University of Missouri

Missouri Notebook: Tigers’ special teams weren’t so special vs. Tennessee


Missouri safety Ian Simon was caught flat-footed as Tennessee tight end Alex Ellis (48) hauled in a toucdown pass on a fake field goal attempt in the first half Saturday night at Neyland Stadium. Missouri won the game 29-21 despite uncharacteristically sloppy play by the Tigers’ special teams.
Missouri safety Ian Simon was caught flat-footed as Tennessee tight end Alex Ellis (48) hauled in a toucdown pass on a fake field goal attempt in the first half Saturday night at Neyland Stadium. Missouri won the game 29-21 despite uncharacteristically sloppy play by the Tigers’ special teams. The Associated Press

Missouri’s special teams was a shamble during the first half against Tennessee on Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.

It started with an illegal block by Cortland Browning that erased a 20-yard punt return by Marcus Murphy.

Senior punter Christian Brinser averaged 40.4 yards per punt, which isn’t terrible, but several kicks lacked hang time or had generous rolls to wind up respectable.

He’s had better night.

Junior Andrew Baggett wasn’t immune, missing an extra point in the second quarter and then, unbelievably, another in the fourth quarter. He had made 54 consecutive extra-point before the hiccups.

Missouri also bit on a fake field goal, resulting in a 31-yard go-ahead touchdown early in the second quarter, and allowed a 58-yard kickoff return by Evan Berry, which led to the game-tying field goal before halftime.

Redshirt freshman Shaun Rupert also backed up the Tigers’ offense with a special teams penalty in the third quarter.

To reach Tod Palmer, call 816-234-4389 or send email to tpalmer@kcstar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @todpalmer.

This story was originally published November 23, 2014 at 12:02 AM with the headline "Missouri Notebook: Tigers’ special teams weren’t so special vs. Tennessee."

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