Grading Missouri’s 37-35 loss to South Carolina and looking ahead to Alabama

Missouri fell to 3-2 after a devastating loss to South Carolina on a last-minute field goal. The Tigers had nearly 500 yards of offense but had two costly interceptions and tick-tack errors that cost them a nine-point lead at halftime.

Play of the game

Damarea Crockett’s reversed touchdown: Crockett nearly had a 70-yard touchdown in the third quarter, but it was called back after it was ruled he stepped out of bounds around the 10-yard line. After that, Missouri had 20 yards of penalties and spiraled out of control. The play was the second touchdown reversed on the Tigers and was the beginning of the end for them.

Grades

Offense: C+ The run game had a great showing with 286 yards rushing and three touchdowns; the wideouts held their own given the injuries to Emanuel Hall and Nate Brown; but the Tigers were awful in the red zone and Drew Lock had a terrible pick-six.

Defense: C+ Missouri’s defense was decent again this week but dropped some costly would-be interceptions and had no pass rush. The Tigers defense got stops, but whenever they needed one it wouldn’t come.

Special teams: C- Boy, this was tough. Tucker McCann alone accidentally did an onside kick, missed a 25-yard field goal but hit a 57-yard field goal to put Missouri in position to win the game. Corey Fatony botched a punt. Ultimately, special teams spotted South Carolina 10 points, and in a game like this that was the difference.

Next up

As Missouri heads to Alabama next Saturday, here are two things the Tigers need to improve:

Find D-Line Zou: Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa might as well bring a lawn chair to the Crimson Tide’s backfield with the lack of pressure Missouri is getting on the quarterback. Saturday is going be a long day for Missouri, but for the sake of the season, it needs to figure something out.

Get Emanuel Hall back: Hall missed the game with a groin injury and Missouri sorely missed him again. Hall is the Tigers’ best chance to change the dynamic of the offense. Lock hasn’t been the same since Hall went down.

Alex Schiffer

Alex Schiffer covers University of Missouri athletics for The Star.

This story was originally published October 6, 2018 at 11:17 PM.