BenFred: Mizzou’s upcoming SEC opponents could be shaped by quarterback changes

No, Brady Cook isnt getting benched.

But not every SEC quarterback who launched this season as his teams starter can feel as confident about getting time and trust to lock in following a shakier than expected start.

As Eli Drinkwitzs No.

11 Mizzou football program aims to tighten screws during a well-timed bye week following a concerningly close home win against Vanderbilt, some of the conference foes who are waiting up ahead for the Tigers are sorting through quarterback concerns that make Cooks blips look relatively minor.

Injuries and interceptions and intriguing backups, oh my.

Dont get me wrong.

This bye week is no time to rest for Drinkwitz, Cook and the Tigers.

Through four wins Mizzou has converted just four passing plays that have produced 30 or more yards.

Six SEC teams already have twice that many.

Its not about getting Luther Burden III his Heisman Trophy moments, either.

Its about giving defenses reasons to respect Mizzous ability to get vertical because they are going to crash down and commit to crushing the run and short to intermediate passing game if not.

Now, for those willing to hear it, some perspective.

Mizzou is one of just four 4-0 teams in the SEC.

The Tigers win against Boston College remains the Eagles only loss.

Boston College has now beaten then-No.

10 Florida State and Michigan State.

And Buffalo, by the way, now is 3-1 with a ranked win, thanks to the Bulls takedown of briefly No.

23 and Notre Dame toppler Northern Illinois.

Cook, his O-lines pass blocking and the Tigers passing attack need to get better.

Deeper.

No doubt.

Hes still the best option available, and everything Mizzou wants to do is still out in front of the Tigers.

Especially if this bye week goes down as a win for progress made.

Now lets take a quick tour through upcoming SEC opponents QB situations.

Maybe it will make some Mizzou fans will feel better.

No.

24 Texas A&M: The Aggies have beaten Florida and Bowling Green (by six points) since starting sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman hit the sideline with a sprained shoulder.

In stepped redshirt freshman Marcel Reed, who has been little inaccurate (56.1 completion percentage) but exciting.

At Florida, the former Ole Miss commit helped the Aggies snap a 10-game road losing streak.

Against Bowling Green, he became the first Aggies QB since Johnny Manziel to throw for two touchdowns and run for 80-plus yards in consecutive games.

It would be good for Mizzous strength of schedule if A&M is still clinging to a top 25 spot when the Tigers come to town.

Who starts against the Hogs when Weigman is deemed healthy will be telling, as it will be time for first-year coach Mike Elko to commit to one QB.

Auburn: Hugh Freezes offense piled up points against Alabama A&M and New Mexico but fizzled against California and Arkansas in losses.

Payton Thorne and Hank Brown have both struggled at quarterback.

Auburn has thrown an SEC-worst eight interceptions and lost an SEC-worst six fumbles.

Until theres better play or a better player at the most important position, Freezes team is in trouble against legitimate defenses.

Weve got to find a guy that wont throw it to the other team, Freeze lamented after his latest loss.

He does know who is in charge of recruiting quarterbacks, right? No.

4 Alabama: Sorry, no QB trouble here.

That was last season, when former Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban briefly benched Jalen Milroe and in doing so unlocked a much better version of the player.

Milroe won his job back, Alabama rallied and now new coach Kalen DeBoer benefits from confidence gained.

One of the biggest games of college footballs regular season sends Bama to No.

2 Georgia after both programs rested up during a bye week.

Bama impressed last time out by dominating Wisconsin on the road.

Georgia looked shaky last time out, cutting it close in 13-12 win at Kentucky.

For quarterbacks Carson Beck and Milroe, this one could have Heisman Trophy implications.

No.

21 Oklahoma: The Sooners wanted a home win against Tennessee.

They got a late but undeniable silver lining during a 25-15 loss instead.

This one was not nearly as close as the final score indicated, but thanks to Oklahomas in-game pivot to backup quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., there was a reason to keep watching.

Hawkins brought to Oklahomas stalled offense what previous starter Jackson Arnold could not.

After OU scored only three points through the first three quarters, Hawkins led the Sooners to 12 in the fourth, sometimes fearlessly running into the teeth of Tennessees imposing defense to get the job done.

If Hawkins doesnt start moving forward, Sooners coach Brent Venables is committing coaching malpractice.

Maybe Oklahoma wins if he starts that Tennessee game? South Carolina: Hows this for irony? As Auburn seems ready to buckle beneath quarterback problems, Robby Ashford, a former Auburn quarterback turned South Carolina backup, stepped into the starting role for the Gamecocks, threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third.

Ashford took advantage of his opportunity in a romp over Akron after usual Gamecocks starter LaNorris Sellers hurt his ankle during a heartbreaking loss to LSU.

Ashford appeared in 22 games at Auburn through two seasons before hitting the transfer portal.

He passed for 243 yards and ran for 133 against Akron.

Whether its Sellers or Ashford moving forward, South Carolina faces a blitz.

After this bye week, upcoming opponents in order are: No.

6 Alabama, No.

4 Alabama, No 21 Oklahoma and No.

24 Texas A&M.

Mississippi State: Bulldogs quarterback Blake Shapen isnt the problem in Starkville.

Its defense, or lack thereof.

MSU is the only SEC team allowing 30-plus points per game.

That number could get worse after upcoming trips to No.

1 Texas and No.

2 Georgia.

Arkansas: The good news? New Hogs quarterback Taylen Green is leading the conferences quarterbacks in rushing yards per game and only trails Bama's Milroe (six) in TDs provided by his legs (four).

The bad news? Hes thrown as many interceptions (four) as touchdowns (four) and is completing a league-worst 53.7% of his passes.

Thats 15 percentage points worst than Mizzous Cook, for some added context..

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