COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Missouri Tigers are fresh off a double overtime victory over Auburn, which can be largely credited to a dominant performance from the defense. 

Defensive coordinator Corey Batoon’s unit held Auburn to 17 points, lead by standout performances from multiple members of the front seven. 

As Mizzou gears up to play Vanderbilt’s high-octane offense in Week 9, here’s one thought of note for each position group. 

Edges

Zion Young is a prophet.

He’s sent two warnings this season, and has delivered on both. Heading into the Alabama game, he claimed that “the best is yet to come” for Mizzou’s defense. His unit has looked more dominant each week, recording five sacks on Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold. 

Ahead of the first overtime that same game, he announced an explicit warning to Auburn's captains at the coin toss – most of which I can't repeat here.

"It's time to go," Young said, among other fun words. "Everybody know what time it is."

Young had a momentum-shifting sack on Arnold in overtime, helping to seal the deal for Mizzou's win on the road.

Defensive tackles

There's room for three.

I've spent the last few weeks debating whether Sterling Webb or Marquis Gracial is deserving of a full-time second spot in the rotation. However, the duo's play against Auburn proved they both warrant regular snaps alongside Chris McClellan.

Gracial logged a game-shifting tackle-for-loss on Auburn's goal line to prevent a touchdown, while Sterling Webb had a timely sack on third down to push Auburn to a tough 40-yard field goal – which kicker Alex McPherson missed.

Linebackers

Playing with fire, for better or worse.

Mizzou's linebacker unit is full of personality, and it shows through their on the field. Josiah Trotter and Khalil Jacobs fly around making explosive plays, such as Trotter's game-sealing tackle, which he leaped over Auburn's running back to pressure Arnold into a throw-away. 

But sometimes, that fire comes back to burn them. Sophomore linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez experienced that firsthand, as he received an preventable roughing the passer penalty for smacking Arnold's helmet. Rodriguez also received a personal foul call for a late hit on Arnold, who was well out of bounds at the time of contact. 

The explosive plays are a huge bonus, but the unit may need to keep its fire under control. 

Cornerbacks

Need to generate turnovers.

Mizzou’s defense has four interceptions on the season, but only one against an SEC opponent — Toriano Pride Jr. against Arnold. 

The responsibility shouldn’t fall solely on the cornerbacks to generate turnovers, but considering they’re targeted the most, a good portion of it does. 

Mizzou’s offense is built around winning the possession battle, and generating turnovers on the defensive side helps that cause. 

Safeties

Mental lapses can’t continue. 

Marvin Burks Jr. has now gone back-to-back weeks with a costly penalty. A targeting call got him ejected from the Alabama game in the first half, while a pass interference call against Auburn set up the Tigers in scoring position.

Burks isn’t the lone target of blame, however, as Santana Banner was guilty of blown coverage on a deep ball from Arnold.