Missouri Tigers’ grades from a winning performance against the Vanderbilt Commodores
Here are some superlatives and report-card grades from Missouri’s 17-14 victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday at Faurot Field in Columbia:
Play of the game
End zone interceptions are big mood swings, and Missouri punctured Vanderbilt’s hopes when it pressured quarterback AJ Swann into a rushed throw. Jaylon Carlies stepped in front of the pass in the end zone for the pick with 1:12 left in the first half. The Tigers made the most of their fortune by driving for a field goal just before halftime.
Player of the game
Luther Burden touched the ball five times on offense and made the most of each chance. His 35-yard catch-and-run to make the score 7-0 marked the first time the Tigers had scored on their opening possession this season. He wasn’t going to be denied at the goal line on his 10-yard end-around. Burden added three more receptions for his most productive day against a Power Five opponent.
Stat of the game
Missouri was well aware of Vanderbilt wide receiver Will Sheppard, who entered the game with 41 receptions and eight touchdowns. Saturday, Sheppard caught three passes. But he was targeted 15 times. The Tigers excelled against Vandy’s top playmaker.
Offense: D
Twelve possessions produced two touchdowns and a field goal. Burden flashed his skills on a touchdown reception and a scoring run, and the Tigers got a healthy 84 rushing yards from Cody Schrader. The offensive line should get kudos for not committing a penalty (a season-long problem), but it didn’t protect quarterback Brady Cook well. That said, Cook’s interception was just a bad decision.
Defense: B
The 80-yard catch-and-run to the end zone in the fourth quarter prevented this from being a higher grade. Otherwise, excellent play all around, especially from the secondary, which was credited with 10 pass breakups. Kris Abrams-Draine led the way with three. And when Mizzou needed a stop on the fourth-and-1 on Vandy’s final possession, the wall, led by Darius Robinson, held up.
Special teams: D
Wind pushed Harrison Mevis’ 36 yard field-goal attempt wide in the fourth quarter, but that wasn’t the biggest issue. The kickoff-return team didn’t recognize a headwind and allowed the ball to fall for a Vanderbilt recovery. Also, the Tigers got caught napping on a fake punt.
Coaching: C
Good calls throughout the game by defensive coordinator Blake Baker. Eli Drinkwitz said the plan was to get backup quarterback Sam Horn some snaps, but apparently the opportunity didn’t present itself.
Next up
Missouri travels to South Carolina on Saturday. The Gamecocks have won four straight and stand 5-2 overall. Kickoff at 3 p.m. Central, and be televised by the SEC Network.