Opposing View: Georgia
Each week this season, PowerMizzou.com will break down Missouri's upcoming opponent with a visiting beat writer. Before the Tigers travel to Georgia on Saturday, we chatted with Anthony Dasher, the managing editor for UGASports.com.
PowerMizzou.com: What has been the fall out from Nick Chubb's injury, as far as morale around the team and scheme/depth changes going forward?
Anthony Dasher: This is actually the third straight year where Georgia has lost its offensive start to a severe knee injury. In 2013 it was Aaron Murray going down with an ACL tear against Kentucky, before last year's drama with Todd Gurley before he tore up his knee against Auburn. This year it's Chubb's turn, so unfortunately it's something the veterans of this team are used to. While nobody is obviously happy about it, I think the players understand injuries are part of football. Fortunately for Georgia, the Bulldogs are relatively deep at tailback. Sony Michel, who will get the bulk of Chubb's work, is a former five-star who last year rushed for 145 yards against Tennessee. He's a different style back from Chubb as he's faster, although Georgia will try to run him between the tackles as well. Georgia also has Keith Marshall who is back healthy after tearing his ACL two years ago at Tennessee along with Brendan Douglas who rushed 13 times for 65 yards and a TD against Mizzou.
PM: What have Alabama and Tennessee done the last two weeks to affect Greyson Lambert so much in terms of efficiency, as he hasn't completed over 50-percent of his passes in that span?
AD: Both teams basically confused him with coverage. Neither Alabama or Tennessee blitzed except for a couple of times, and did whatever they could to disguise their respective coverages and Lambert has struggled making consistent reads. His arm is plenty strong but Lambert is hardly an elusive guy, so there's been no need for opposing defenses go all out on blitzes and stunts to bring him down.
PM: Nine sacks in six games, with just three over the last four games - has there been an issue with Georgia's pass rush? What are teams doing to negate that part of the game, at least relatively?
AD: Georgia's outside backers just haven't been getting it done. Granted, we've seen Leonard Floyd play more middle backer so that's taken away anything off the edge, but Jordan Jenkins hasn't been getting it done since the Vanderbilt game and he won't play Saturday due to a groin stain. Another odd story has been sophomore Lorenzo Carter. I thought Carter would become of the league's top pass rushers, but he's basically only playing on third downs and has yet to record a sack. The lack of pressure has been a big topic of discussion for sure, although so far defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt hasn't dialed up many blitz packages, I would imagine because he doesn't want to leave Georgia's young secondary vulnerable.
PM: With Chubb and Jordan Jenkins out, who are some of the new or younger names Missouri fans should know about on either side of the ball?
AD: Mentioned early, but Michel will be the guy to watch in the backfield with Chubb out. Otherwise, another name to keep an eye on is freshman wide receiver Terry Godwin, a former five-star performer who is starting to get his game-legs under him as a compliment to fifth-year senior Malcolm Mitchell at wide receiver. Defensively, Davin Bellamy is a former four-star performer who come in and been a big boost at outside linebacker. Another youngster to watch is former five-star freshman defensive lineman Trenton Thompson, who at one time was the top-ranked player in the country his senior year, according to Rivals.
PM: Finally, if you were Missouri's OC and DC, how would you attack and defend the Bulldogs?
AD: Even with Chubb out, if I were Missouri I would still stack the box to stop the run and force Lambert to beat me. Lambert was outstanding against South Carolina completing 24 of 25 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns, but has struggled mightily the past two weeks completing less than 50 percent of his passes. Considering Georgia's lack of depth at wide receiver, Missouri should not be that afraid to match their corners one on one.