Eli Drinkwitz’s Postgame Thoughts After Missouri’s 29-20 Win Over South Carolina
Missouri’s head coach, Eli Drinkwitz, addressed the media after his team’s 29-20 win against South Carolina, offering praise for both teams and highlighting key moments from the game.
On the Win:
“I’m incredibly proud of our team. That was a tough fight. South Carolina came in ready after last week’s performance, and Coach Beamer had them well-prepared. We faced challenges like missing an extra point, giving up a big play, and struggling in the red zone, but we kept pushing forward. At halftime, I told the team that if we tightened up and kept running the ball, we would win. And that’s what happened. I have to give a shout-out to Jayven Richardson for stepping up and playing so well. I need to watch the tape, but I’m very proud of him. Robbie Meyer also deserves credit for making a tough kick under pressure. Overall, I’m proud of our staff and defense, especially Corey Batoon. We got five sacks and held them to negative rushing yards.”
On the Run Game:
“At first, we struggled with inside zone and gap schemes, but after making adjustments at halftime, we switched to outside zone. Our 12-personnel scheme worked, and South Carolina couldn’t stop it. Beau Pribula also made some great plays with his feet, rushing for nearly 80 yards and converting crucial first downs.”
On Jayven Richardson’s Performance:
“Our goal is to be a team of teams. Every player has a role and is expected to develop and embrace their opportunities. Cayden Green got injured in practice, and after some tests, we decided he’d undergo a minor procedure. It’s not season-ending; he could be back in 3-5 weeks. I’m proud of Jayven for stepping up and embracing his role. He gave an inspiring message to the team about seizing opportunities.”
On Ahmad Hardy:
“I didn’t expect Ahmad to be this good. The way he runs through defenders is incredible – like a Clydesdale running among fillies. He showed incredible balance when scoring on a touchdown. He’s a special player.”
On Defending the Deep Pass:
“I’m proud of the defense in the second half after giving up a big deep ball. They responded well by getting a sack and pushing them out of field goal range. However, I’m frustrated with our pass defense. We gave up 300+ passing yards, and we need to fix the issues in our zone coverage and the way our secondary plays.”
On Jamal Roberts’ Consistency:
“Jamal’s been a steady presence for us. He’s got an elite edge and always leads by example. He’s earned our trust and shows great contact balance, which makes him a key player.”
On Robbie Meyer After the Missed Extra Point:
“I didn’t say anything to Robbie after the missed extra point. I just looked at him and told him we believed in him. He went out and made the next kick. Some people avoid talking to kickers, but I wanted to reassure him.”
On Calling the Timeout Before South Carolina’s Field Goal Attempt:
“We were in man coverage and didn’t like our leverage. We suspected they’d try a pick route, so we called a timeout to adjust to zone coverage and pressure them. They ultimately decided to kick the field goal.”
On Cayden Green’s Message:
“Cayden’s message to the team was simple: ‘Hold it down, I’ll be back soon.’”
On Red Zone Efficiency:
“We didn’t execute well in the red zone early, but we figured it out at halftime. We made adjustments to improve our run game, which helped us close out the game.”
On Defending Mobile Quarterbacks:
“We need to figure out how to defend the passing game. We’re doing a good job pressuring quarterbacks and stopping the run, but giving up 300+ passing yards is unacceptable. We need to eliminate explosive plays and tighten up our pass defense.”
On His Encouragement After the Win:
“I’m not discouraged at all. If you can run the ball in this league, you’ll win more games. There are always things to learn, but this can either be a highlight or a springboard for us. We’re 1-0, but there’s work to do. We need to fix our red zone execution and pass defense.”
On Jayven Richardson’s Preparation:
“Jayven’s a testament to being a great teammate. He stepped up after Cayden’s injury and handled his role with maturity. He could’ve been disappointed or frustrated, but instead, he worked hard every day and stayed ready. He’s our swing tackle and embraced his role when his number was called. His performance was a great example of our team’s mentality: If things aren’t going your way, you get back to work.”
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