Missouri WR Dove Says Tigers Need More Production From Veteran Receivers
Although the Missouri Tigers lost by 42 points in last weekend's matchup with Tennessee, there were some bright spots for the Tigers. The offense recorded its highest scoring effort against an SEC team all year with 24 points. Not exactly a blistering offensive performance, but certainly one worth noting.
Mizzou receiver Tauskie Dove played his best game of the season, hauling in four catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. That score came on a 43-yard connection where quarterback Brady Cook took a rare deep shot and found Dove, who split two Volunteer defenders on his way to the end zone.
Dove, a senior, was instrumental in the Tigers' scoring against No. 5 Tennessee, but he wasn't Mizzou's leading receiver on the day. That was fellow senior route runner Barrett Bannister, who totaled 73 yards on a season high seven catches. In fact, the contest marked a season high in receptions for both pass catchers, and Dove thinks the Tigers could use more of that in their remaining games.
"I feel like we lack the use of two veterans, me and Barret," said Dove on Wednesday after practice. "I realized, like, when we actually put us to use a little bit against Tennessee. I feel like, if we were to do that throughout the season, it'd be a little bit different."
The Tigers may not have beaten Tennessee, but they were within four points during the second half. Dove and Bannister were both a big part of that, as were underclassmen Luther Burden and Dominic Lovett, who have gotten the lion's share of the targets this year. More targets for the seniors may not change this team's identity, but there may be something to Dove's theory. After all, last weekend marked the first time since Week 3 that Mizzou scored three touchdowns.
Now, the Tigers will host New Mexico State in what should be a winnable game for Missouri. Whether they target Bannister and Dove more in this game remains to be seen, but the Tigers will have to make big plays if they want to win convincingly at home. This receiving corps has that capability, it's just a matter of using it the right way.
"We're explosive," said Dove. "We just gotta come out and go play football. That's all it is really."
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