RECAP: Mizzou leans on dominant defense, Jamal Roberts’ big day to beat Texas A&M
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Mizzou football didn't need to be perfect to deliver a win against Texas A&M, on Saturday.
No, the Tigers only needed to lean on a suffocating defensive performance and a career outing from running back Jamal Roberts to get the job done in what head coach Eli Drinkwitz called an "old-fashioned" SEC battle.
"Death Row Defense" set the tone out of the gates, keeping the Aggies out of the end zone, forcing a pair of interceptions and making them earn every single yard. In fact, through three quarters, Texas A&M was only able to muster 74 yards of total offense.
"I thought for sure, since I’ve been here, the best defensive performance we’ve had," Drinkwitz said. "Maybe not the Cotton Bowl, but outside of the Cotton Bowl."
The Tigers played what's become the trademark of defensive coordinator Corey Batoon's unit: fast, physical and demanding football. That effort was led by safety Trajen Greco, whose efforts helped anchor a big defensive stand for MU.
"Death Row's" performance provided Mizzou some room to work through some of its own struggles.
"It’s great when you have a great defense like ours to really take that weight off our shoulders," quarterback Austin Simmons said. "They keep us composed. They let us know that we’re still in this fight regardless."
And when the Tigers needed someone to take control, Roberts answered the call.
The senior running back punished the Aggies, carrying the ball 34 times for 222 yards and two touchdowns. His relentless running wore down the Aggies, turning what began as a physical contest into a battle of attrition.
"He has a belief in himself that he knew he was ready for it," Drinkwitz said. "I think Jamal wants to be a leader. I think he wants to be an elite player."
Rather than taking shortcuts, Roberts made the Aggies pay for every single stop, forcing those A&M defenders to make tackles.
"You got to see it as a boxing match, and you got to see body shots wearing people down," Coach Eli said.
Eventually, Roberts wore down that Aggie defense enough that he was able to deliver the knockout punch in the fourth quarter. He broke loose for a 54-yard touchdown, capping his standout afternoon and giving Mizzou another decisive moment in a game defined by toughness.
"Today was a Jamal Roberts type of day," Simmons said.
Still, Coach Drinkwitz said there will be things to work on, once he reviews the tape from Saturday's 27-6 win over Texas A&M. In fact, Simmons, himself, acknowledged that the offense left plays on the field.
"It wasn’t my best game, in my perspective," he said. "I could’ve executed a lot more plays way better than the way it turned out throughout the game."
But, the Tigers still found a way to win, by relying on their defense and a physical rushing attack when other things weren't clicking.
"There’s a way to win every game, you just got to find it," Drinkwitz said.
For Mizzou, that meant trusting its identity, adjusting to the challenges in front of it and finding different ways to finish the job.
The Tigers now turn their attention to another matchup and another test of their ability to adapt.
"Next week’s going to be a totally different style,” Drink added. "When you have an identity, you just keep playing to your identity and figuring it out."
Against Texas A&M, MU's identity was clear: a defense that shut the door and a running back who kept pounding until the game was out of reach.
Up next - No. 13 Mizzou will look to keep the good times rolling with a trip to Oxford. The Tigers will meet the No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday at 2:30 pm.
