Here are some quick thoughts on the 42-13 win at Florida.
What it means: Missouri’s season has life. Sure, the team beat an SEC East opponent not named Tennessee or Vanderbilt by 29 points on the road. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The team’s offense still has major issues, and more losses are ahead unless that’s rectified. But the defense got back to its opportunistic, disruptive self. In spite of a 34-0 home loss to Georgia, the Tigers remain in play for the SEC East, especially with a softening schedule.
What I liked: Marcus Murphy had a career night, returning a kickoff 96 yards and a punt 82 yards, both for touchdowns. Braylon Webb, Darvin Ruise, Harold Brantley, Kentrell Brothers, Michael Scherer, Shane Ray and Markus Golden contributed to six Florida turnovers and five sacks. The result was tremendous thanks to four non-offensive touchdowns. Attitude, fight and hindsight cliched narratives aren’t my thing, but credit Gary Pinkel and the players for bouncing back.
What I didn’t like: Maty Mauk threw for 20 yards on 18 passes. The team’s offense did next to nothing, running for 99 yards and accumulating seven first downs.
Who’s the man: Murphy. Though this could be a number of players.
Key play: Murphy’s 5-yard touchdown run at the end of the first quarter. It was Mizzou’s only offensive touchdown, but it gave the team a 14-0 lead and put all the pressure on Florida and Jeff Driskel.
What’s next: The Tigers host Vanderbilt with a chance to get to 6-2.
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.
