3 Things That Worry Me About Missouri

First, here’s why I’m NOT worried about the Show Me Drinks :

1. The Missouri offense is balanced in it’s approach, if nothing else. And they are committed to the run, more so than most teams. But the production just isn’t elite on a play by play basis.

Yes, they run it 51% of the time and pass it 49%. Yet the passing game accounts for almost 2/3rds of their yardage. So while they are perceived to have a great running attack, and they do have a 1,000 yard back already in Jamal Roberts, it lacks the true game control and is almost 1.5 yards per attempt less than what Georgia trots on the field.

2. How good are they? I think the stat I saw is that they haven’t beaten a top 25 team – as currently ranked. Sure they beat the brakes off Florida, but that was before the smoke and mirrors Jon Sumrall deployed had been removed from the equation. They lost close to Mississippi State, though that was with a healthy Kamario Taylor.

They beat Arkansas and Texas A&M, but who hasn’t? And I’ll grant them some dubious officiating in the loss vs. Texas last week, but it was a sloppy performance at home and with a pretty big spotlight on them.

3. We faced the #1 red area offense last week in Oxford. It turns out to combat that, you just don’t let the opposing team in the red zone. A different story this week, as Mizzou ranks dead last in the SEC, and 124^th nationally, in red zone offense. Add in the fact that the only way Ole Miss scored was off a debatable DPI call on 4^th down to give fresh life, then I tend to like our chances to keep the Tigers side of the scoreboard on the low side.

Now forgive me, as I was weaned at the nipple of Larry Munson’s scratch so here’s what does worry me about going to Vaught-Hemingway where we’re only 12-9 all time and lost the last 2 trips:

1. Georgia and Missouri are 2 of the top teams in the SEC, and some of the top in the country, in turnover margin. Both defenses are aggressive and create turnovers. Both teams create fumbles with pressure in the backfield, strip fumbles, and cause interceptions from getting in the quarterbacks face. So if you like how the UGA defense creates havoc this season, you’ll see the same from the Tiger front.

They recovered 3 fumbles in Fayetteville on Halloween, and got two more when the Longhorns visited last week (they caused another but Arch fell on it for a key first down). And Tiger QB Austin Simmons is keeping a clean stat sheet – he’s only thrown 2 picks on the season. The positive I draw from all of this is that the only truly stout SEC defense they’ve faced was Texas. Hopefully the Georgia D will show up as it has the last 2 weeks and lay waste to their best laid plans.

2. Caydn Lee is a senior Tiger WR who almost certainly will eclipse 1,000 yds receiving and be pushing double digit receiving scores. 3 games over 110 yards, and 7 games over 75 yards. Of course he’s a Georgia native. And we’ve seen him before.

The product of Kennesaw Mountain HS was with Lane Kiffin the past 3 seasons at Ole Miss. He had 4 catches against us in our game there in 2024, and caught 4 more in the Sugar Bowl last December. But he’s breaking out this season, and is definitely the possession, go-to receiver for Austin Simmons with at least 5 catches in every game. And a good complement to the 6’2” rangy Donovan Olugbode on the other side.

3 . Then there is Austin Simmons. You might remember he spelled an injured Jaxson Dart in 2024 vs. UGA, and promptly marched the BearShark Rebels down the field for a key score to quench any momentum we might have gained.
The lefty has really found a home in CoMo, tossing multiple scores in 6 of the Tigers 9 contests. The one game he didn’t throw a TD was against Ole Miss, but he still spun it for 339 yards. The accuracy is pretty elite, and while not a running threat per se, he can move in the pocket and allow his receivers to lose coverage.

Call me crazy, just don’t call me late for dinner. Let us know in the comments what you’re feeling about possibly the 2^nd to last game in Sanford Stadium this season. And as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!