The MizzouToday Show Auburn Preview: How will Mizzou respond after first loss?
On the latest episode of The MizzouToday Show, Kyle McAreavy and Kenny Van Doren preview Missouri’s Week 8 matchup with Auburn. They discuss how the team might bounce back, facing Jackson Arnold a second time and position matchups for the 6:45 p.m. Saturday contest. The guys also detail Missouri’s preparations for its first road contest of the season.
Moving on from Alabama
“The main thing has to be that offensive consistency that we saw for the most part through the first five games,” McAreavy said. “There were a couple of down sequences in those games, but nothing like what we saw against Alabama. That largely in my mind comes from better play from Beau Pribula.”
“There’s a handful of moments in that game that kind of feel like if any one of them had gone a different way, maybe the game goes different,” McAreavy said. “I think that’s one of them (a sailed pass to Marquis Johnson early). The first drive for Mizzou looked so easy, so effortless. The second drive … that pass, if you hit that, you’re deep into Alabama territory, you’re moving the ball again.”
Looking ahead to Auburn
“Mizzou won this game last year, it was the Brady Cook game,” Van Doren said. “Going to the hospital, coming back and leading the Tigers over the Tigers for a Homecoming victory.”
“Last week we talked a lot about how the strengths and weaknesses kind of lined up for Mizzou and Alabama, and that game did not play out the way offensively that I thought it would for either team. This week is much more good-on-good.”
Facing Jackson Arnold
“He’s definitely more of an effective runner than a passer at this point,” McAreavy said. “But he’s a very effective runner. … He’s got six rushing touchdowns which leads Auburn, but the passing game has been a bit of a struggle at times.”
“Not the first road game”
“It’s no secret that Mizzou struggled on the road last year,” McAreavy said. “… It was an issue. So, going into fall camp, (Missouri coach Eliah) Drinkwitz knew it was something that needed to be addressed. For that third scrimmage of fall camp, they took a trip over to Lindenwood in St. Charles, spent the night at a hotel, did the whole morning routine, did the bus.
“That’s all great. It’s an interesting idea, I like the concept. … It’s gonna be a little different going to Lindenwood and scrimmaging during the day against yourself vs. going to Jordan-Hare Stadium and playing at night.”
You can find other episodes and press conference videos on the MizzouToday YouTube channel here.
Click here to discuss this episode of The MizzouToday Show in our story thread.