Top-ranked Georgia is set to host a much-improved Missouri squad this Saturday at Sanford Stadium.
The No. 15 Tigers (7-1 SEC, 5-0) are playing well at this point in the season and they’re hoping to come into Athens and knock off the two-time defending national champion Bulldogs (8-0, 5-0).
Missouri is stout on both sides of the ball, but the Tigers’ offense has flashed as of late and le led by quarterback Brady Cook, running backs Cody Shrader and Nathaniel Peat wideout Luther Burden.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart previewed Missouri’s offense and Cook at his Monday press conference.
“Their quarterback [Brady Cook] is very experienced, which is the number one quality you look for in a quarterback is how many games has he played in, what experience has he had, has he played on the road in our conference,” Smart said of Cook. “He’s done all those things, and he’s done them well. They’re using him and his legs and his ability to run well. He’s a competitor. He’s fast on tape, and he’s playing at a high level, and he’s doing it with some offensive weapons.”
.Cook has passed for 2,259 yards, 15 touchdowns and three interceptions this year. In 2023, the 6-foot-5, 205-pound quarterback has a 69.84 completion percentage, which ranks fourth in the SEC.
Shrader is one of the better running backs in the SEC, rushing for 824 yards and nine touchdowns. Peat, who is a graduate senior, has racked up 299 rushing yards and two scores this year.
Burden is one of the better receivers in the country, averaging 113 yards per game. He’s hauled in 61 receptions for 905 yards and six touchdowns. Theo Wease Jr. and Marquis Johnson are also threats.
Georgia – as well as any other team in the country – recruited Burden. However, in the end, he chose to stay close to home. Burden was the nation’s No. 1 wide receiver in the 2021 recruiting class.
Smart had nothing but kind words to say about Burden.
“Size, speed. I mean, he’s -- he looks like a running back,” Smart said. “He’s explosive, fast. He’s different. They put him in the slot; they move him around. They do a great job using his skill set.”
Georgia defensive back Tykee Smith highlighted he thinks Missouri’s game plan is to spread the ball out.
“I think they’re going to do a lot of with Luther Burden [and] Theo Wease,” Smith said.
“They got a couple of good receivers so I’m just looking forward to the game plan.”
While Missouri is ranked No. 30 nationally in total offense, it is very efficient on that side of the ball. So far, the Tigers are averaging 34 points per game and racking up 443 yards a contest this year.
Georgia’s defense will face its toughest test of the season, but Smart’s team will be ready for the game. “It starts with quarterback play. You look across the league and say, man, who’s playing well in the country; they got good quarterbacks. And they got a good quarterback,” Smart said. “When you have a good quarterback, you have a chance. He makes so many decisions throughout the game that if he is not making the right decision, you’re not going to be in the game.
They’ve got a quarterback matched with great skill and aggressive, sound, tough defense. That’s a recipe for winning.”