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Tennessee football vs. Missouri: Keys to the game

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 26, 2020; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Jeremy Pruitt celebrates after a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2020; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Jeremy Pruitt celebrates after a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports /
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Photo by Denny Medley/USA TODAY Sports
Photo by Denny Medley/USA TODAY Sports /

3. How does Missouri handle its quarterback situation?

With Kelly Bryant gone, Eliah Drinkwitz used gamesmanship and alternated quarterbacks against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Shawn Robinson appears to be the main guy, but Connor Bazelak also showed he could provide value as well. The two guys provide a change of pace from each other, and an offensive mastermind like Drinkwitz would definitely know how to exploit that.

As a result, how Drinkwitz handles this situation will be key against Tennessee football this weekend. If he mixes the players up properly, he could give Jeremy Pruitt and Derrick Ansley trouble. Sure, Pruitt and Ansley have the same formula Nick Saban has, meaning they have the blueprint to contain both guys, but they don’t have the personnel. That could be an issue.

Robinson was the better player throwing the ball on Saturday, completing 19-of-25 passes for 185 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He seems like the main guy for the future in this system, even if nothing is set in stone at the moment. However, he was sacked three times, accounting for minus 35 yards rushing, and he also fumbled the ball twice, losing one of them.

Bazelak, meanwhile, only completed seven of 14 passes for 68 yards. However, he also ran for 12 yards and a touchdown, and he didn’t have any turnovers. Altogether, Robinson is probably the better quarterback, but UT’s style of play could disrupt him more than Bazelak. The mixture is crucial, though, and that’s how Drinkwitz can keep the Vols off-balance.

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