Eli Drinkwitz praises weapons on Tennessee's offense

Missouri has lost four SEC games already this season but has yet to be beaten by more than a touchdown by any league opponent. If they can keep that statement accurate through the weekend after facing all the weapons on Tennessee‘s offense coach Eli Drinkwitz will likely be thrilled.

Tennessee is coming off a tough loss at Georgia and will be returning home to Neyland Stadium looking to keep its playoff hopes alive.

“New task and a great challenge this week,” Drinkwitz said. “Obviously we’re playing a top-5 team on the road who’s playing at a really high level. Their quarterback is playing at a Heisman level, Heisman Trophy level. They’ve got unbelievable skill players. Obviously some of their wide receivers — not some, all three of their wide receivers — are extremely electric.”

For all of those weapons, though, Tennessee managed to score just 13 points last weekend in its first loss of the season, at Georgia.

Will Missouri catch a team struggling to recover from that emotional blow or fired up ready to right some wrongs?

In either case, the Tigers can expect a tall task slowing down the Volunteers, who are not only excellent schematically but also have elite personnel at the skill positions, starting with quarterback Hendon Hooker.

“Jaylin Hyatt might be the best wide receiver in the country,” Drinkwitz said. “Obviously Cedric Tillman is a really good player also. Jabari Small at running back and Jaylen Wright at running back are both very dynamic.”

Weapons on Tennessee’s offense are utilized well

One of the things that has allowed the Volunteers to be significantly more successful in coach Josh Heupel‘s second season is the comfort players seem to have within the offensive scheme now.

The weapons Tennessee has on offense are one thing… the execution with them is another.

And it’s been elite most of the year, last week notwithstanding.

“Their offensive line presents problems and they have a dynamic scheme,” Drinkwitz said. “Between coach Heupel and coach (Alex) Golesh they do a tremendous job of putting their players in a position to be successful.”

Missouri will look to kill off Tennessee’s playoff chances on Saturday when the two programs kick off at noon ET, in a game that will be carried on CBS as part of a network double-header.