10 Things We Learned From Alabama’s Blowout of Missouri

10. What Can the Tigers Salvage?

Missouri entered the 2024 season fresh off a huge win in the Cotton Bowl over the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Tigers had a schedule that set up nicely, a returning core of a potent offense, and a roster that looked talented enough to compete for a spot in the new 12-team College Football Playoff. As the calendar turns to November, Missouri is 6-2, but its playoff hopes have been completely extinguished. Where does Eliah Drinkwitz go from here? Brady Cook has an injured throwing hand, and they still have games against Oklahoma, South Carolina, Mississippi State, and Arkansas left. Will Missouri rebound and return to a bowl game like the Citrus Bowl? Or will they fold after their bye week and limp to a season of significant regression?

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2. Running Game Responds

The running game for Alabama has largely consisted of quarterback Jalen Milroe and subpar results for the running backs. Saturday’s romp over Missouri was a welcome change of pace as Justice Haynes had 79 yards and 9.9 yards per carry, Jam Miller added 48 yards and two touchdowns, and Richard Young had a 62-yard scamper. The Crimson Tide had 271 yards with 7.3 yards per carry and four rushing touchdowns. It was a significant positive development for a team forced to rely almost exclusively on Milroe in the running game.

3. Suffocating Secondary Performance

Missouri has a talented cast of wide receivers, but the Tigers’ passing game was virtually non-existent on Saturday. Injuries played a role, but Alabama’s young secondary also deserves some credit. Drew Pyne only averaged 3.5 yards per completion, and Brady Cook only had 2.5 yards per completion before exiting the game in the second quarter. Pyne was picked off three times, and neither quarterback reached the low threshold of 15 for a quarterback rating. It was a promising performance heading into a showdown with LSU after the bye week.

4. Easy Day For Milroe

Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe has had to shoulder a heavy load this season. There is speculation the Tide’s star is banged up. It must have been a relief to Milroe and Kalen DeBoer to have a game in which Milroe did not take many hits and could coast through the second half. He only had 11 rushing and 26 passing attempts, and backup Ty Simpson finished the contest. Milroe gets a bye week to get healthy before battling LSU on November 9.

5. Questions Remain Heading Into Bye

Alabama won 34-0 and improved to 6-2 and 3-2 in the SEC. Alabama still has many questions and issues to address as the season enters the stretch run. The Crimson Tide did not generate much of a pass rush or defensive disruption, racking up zero sacks and only three tackles for loss. The Tide are only 54th nationally in sack percentage, which will be a key as they take on Garrett Nussmeier in two weeks. The running game looked better, but how will it look against a strong defense? There is no margin for error as the Tide hope to make the playoff.

6. What is the Status of Brady Cook?

Veteran quarterback Brady Cook is an essential part of the Missouri offense. He hasn’t looked healthy all season, but the past two weeks have been brutal for Cook and the Tigers’ offense. He suffered a high-ankle sprain against Auburn before returning to the game and helping mount a comeback. Cook tried to play against Alabama but injured his throwing hand and had to give way to Drew Pyne. The only update thus far on Cook’s health is that he will be “evaluated further."

7. Luther Burden's Struggles Continues

Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden is one of the most talented wide receivers in the country and was expected to be an All-American this season. As has been the case for most of Missouri’s offense, 2024 has been a severe disappointment for Burden. He has only 40 receptions for 450 yards and averages 11.25 yards per catch. For context, Burden had 1,212 receiving yards and averaged 14.09 yards per reception in 2023. Missouri’s attack has no rhythm this season, and Burden’s play has suffered.

8. Injuries Mount for Mizzou

Winning at Alabama is incredibly difficult. Winning without some of your best players is nigh impossible. Running back Nate Noel has averaged 5.92 yards per carry this season and is over 500 yards, but he was out. Quarterback Brady Cook came into the contest hurting and left in the second quarter with an additional injury. Theo Wease was limited, and Mookie Cooper was out. Without those potentially impactful pieces, the Tigers were doomed.

9. Run Defense Gets Gashed

Missouri’s run defense has been alright this season, but in the two games they have played against ranked SEC teams, the Tigers have been completely exposed. Alabama had 271 rushing yards and averaged an impressive 7.3 yards per rush. That followed Texas A&M’s 6.6 yards per carry, 236 yards, and five rushing touchdowns as the Aggies hammered Mizzou 41-10. In the two showcase games for Missouri this season, the Tigers were outscored 75-10, and the run defense collapsed in each game.

10. What Can the Tigers Salvage?

Missouri entered the 2024 season fresh off a huge win in the Cotton Bowl over the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Tigers had a schedule that set up nicely, a returning core of a potent offense, and a roster that looked talented enough to compete for a spot in the new 12-team College Football Playoff. As the calendar turns to November, Missouri is 6-2, but its playoff hopes have been completely extinguished. Where does Eliah Drinkwitz go from here? Brady Cook has an injured throwing hand, and they still have games against Oklahoma, South Carolina, Mississippi State, and Arkansas left. Will Missouri rebound and return to a bowl game like the Citrus Bowl? Or will they fold after their bye week and limp to a season of significant regression?

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