Expect aggression with Mizzou football’s playcalling: ‘He wants to take chances’
The Missouri Tigers were driving toward the red zone, marching into Alabama’s territory after the Tide had scored a touchdown.
Then Mizzou hit a snag: Fourth-and-2 at Alabama’s 33. Right at that sweet spot where a punt wouldn’t yield much advantage in field position and where a long field goal attempt for true freshman Harrison Mevis is a difficult ask.
Tigers coach Eliah Drinkwitz chose to go for it on fourth down, taking a timeout to mull over the call.
While the play — a speed option — was blown up by the Alabama defense, it showcased what MU fans can expect from the first-year coach brought in to breathe excitement to a stagnant program. And aggressive doesn’t only mean going for fourth downs, it extends to how Drinkwitz attacks opposing defenses.
“If you’re too far away to kick a field goal, you gotta go for it,” Drinkwitz said of his thought process on fourth downs. “If you can pin them back, pin them back. It’s kind of a gut feeling and it kind of is what it is.”
There’s precedent for Drinkwitz on fourth downs. When he spent his lone year coaching Appalachian State in 2019, the Mountaineers were excellent on the crucial down on their way to a 12-1 record.
App State was No. 1 in the nation with an 81.3% fourth down conversion rate. Part of that is smaller sample size as the Mountaineers went 13 for 16 overall on fourth downs. Army, famous for its fourth down frequency, led the nation with 39 fourth-down attempts.
Drinkwitz’s zeal was showcased through his scheme and play calls, where he double-dips as Mizzou’s offensive coordinator. It’s on those money downs where the coach ups the creativity. He seeks out mismatches through motions and tries to confuse the defense.
The coach is just getting started schematically, too, with No. 21 Tennessee on the schedule next. While the offense’s install process is long finished, the next step is execution. And once the players feel comfortable with his scheme, he can unleash more of his offense.
“He wants to take chances and he knows that we can make the play,” Mizzou running back Larry Rountree III said. “He has confidence in us that we can make those plays when we get to third-and-1, fourth-and-1. He knows he has supreme confidence that we’re going to execute and get the first down and after that, continue on.”
The Tigers finished 2 for 3 on fourth downs last Saturday against Alabama. They elected to go for it on a fourth-and-4 in the third quarter, which ended in a Barrett Banister reception for a first down. While the Tigers got down to Alabama’s 4 that drive, a dropped pass then a sack forced them to settle for a field goal. The final third down was on the last play of the game, where Connor Bazelak scampered into the end zone as time expired.
Getting into that end zone and finishing drives was a major struggle for the Tigers, who played their first game with Drinkwitz at the helm.
There was a positive, though, when it came to downs. Mizzou finished 8 for 16 on third downs, a 50% clip, where Drinkwitz said the goal is 48%. The Tigers also utilized options, pre-snap motions and other wrinkles to keep defenders guessing throughout the game.
To do so, the Tigers have utilized their wide receivers more in the backfield — especially when it comes to speed. Wide receiver Dominic Gicinto said it’s similar to how the Kansas City Chiefs use their wide receivers.
“(The Chiefs) use their speed as misdirection,” Gicinto said. “They use their people behind the backfield to where they make the linebackers move. They move the safeties and do what they want to do. They don’t have to react to what the defense gives them. They can make the defense do something to where we’re in a better position.”
During the Tigers’ first days of preseason camp, they worked specifically on end zone drills and third downs. Both those areas cropped up in their opener, showing how Drinkwitz prioritizes those areas. Even during those early days of camp, Rountree said he was excited to see how the offense would perform fully functioning because Drinkwitz wasn’t afraid to take those risks.
Mizzou quarterback Shawn Robinson, who was the starter for the opener, said the style isn’t lost on him. Drinkwitz works closely with the quarterbacks, ensuring they’re in tune with how the coach envisions his offense. That closeness bleeds over to how Robinson plays, he said.
“It’s interesting,” Robinson said. “You kind of take on his attitude, the style, the way he coaches. The way he calls plays. Obviously, I’m still learning it, it was our first game but it’s been interesting so far.”