Tennessee football at Missouri: 10 keys for Vols and Tigers

9. How quickly can Mizzou’s passing game get going? 

Whether or not it’s due to the injury to Kelly Bryant that slowed him down, it’s pretty clear that the Missouri Tigers have not been able to get the passing game off the ground early in the past few weeks. And honestly, getting it going early is the key for them to being able to win games, as it’s how they got out ahead of everybody en route to their 5-1 start.

Slow starts are what do these guys in. Each of their last four losses involved scoreless first quarters for them. Derek Dooley’s offense depends on the passing game stepping on the throat of the defense early and often and making sure they pour it on until they have enough to control the game late. That simply hasn’t been the case recently.

Tennessee football is certainly a team you can pour it on early against. Even if they adjust defensively, they sometimes struggle in the first half. The South Carolina Gamecocks torched them through the air en route to a 21-17 halftime lead, and even the Kentucky Wildcats, with no passing attack, scored touchdowns on their first two drives.

Sure, the Vols usually buckle down after that. But Mizzou needs to be able to exploit their tendency to do that, as it will allow them to take control of the game very early. And if that happens, Barry Odom can turn his defense up a notch to keep them in control of the game. How early they can start dominating through the air will determine this game.