Mizzou’s defense had no answer for Kentucky’s run game in a 35-21 loss to the Wildcats Saturday afternoon at Faurot Field. Head coach Barry Odom took over the defensive play-calling from coordinator DeMontie Cross, but poor tackling led to big days for Benny Snell and Boom Williams.
Snell rushed 38 times for 192 yards and two touchdowns, and Williams went for 19 carries and 182 yards.
Mizzou (2-6, 0-4 Southeastern Conference) has allowed 500 or more yards of offense in four consecutive games.
Odom talks about his decision to call plays and his relationship with Cross.
Odom calling plays for now is just a bandage on the situation. Eventually, for Odom to be successful as a head coach, he must relinquish the defensive duties. While it is still too early to tell, it is apparent from talking to some of the defensive players, they are more comfortable with Odom’s system over Cross.
One of Odom’s biggest decisions to make in the offseason will be to decide whether or not to cut ties with his good friend and find another coordinator.
On the positive side of things for the defense, as much as they have struggled up front, the Tigers got an interception from Logan Cheadle, making his first career start. That was the Tigers’ 11th of the season which is tops in the SEC.
Logan Cheadle’s postgame comments
Drew Lock was 18 of 31 for 220 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed six times for 34 yards. Dimetrios Mason caught four passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns for Missouri. With Lock’s 57-yard TD pass to Mason, it was the sophomore’s fifth TD of 50 yards or more for his career.
Drew Lock’s postgame comments
Mason hauled in his first two touchdowns of his career.
Dimetrios Mason’s postgame comments
