Mizzou 2-0 despite issues

Staff photo by Mike Buhler
Ole Miss running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis (6) and Missouri linebacker Brock Christopher (behind Green-Ellis) chase after the football after Green-Ellis fumbled deep in Missouri territory during the first half of Saturday's college football game in Oxford, Miss. In the background, Missouri defensive lineman Lorenzo Williams (99) is blocked by Ole Miss tight end Robert Lane.

It also has a lot to be worried about, too.

First, the good news. The passing game has looked great so far. Junior quarterback Chase Daniel has thrown for 689 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions this season in just two games. Daniel tossed five TDs in the first half Saturday at Ole Miss. If Daniel keeps posting those kind of numbers, he could end up being mentioned in Heisman Trophy talk before the end of the season.

Also, tight end Martin Rucker has 14 catches for 144 yards and a score, while William Franklin has 12 catches for 148 yards and a team-high three TDs after an eight-catch, 102-yard, two-touchdown performance in Oxford, Miss. Also, running back Tony Temple bounced back from a lackluster season opener against Illinois to run for 123 yards against Ole Miss.

The bad news? Defense, Tigers, defense.

Mizzou has looked like a great football team in both of its wins -- for about two-and-a-half quarters. The Tigers led by 24 points against Illinois on opening day, and led 35-7 at Ole Miss Saturday before the defense let up (or let down, depending on your view) and let both opponents make it interesting. Mizzou has allowed 969 yards of offense and 49 first downs in its first two games, almost two-thirds of that coming after halftime.

The saving grace of the Mizzou defense has been in the turnover department, where the Tigers have a plus-5 ratio after two games. Indeed, the defense came up up with a huge turnover in the second quarter Saturday that not only snuffed out an Ole Miss scoring drive, but also set up a scoring drive for the Tigers. That potential 14-point swing may have been the difference in the contest.

In the movie Rocky III, after Rocky Balboa lost his heavyweight title, former foe-turned-trainer Apollo Creed told Rocky he needed to get the "eye of the tiger" in order to make a comeback. Pardon the pun, but the Mizzou defense seems like it needs the "eye of the tiger" as well.

View the photo gallery from Saturday's game.