou coaches I won’t throw the players under the bus, it’s mostly my fault.”
That’s all he needed to say and nothing more.
I liked your comment,” it’s mostly my fault”. Drinkwitz could have had his players walking thru the offensive play-book by themselves out on the field starting the day he was hired.
How he swallowed the illusion pill that Walter’s didn’t need any help getting his defense ready is another mystery. And I think the lack of urgency or the look on his face like Alfred E. Newman’s what-me-worry, baffles me. How many games of film with your defense does it take for Walters to shore up the yardage between the tackles?…. or a very slightly bigger challenge letting the opponent get 8 yards every time they go outside the tackles….. and the question that make bigfoot look legit why do receivers (not all the time) go unmarked till the catch the ball everywhere on the field???
I just simply can’t understand how Drink is still waffling on the QB situation. Bazelak came in and immediately made a difference every time he’s on the field. Robinson dances around and takes a sack every play. It’s not even a tough decision, give Bazelak the job and don’t look back.
Good game, Vols. That O-line is beasty. Looks like the pieces are there to put a dent in the East this year. Good luck.
Waffling on the QB position is what Chad Morris did for two years, well almost two years. Good thing your not playing any FCS teams this year.
Chad Morris was the worst thing that ever happened to arky football in its history.
Thank y’all for firing Odom, good luck with your new staff!
You can have him.
Well enjoy Drunkwitz. He should lay off the sauce on game day.
Wait until Odom pulls a bone head call at the end of a game you should win then get back to us
Arky wins one sec game in three years and their dumb fans are on Mizzou threads talking smack like they’ve really accomplished something. Haha!
somebody in Atlanta told them to drink coke and be rivals of Missouri fans. Sorry Arky fans our rival dance card is full of old Big 12 programs, new SEC programs, and a few wild cards like the Divine traitor-ship to Notre Dame. The Illinois and Iowa infrequent but neighborly nastiness. Of course the newbies, the SEC Easties. We like seeing Arkansas games too of course but you will never be a rival like Notre Dame or Kansas or aTm or infrequent Iowa, or especially Nebraska. Good luck to our Ozark brothers though
Wolfman and Tiger TD youve never had a Rivalry with Notre Dame ever. You guys dont even have a rivalry in the SEC. Hog fans may be happy for a win in a awhile but Mizzou is feigning for relevancy. Nobody and I mean nobody circles Mizzou and says I want to beat this team.get over yourselves Pinkel is gone and you will never be like that again cause you cant recruit your own state. The best players in your state year after year after year go somewhere else.
It’s all relative man. Simply winning a game IS an accomplishment in Arkansas. And evidently (for reasons unknown) they’re still mad at Mizzou for playing in 2 SEC Championship Games already.
Haha but youve never won the SEC. Just face it your school will never be what you were before. Have fun gloating about that East Championship cause Georgia and Florida are back.
Replying to Kevin Bacon. Please ignore Wolfman and the other delusional Mizzou fans. We’re not all that bad. MU is what it is…a rebuilding team with a new coaching staff playing a tough conference (sound family, Arky fans). Going to be a long year. But please, take a look in the mirror and consider your own team’s very difficult history over the past three decades before you spout off about MU’s performance in the SEC. Your team is about a .500 team since joining the SEC (that’s overall record, I’m sure sub .500 in conference). Arky has ZERO SEC Championships in football, and that’s with a 20 year head start over Missouri. I’m not suggesting the Tigers are a dominant team, but dude, remember the phrase, those who live in glass houses…
I’m not that bad and I agree with most you said. I got it out fir the fake ole ball coach Wolfman and a few of his disciples lol. Yes we havent won anything lately but I see that turning around. Mizzou will do better after a few recruiting cycles and hopeful stop letting the top talent in your state go elsewhere.
Truth Speaker, I’d also advise you to ignore Kevin bacon. He’s a 12 year old kid (really) who trolls Mizzou boards.
Tiger TD is just confused cause my lil brother punked him a couple days back lmao. He likes to jump on my laptop tume to time notmy fault.
He won’t make 12 for a few more birthdays, doesn’t know football today or yesteryear’s, and has nowhere to write but on the Missouri page, and that last one makes me laugh more than the rest.
Wolfman talk about me Im a grown man that has already accomplished more in football than you ever have. My little brother is a 12 year old kid battling Pediatric Cancer so watch your mouth. Our father went to Georgia in the 90’s and played in the freaking NFL. Your a delusional old man and nobody takes you seriously on anything you say. Keep talking sh!t and one day someone is gonna kick your a$$.
Very sorry to hear about your brother, I hope he kicks cancers butt.
Thank you Tiger TD that means alot. He likes to get on here talk to others cause he hasnt go outside for going on 2 years unless its ST JUDES. Forgive his affection of trolling Mizzou but he actually likes talking to you guys more than you know. I just let him get on my laptop since in home from school. I actually like Mizzou and considerec going there before I got injured for a second time my senior year.
No one ever said Odom couldn’t coach defense. He’s just not head coach material, simple as that.
I wasn’t sold on the quality of the TN team, but they proved me wrong. That O Line is the real deal and if they stay healthy, they will be a problem for a lot of quality teams. Bazelak seems to have moved ahead in the QB competition, but I don’t think it is 100% yet. We need work on both sides of the ball. Defense really needs work, Bolton can’t carry the whole defensive squad. Good team TN and best of luck the rest of the way.
no Bolton can’t but this is the “monster” Odom created where everybody on the defense is busy with space and man assignments but 1 or 2 linebackers in the middle feel like they have to cover everything.
Regardless who the QB is many of the issues last year are still there. WR’s with way too many drops is just one of them and really head scratching how that is still happening. Catch the ball and this game is much different, if nothing else much closer the entire way. I wouldn’t mind them targeting Keke a little more, if he can catch then feed him.
Gicintos drop was brutal. I thought j’mon Moore was back on the team.
funny, but yes, what is it with the receivers this year, they didn’t drop this percent of balls or important balls last year and they are the same receiver corp? I can only thing Drink is giving them too much to learn at one time or the receiver coach is not a fundamentalist.