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Maty Mauk threw touchdown passes of 44 and 39 yards, then completed 3-of-4 throws for 36 yards and ran for another 11 on another drive to set up a 34-yard field goal attempt. All that came during a 21-point first quarter.
South Dakota State controlled possession for most of the second half. The defense enjoyed at least a 10-point lead every time it took the field, and Mauk completed just 2-0f-5 passes in the second half, adding another 29-yard touchdown.
Then there was his ill-advised “fumble” late in the second half. Mauk attempted to avoid a sack in favor of an incompletion, but the defender had spun him away from the line of scrimmage, so his flip bounced out of bounds seven yards behind the line of scrimmage.
The team also appeared out of sync in the passing game at times after a steamy first quarter.
https://twitter.com/GabeDeArmond/status/506542250063454208
Pinkel on Mauk: Thought he did a good job overall. Says passing game still needs to work on its timing.
— Tod Palmer (@todpalmer) September 1, 2014
It’s a stretch to say coach Gary Pinkel “defended” Mauk on Monday, because Mauk didn’t play poorly.
Missouri entered the season wanting more consistency out of Mauk and needing its three senior receivers, none of whom have entered a season as starters prior to 2014, to reach their potential. Those things haven’t happened yet, at least not in the eyes of outside observers, but it’s only one game.
Or five, if you follow Pinkel’s math.
I don’t think anyone is overreacting to Mauk’s decent performance against South Dakota State. Fans want more from the passing game. The coaches want to see improvement. The media has been pretty fair.
Yes, we’re talking about a first-year starter with the luxury of playing half of an SEC schedule in place of an injured James Franklin. But he and the receivers had very little game action together before Saturday.
The sense of urgency slowly will build as Missouri travels to Toledo and then hosts UCF, both capable underdogs. But for now, Mauk probably is about where he should be within his progression.
Meanwhile, the team can always turn to its strong running game to spread out the offensive responsibilities.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
