**Quarterbacks: C+**
Don’t be fooled by his impressive 3.5:1 touchdown to interception ratio. Sophomore quarterback Maty Mauk has struggled big time, especially in Missouri’s past couple games.
Against South Carolina, Mauk was non-existent for three and a half quarters before orchestrating two touchdown drives in the span of seven minutes. He finished with just 132 yards passing and completed 12 of 34 passes. It was the third game this season that Mauk was held to under 200 yards through the air.
Backups Eddie Printz and Corbin Berkstresser have seen limited action. Printz, a redshirt freshman, threw one incomplete pass in the 49-24 victory over Toledo.
**Running backs: A-**
They aren’t the biggest names or the flashiest running backs, but junior Russell Hansbrough and senior Marcus Murphy have gotten the job done. Hansbrough is seventh in the Southeastern Conference in rushing yards with 420 yards, though he is tied for second in the SEC with six rushing touchdowns.
Meanwhile, his counterpart Murphy has been explosive in multiple ways. He’s got 313 yards on the ground, 93 yards receiving and is ranked first in the conference in kickoff return average. Freshman Ish Witter has gotten some garbage-time carries and with it some nice experience.
**Wide receivers: B+**
Senior Bud Sasser has emerged as the team’s leading receiver and is ranked third in the conference in receiving yards. Against South Carolina, his 41-yard catch late in the game sparked Mizzou’s comeback.
Aside from Sasser, the rest of the receiving core has been solid as well. Despite being a bit injury-battered, seniors Jimmie Hunt and Darius White have combined for eight touchdowns.
Junior Wesley Leftwich and freshman Lawrence Lee were not expected to have significant roles this season, but due to the seniors’ injuries, they have become integral parts of the passing game. Although the duo only picked up two receptions for 34 yards against South Carolina, it was targeted throughout the game.
**Tight ends: B-**
Junior Sean Culkin may not be an integral part of the offense, but he has made some big plays when it counted. Against Indiana, he scored the game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter. It was his first career touchdown. His three-yard reception against South Carolina on fourth-and-one may have been of even bigger magnitude. If coach Gary Pinkel decides to integrate the tight end more, it only adds another element to an already powerful offense.
**Offensive line: C-**
Surprisingly, the offensive line has been barely acceptable. Against Indiana, multiple false starts and bounced snaps helped contribute to the stunning loss. The group received harsh criticism following the game, specifically junior center Evan Boehm, but handled the situation with class. Against South Carolina, Mauk was facing pressure all game and was forced to scramble much more than normal.
**Defensive Line: A+**
Arguably the best unit in the nation, the Tiger defensive line has dominated every opponent that’s lined up in front of it this season. Senior Markus Golden and junior Shane Ray make up one of the most fearsome duos in college football.
Ray currently leads the nation in sacks (9.0) and tackles for loss (11.5) and has the look of an All-American. As a whole, the unit ranks seventh nationally and first in the SEC in sacks (18.0), anchoring one of the conference’s premiere run defenses. Attribute most of Mizzou’s early season defensive success to this group.
With big games against Georgia, Florida and Texas A&M on the horizon, the defensive line’s play will ultimately determine whether this season goes down as a success or disappointment.
**Linebackers: B-**
Mizzou entered 2014 needing to replace talent across the board, but no hole was left nearly as large as that at middle linebacker. Since the departure of Andrew Wilson, last year’s leading tackler, sophomore Michael Scherer has done an impressive job filling some big shoes.
Scherer currently leads the team in tackles with 50, and he’s one of the most productive linebackers in the SEC. Junior Kentrell Brothers has 39 total tackles of his own, good for fourth in the SEC. Both have made leaps and bounds in their play through the opening half of the season, but there is still a lot missing with this unit.
The group as a whole hasn’t been as effective as expected in stopping the run, and they offer little to no help in pass coverage. There is still a lot of room for improvement, but overall this group is exceeding expectations.
**Secondary: C**
If you would have asked a few weeks ago, this grade would be a letter grade or two higher, but the last two weeks haven’t been very reassuring for the Missouri secondary.
Not only was Mizzou’s turnover streak snapped at 47 straight games, but the group has just looked flat-out uninspired since. Indiana and South Carolina, two run-heavy teams, had no trouble moving the ball through the air against a porous pass protection. That isn’t even bringing into account the missed tackles, blown assignments and dropped interceptions that have haunted the Tigers’ defense for weeks.
If Mizzou has any chance of making a revenge trip to the SEC Championship in December, this unit is going to have to shore up before the conference’s high-octane offenses tear it to shreds.
**Special Teams: B+**
This is a bit of a mixed review, as Mizzou’s special teams have featured both the exceptionally great and the downright dreadful.
Murphy has proved his mettle as a return man and can provide a spark at any point during a game. His 100-yard kick return against South Dakota State showed just how good he is in space and how unstoppable he is once he hits daylight.
On the flip side, fan patience for junior kicker Andrew Baggett is beginning to run thin. While his extra point was ultimately the deciding point against South Carolina, he did splice a 48-yard field goal attempt particularly wide. Baggett is four-for-seven on the season, which is a failing grade for any kicker. The jury may still be out on the junior, but his kicking blunders could very well cost the Tigers again before the season is done.
