Bio Blast: Missouri Tigers
Kentucky is fresh off a demoralizing conference loss. Missouri is fresh off a demoralizing loss. The game between these two SEC East foes comes at a very interesting time. Both the Wildcats and the Tigers have a legitimate chance to make a run at a double-digit win season. The swing game between the two in Week 7 could determine which fan base is super happy when it comes time to make a bowl trip.
Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops owns a 7-3 overall record against Missouri and has not lost to the Tigers in Lexington since 2013. The Cats will be looking to get right against a team that does not have much love for them. We should expect an intense football game on Saturday night at Kroger Field.
Missouri has been one of the biggest surprises in the SEC to this point thanks to an efficient and explosive passing game that is lighting defenses up like a Christmas tree. Kentucky’s pass defense must be ready for a huge challenge in Week 7.
Brady Cook has arrived
Two seasons in a row, Eliah Drinkwitz and his coaching staff went looking at the transfer portal to find a potential starting quarterback. After missing out on a ton of targets after the 2021 season, the Tigers settled on Miami transfer Jake Garcia this offseason. That created a QB competition between Garcia, former blue-chip recruit Sam Horn, and incumbent starter Brady Cook. When the season started, Drinkwitz and new offensive coordinator Kirby Moore were not ready to name a QB1.
This position battle leaked into the season, but there is no question who the leader of this offense is right now.
The former three-star recruit is playing outstanding football in the new Missouri offense led by Moore. The redshirt junior has seen a noticeable statistical jumps in completion percentage (64.8% to 71.8%), yards per attempt (7.1 to 10.0), and QB rating (132.99 to 176.46). Missouri has turned the offense over to Cook, and the Tigers are letting him rip it.
The quarterback is less in 2023 (29 non-sack attempts through six games) and is beating teams from the pocket. Cook owns a strong passing success rate (50.8%) and has compiled 45 completions of 15-plus yards. Entering Week 7, this passing game ranks No. 8 in EPA/play and No. 13 in success rate. The Tigers are efficient and explosive and are leaning into the team strength (51.4% pass-play rate).
Cook is a big reason why this offense is scoring 33.2 points per game. The quarterback has thrown for at least 340 yards in four consecutive starts and has Mizzou in position to have a huge season in 2023.
Defense has taken a step back
Unfortunately, Missouri has not been able to tag last year’s defense with this year’s offense. In his first season calling plays, defensive coordinator Blake Baker led an aggressive defense that caused a ton of havoc in the front seven. However, that has gone away.
Missouri lost 33 tackles for lost from Isaiah McGuire, DJ Coleman, and Martez Manuel. This year’s defense is having a difficult time replicating that production. That is having a big impact on the pass defense.
Despite returning two cornerbacks who are both draft prospects along with a ton of experience at safety, Missouri’s pass defense has been atrocious through six games. The Tigers rank No. 96 in passing success rate, No. 101 in QB rating, No. 117 in passing EPA/play, and No. 121 in completions of 20-plus yards allowed. The Tigers have a pass defense problem with a run defense that is also a little bit glitchy.
Missouri has moments of strong efficiency but can give up a haymaker at any point. That has played out in the secondary. This is one of the worst pass defenses in the SEC entering Week 7.
Luther Burden III is a superstar
Brady Cook is having a great season. The redshirt junior is pushing for All-SEC recognition. Part of the reasons for this strong season is due to what Missouri has at receiver.
Former five-star recruit Luther Burden III is playing to his potential in year two at Mizzou.
The sophomore leads college football in receptions (54), targets (71), and receiving yards (793). Burden trails only Malik Nabers in receptions of 20-plus yards (14). In many ways, Burden is the Missouri offense.
Playing primarily out of the slot, Mizzou prefers to use Burden in the short-to-intermediate passing game with 43 of his targets occurring less than 10 yards away from the line of scrimmage. However, he has the speed to get open deep and can make explosive plays in the vertical pass game (six receptions in 10 targets for 201 yards and two touchdowns on throws of 20-plus air yards).
In a huge spot against LSU, Burden received 17 targets in 49 pass-play snaps. At least every third pass play is going his way. Missouri has an All-American wide receiver, and they are valuing him like one.
Harrison Mevis is a weapon
Harrison Mevis is in year four at Missouri. The big kicker has made 70 field goals during his career. Accuracy has been an issue at times (72.9% success rate) and that showed up with two misses against LSU. However, no field goal is too short.
Against Kansas State, the senior saved the coaching staff after poor clock management turned a long field goal into a 61-yard attempt.
Anytime Missouri gets around midfield, this offense can add points on the board. The Thiccer Kicker can win a game late for the Tigers or add important Middle 8 points before halftime. The Tigers have a legitimate weapon on special teams.
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