Mizzou Football: Five takeaways from the 34-0 loss to Alabama

Well, that was certainly something. Mizzou came into the game as a heavy underdog, but most Tiger fans didn't really expect to be shut out and lose by five touchdowns.

What started as a potentially promising defensive struggle quickly turned into another Mizzou road loss to a good team. So here's what we learned:

1. Mizzou had no chance of winning this game

That conclusion can certainly be drawn with hindsight, but that's the whole point of this article, isn't it? Even before the season began, Tiger fans knew it would be a great opportunity to leave Tuscaloosa with a win. If Brady Cook was dealing with a serious ankle injury on top of an already unexplosive offense, there was a reason Mizzou was a 16.5-point underdog to Alabama.

When Cook finally exited in the second quarter, he no longer had any hope of a Mizzou win. With a backup quarterback, Mizzou simply wouldn't win a game at Alabama. This may sound defeatist, but it is the truth. As far as Eli Drinkwitz has taken this program in terms of recruiting and culture building, the Mizzou squad still pales in comparison to what the Crimson Tide can roll onto the field in waves. There is still a lot to achieve for the Tigers this year, but that goal simply wasn't in sight.

2. Oh Brady, where are you?

While Tigers fans' calls for Drew Pyne over Brady Cook were rightly dismissed last week after Cook's heroics against Auburn, there can be no more questions about who the only competitive quarterback on the roster is. Brady was able to recover from last week's ankle injury and looked healthy enough to start the Alabama game. Even though he obviously wasn't 100% capable of controlling the offense without turning the ball over. The offense wasn't productive, but that was more due to the poor offensive line, which caused Cook to often panic and crawl out of the pocket. Often when he didn't need it.

However, when Brady hit an opponent's helmet with his throwing hand not once, but twice in the second quarter, he was forced to leave with a second serious injury in as many weeks. Enter Drew Pyne, who promptly threw three interceptions in his first nine passes. This ended any hopes that Mizzou would put together a competent offense this season with anyone other than Brady Cook under center. Ice that hand, Brady. Ice it well.

3. The defense was hung out to dry

This game started very differently than it ended. This is thanks in part to a solid defensive system from Corey Batoon's squad, which crowded the line of scrimmage, pressured the running game, pressured Jalen Milroe and forced him into a missed throw. A silly personal foul on sixth-grader Kristian Williams and a missed hold call were the only reasons the Tiger defense gave up any points on the first four drives of the game. This game had all the makings of a tough defensive battle like last week's game against Auburn.

Unfortunately, the Tigers' offense was limp and dysfunctional even when Brady Cook was still on the field. Three and out after three and out after rally after three and out repeatedly put the defense in bad positions and with short fields. The dam finally broke early in the second half when it was clear Cook wasn't coming back and the game was out of control. This defense deserved better.

4. This was Kirby Moore's worst game as a Tiger

It was clear to anyone watching this game that the game plan was to slow the pace, control the ball, limit possessions, play the field position game and hope for some luck and maybe a turnover or two. At the same time, Kirby comes out on the first drive with a physically impaired quarterback and shouts:

• Screen handover to Luther Burden for no win
• Flea flickers for an eight-yard loss (sack)
• Pass five meters in front of the sticks

Now the sample size for this first drive is small, but if your quarterback is already in pain, running the ball at least once may help. Additionally, when you have one of the most electric playmakers in college football, it might make sense to give him more than five touches a game. It costs nothing to hand it to him on a jet sweep or to throw a tunnel screen where he is the only target. But apparently Kirby thinks that every time Luther gives up a hand somewhere, a puppy dies. This unit failed in many ways in this game, including an offensive line that was dominated from start to finish, but after a season full of lackluster offensive performances, shutting it out should cause serious mirror reflections.

5. See you then, playoffs

After their second loss of the season, the Tigers can almost say goodbye to their playoff hopes. Even if Mizzou wins the remaining games (which is becoming increasingly unlikely given the increasing injury numbers), 10 wins most likely won't be enough given Mizzou's weak schedule. Wins over Oklahoma, South Carolina and Arkansas will be the deciding factor, and it will take more than a handful of playoff-caliber teams suffering third or even fourth losses for Mizzou to give them the edge.

But that doesn't mean there isn't a lot to play for this season. Ten wins are still on the line for the Tigers, and on the one hand I can count how many of them I've seen in my life, and even fewer have they done it in consecutive seasons. Yes, missing the playoffs is disappointing given the expectations this season, but a strong finish to the season will continue the positive momentum in the transfer portal and spring recruiting season. The Tigers now head into a bye week before welcoming the hated Sooners home. We heard a lot about the brotherhood and culture that Drinkwitz has built in the Mizzou locker room. This is the time when they need to lean heavily on this culture.