'They fly around': Georgia poses a stiff test, particularly its defense

Saturday’s matchup likely won’t carry the same stakes... unless Missouri can pull off a remarkable upset and revive its chances of making the College Football Playoff. A loss would end that conversation.

The trip to Georgia, as expected, won’t be peachy at all. The Bulldogs are possibly the most complete team in the country, filled with NFL talent on a roster with very few holes.

“Zero doubt that they're the benchmark for the league right now in the way that coach (Kirby) Smart runs his program,” Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz said this week.

Georgia’s six SEC wins have come with an average margin of victory of 22.8 points, including a 35-point win at then No. 10 Ole Miss last week. The most intimidating part of Georgia is a defense that hasn’t allowed more than 20 points just once this season.

“They have a ton of depth on defense,” Missouri center Dom Giudice said. “They fly around.”

Take a midnight train to Georgia and you’ll be met by the bullet train of Chris Cole, a linebacker who closes gaps quickly enough to make the player he’s chasing appear to be running in slow motion. A projected top-16 draft pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, Cole has recorded five sacks and three pass deflections. His horizontal speed and pursuit will challenge Missouri’s outside zone runs.

“He's very athletic, very physical,” Missouri tight end Brett Norfleet said of Cole. “Fits the run well and can also cover.”

He’s a hard-hitting leader of a Georgia defense that has allowed the sixth-fewest rushing yards in the country. Georgia has been able to defend the run at an elite level while still playing with light boxes, allowing its secondary to be at full staff.

If Cole doesn’t catch you, defensive back KJ Bolden often will. The preseason All-American safety is a threat at the several spots he lines up at across the defensive backfield. He has speed that should allow him to challenge the seam routes that have been so successful for Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons this season.

Overall, Georgia’s defense has allowed the eighth-fewest yards and the seventh-fewest points in the country.

The Georgia offense is predicated on stretching defenses horizontally, focusing on screen passes and short ones toward the sideline. Quarterback Gunner Stockton has excelled in this attack style. He’s not the most flashy but certainly is efficient and accurate.

Stockton leads the SEC with 20 passing touchdowns. The most telling stat is his completion percentage of 70.9%, the second best in the SEC after LSU's Sam Leavitt. His accuracy and reliability, including on tight-window throws, are two of his best traits.

“He is consistent as a thrower,” Drinkwitz said of Stockton. “He is sharp as a playmaker. Utilizes his legs as an extra offensive weapon. He does not make mistakes in the pass game.”

He also knows how to make plays under pressure.

On a third-and-goal play last week against Ole Miss, Stockton moved back in a collapsing pocket, running back 18 yards behind the line of scrimmage before stepping up to deliver a touchdown pass over the middle of the field with his feet unbalanced.

“One thing that stands out to me is he is very calm under pressure,” Missouri defensive lineman Sterling Webb said. “He's gonna stand there, he's gonna deliver the ball.”

The Georgia offense is anchored by the strength and size of its offensive line and tight ends.

The average size of Georgia’s starting offensive linemen is 6-foot-4, 321 pounds.

The offensive line moves people at their will to open up holes for the running back duo of Dwight Phillips Jr. and Nate Frazier, who are averaging 7.3 and 6.4 yards per carry, respectively.

“They’re very aggressive downhill running backs,” Missouri defensive tackle Donta Simpson said of Georgia’s running back duo. “We're going to have to work just filling our gaps and gap integrity.”

The tight ends are a crucial part of coordinator Mike Bobo’s offense, with a group of four being significant contributors in the run and pass game. Bobo will employ as many as three tight ends on the same play, adding bodies in the run game and opportunities for play-action passes.

“They've got multiple abilities to create challenges for you with their three tight end sets,” Drinkwitz said.

Senior Lawson Luckie doesn’t need any luck to be one of the best tight ends in college football. The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder is the most versatile of the group, lining up both in line and in the backfield. He’s been the most productive Georgia tight end as a receiver, catching 13 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns.

At wide receiver, sophomore Talyn Taylor is living up to expectations as a composite five-star prospect out of high school. He’s coming off a career game against Ole Miss, catching four passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns. The lanky, 6-foot receiver blurs past defenders at the line of scrimmage with his release.

He presents the biggest challenge for a Missouri secondary that has been prone to allowing explosive passes throughout the season.

Taylor is just one of the several players for the Bulldog that will be some of the best players Missouri will face this season.

The Tigers will look to pull off the upset 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Athens, Georgia. The game will be broadcast on ABC.