MU Football: Three Things to Watch Vs Georgia Bulldogs
By Charles Lam
The Kicking Game Must Improve
The Missouri Tigers have struggled with the kicking game a bit this season. Field position will be important in this game. Short fields given to the Bulldogs should lead to more points allowed by the Missouri Tigers defense. The Tigers must mitigate this statistic.
Mizzou’s negative 5.68 in net punt average. The Tigers average punt travels 40.17 yards compared to the opponents 45.85. That’s more than half a first down more per punt for the opposing team.
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Let’s put this statistic in a game situation. What if the Tigers drive stalled at their 20-yard line and Mizzou had to punt? This could happen against the Bulldogs. Mizzou could take the field and lose five yards and need to punt. If the punt travels 40-yards, the opposing team gets the ball at their 40-yard line without even trying to advance the ball further.
This is a horrible situation for the Missouri Tigers. Nick Chubb and the Georgia offense would start almost in field goal territory and the Bulldogs would be fresh and the Missouri defense probably would be tired from the defensive stand prior to the stand they are on now. This could lead to a ton of points being scored on the Missouri Tigers this Saturday.
Another thing to watch is the field goal unit for the Mizzou Tigers. Freshman field goal kicker, Tucker McCann hasn’t looked good in his first two collegiate games. McCann made one of three field goal attempts against West Virginia. He also missed an extra point attempt last weekend against Eastern Michigan completing five of six points after touchdowns.
Punting and field goal kicking for the Missouri Tigers could be the difference in the ballgame. McCann might be asked to make a game-winning field goal for the Tigers on Saturday if the game is close late. Missouri fans can pray he’ll make it but nothing’s for certain.