Welcome to “Triple Option,” a weekly series in which The Maneater’s three Missouri Tigers football beat reporters give their thoughts on what went well in the previous game and aspects that could be improved for the next.
Missouri Tigers football took down the University of Massachusetts Minutemen 42-6 to advance to 5-0 on the season, moving up to the No. 19 spot of the AP Top 25 Poll in the process. The Tigers are in the midst of their bye week before starting a seven-game Southeastern Conference gauntlet. As the bye week provides a brief calm before the storm, let’s see what Missouri should reflect on.
The Good
The revival of the tight end – Colin Simmons
There have been prolific offenses in the past five seasons for the Tigers, but something’s been missing — tight end production.
The last time a Missouri tight end was a focus of the offense was in 2018. Albert Okwuegbunam totaled 43 receptions, 466 receiving yards and six touchdowns in nine games that season.
Brett Norfleet is reviving memories of Okwuegbunam with his performance so far, hitting a breakthrough in his junior year. Through five games, Norfleet has accumulated 20 catches for 174 receiving yards and a team-leading four touchdown catches. He is on pace for 48 catches, 417.6 receiving yards and 9.6 touchdowns, should he play all 12 regular-season games this season.
The UMass game only cemented Norfleet’s role further, as Pribula found his safety valve six times for 52 yards and a touchdown against the Minutemen. With SEC opponents taking up the rest of the schedule, Missouri’s offense will need Norfleet as a change of pace to the fierce rushing attack.
Pressure, pressure and more pressure – Killian Wright
UMass quarterbacks were under pressure for 28 of 39 dropbacks when facing Missouri’s explosive pass rush.
Senior Zion Young and junior Damon Wilson II led the pack with seven and six pressures respectively, each tacking on three quarterback hurries in the process.
The 28 pressures only resulted in one sack, but they helped contribute to an abysmal passing performance from the Minutemen nonetheless.
Eight Tigers have etched their name into Sack Avenue this season, as Missouri throws immense heat at opposing quarterbacks. If there’s anything clear defensively through the first five games of the season, it’s that Missouri’s pass rush is a dangerous unit.
Ahmad Hardy’s dominant ground game – Tanner Coerr
Ahmad Hardy is not just a great running back. He’s not just a “Clydesdale among fillies,” like head coach Eliah Drinkwitz said after the sophomore ran for 138 yards and a touchdown in a 29-20 victory over South Carolina. He’s not just a running back who would be fifth in the country in rushing yards if you only counted his eye-popping 544 yards after contact.
Hardy is all of those things, but what he is, really, is the nexus of fear that Missouri strikes into opposing teams. To win football games requires a blend of scheme and emotion; Hardy is the bridge between those two.
Hardy’s performance against UMass was what fans have come to expect. He rushed for 130 yards and three touchdowns.
With Hardy’s name now in the Heisman Trophy conversation, opposing teams’ focus on stopping the run will continue to ramp up. If his production in SEC play is anything like his performance in Missouri’s non-conference action, the Tigers are well-positioned for success.
The Bad
Costly turnovers – Colin Simmons
Through the Penn State transfer quarterback’s first two collegiate starts, he completed 53 passes for 617 passing yards, five passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. Starting with the Louisiana game, Pribula has thrown an interception in three consecutive contests. Efficient throwing has been a hallmark of Pribula’s short time with the Tigers, currently leading the SEC with a 75.86 completion percentage.
A single turnover can change the course of a game in this conference, though. Pribula’s interception against UMass came early in the first quarter, killing the momentum of a drive in Minutemen territory and allowing them to get their lone touchdown of the game.
This interception streak isn’t exactly against the highest level of competition either. Louisiana and UMass are two mid-major programs that the Tigers outclass in talent. In upcoming games in which Missouri is no longer the heavy favorite, Pribula cannot afford mental lapses.
Downfield passing woes – Killian Wright
Pribula connected with junior Marquis Johnson for a 49-yard deep-ball touchdown on the first drive of the season, showing glimpses of a potential downfield passing arsenal. In the two ensuing games, he connected with senior Kevin Coleman Jr. and redshirt sophomore Jamal Roberts for 50 and 39-yard catches respectively, but the majority of those yards were after the catch for each.
Pribula’s longest completion against South Carolina went for 25 yards, and his longest completion against Massachusetts went for 20. He’s been efficient at taking what’s given to him underneath, feeding Coleman the ball for short and intermediate gains, but it’s limited the passing game overall.
What began the season as an enticing element to the offense has quickly faded away into a weak point, and it is one the Tigers should look to rejuvenate.
Pass blocking struggles – Tanner Coerr
The left side of the offensive line was projected as a strength of the Missouri football team, with preseason All-American Cayden Green anchoring the tackle spot while Michigan transfer Dominick Giudice starting at guard. Despite these high expectations, the offensive line has not been the bright spark fans were hoping for.
There were very few negative aspects of Missouri’s game against the Minutemen, but one that stuck out was the four sacks allowed. Although blaming the offensive line for a sack is easy, Pribula is culpable too , as he has a tendency to hold onto the ball too long.
Regardless, the offensive line is responsible for preventing pressure from reaching the quarterback. Coming into a stretch of the schedule that includes Alabama and Texas A&M, among others’ strong defensive lines, the unit will need to shore up their performance.
