Paul Finebaum: Eli Drinkwitz needs to be a 'big winner' at SEC Media Days

Unless you’re the best of the best, every coach’s job is always under evaluation, especially in the SEC. However, Paul Finebaum doesn’t see a coach in the league who needs to create positive buzz for his program more than Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz.

Finebaum discussed Drinkwitz’s upcoming appearance at SEC Media Days on SEC Now. He said that Drinkwitz needs to leave Nashville as “a big winner” because, even though he received a contract extension, the Tigers haven’t had much to show over his time in Columbia.

“I think Eli Drinkwitz needs to be a big winner this week because his team has not been spectacular on the field,” said Finebaum. “And while nobody is talking about his future, because he just got a contract extension — of course, who hasn’t in the SEC? I think he needs to paint a good picture.”

“Fans don’t want to hear, ‘We’re making progress.’ They want to hear, ‘We’re about to break that door down,’” Finebaum said.

Missouri has yet to post a winning record under Drinkwitz in his three seasons. They went 5-5 in his first run in 2020 and have followed that up with a pair of 6-7 campaigns.

Their position within the context of the conference has slipped as well. In ’20, Missouri finished third in the SEC East behind only Florida and Georgia. The Tigers then dropped to fifth in ’21 and most recently finished above only Vanderbilt as the division’s sixth-place team in ’22.

Missouri has been, at best, in the middle of the pack with Drinkwitz leading the way. That’s why, unless he can generate a positive vision for them heading into the fall, a contract extension might not even protect him from the hot seat before too long.

Drinkwitz breaks down Missouri’s QB battle at SEC Media Days

Eli Drinkwitz broke down the three-way quarterback battle for the Tigers going into the 2023 season.

Brady Cook is back for Mizzou while the program added Miami transfer Jake Garcia. The room also features redshirt-freshman Sam Horn. Cook has company now despite being the incumbent starter.

Drinkwitz was honest about his offense and his quarterback battle.

“I think for sure for on the offensive side of the ball, we got to improve and we got to score more points,” Drinkwitz said on SEC This Morning. “And does Brady Cook have an opportunity and the leg up on that? Will he go out there first? Absolutely. But we all have to improve.

“I took a step back. Kirby Moore is going to call the plays on the offensive side of the ball, be the offensive coordinator. We brought in transfers in both the offensive line and the wide receiver position to try to enhance our ability to protect the quarterback, run the football, be explosive.”

Last season, Cook threw for 2,739 yards, 14 touchdowns, seven interceptions, a 64.8% completion percentage, 585 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. He has the early edge in the Missouri quarterback competition.

There’s going to be good competition regardless. That’s why Drinkwitz says Cook’s position isn’t guaranteed.

“And nobody on our team ever believes that their position is sacred,” Drinkwitz said. “Everybody’s got to compete every single day. And I know that we’ve got a really talented room. You’re talking about a transfer that has played and started games in Jake Garcia. You got a redshirt-freshman Sam Horn, who’s a very talented quarterback.

“You got a transfer, junior college player Dylan Laible, who’s a very good quarterback. And so there’s a lot of competition at that position. And I believe that competition makes you better.”