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Tennessee football vs. Missouri: 10 keys to the game for Vols and Tigers

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee players warm up before Tennessee's Homecoming game against UT-Martin at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022.Kns Vols Ut Martin Bp
Tennessee players warm up before Tennessee's Homecoming game against UT-Martin at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022.Kns Vols Ut Martin Bp /
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Oct 22, 2022; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Luther Burden III (3) celebrates with wide receiver Mekhi Miller (10) and offensive lineman Mitchell Walters (75) after scoring against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half of the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2022; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Luther Burden III (3) celebrates with wide receiver Mekhi Miller (10) and offensive lineman Mitchell Walters (75) after scoring against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half of the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Which skill players for Missouri can burn Vols’ secondary?

Although they have been physical in the trenches all year, a big problem with the Tigers has been no skill players emerging. That’s something you wouldn’t have expected for an offense run by Eli Drinkwitz, but it limits them even as they use their defensive line to make things ugly.

If they can’t find those skill players against Tennessee football, they are in trouble. Kentucky couldn’t, and that’s why they lost 44-6. The Vols have issues in their secondary still, even though it’s gotten better the past couple of weeks. They remain banged up at cornerback, and the right receivers can torch them.

Does Mizzou have anybody on this roster good enough to do that? They haven’t been able to establish mismatch advantages all year against other teams’ secondaries, but if they can’t do it against the Vols, they will have no shot in this game. Here is where you manage to give UT as much trouble as possible.

Maybe Luther Burden, who we mentioned, is the guy, or maybe it’s Tauskie Dove or Dominic Lovett. Nathaniel Peat, another player we mentioned, could also be in there. However, somebody has to step up to help Brady Cook out, and that needs to finally happen in this game.

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