travisduncan
Gator Fan
October 27, 2012; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Kony Ealy (47) and Missouri Tigers defensive back E.J. Gaines (31) celebrate after scoring a touchdown on a fumble during the fourth quarter at Faurot Field. The Missouri Tigers defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 33-10. Dak Dillon-US PRESSWIRE
By Travis Duncan
Gator Envy Writer
Missouri is not yet an SEC power, but they have had great success stripping the football.
Ironically after the Gators coughed it up it up four times in a loss to Georgia they face a Tiger team which ranks No. 2 in college football with 14 fumbles recovered. Ball security was probably mentioned a time or two during this week's Gator practices so we expect to see Gators holding on to the ball for their life. Missouri wants to use defense and special teams to make up for an offense that is really struggling. Also the Tigers have recorded 19 sacks on the season.
Missouri will have quarterback James Franklin returning from injury. Franklin is a mobile quarterback recovering from a shoulder injury and suffered a sprained MCL.
Tiger head coach Gary Pinkel said that Franklin has not played healthy all year but has the potential to be a "great quarterback."
"They've gone to a spread attack and been very different to what a lot of people have seen in The Swamp as far as the empty and the one-back and the exotic formations and the things they do," coach Will Muschamp said this week.
In short the Tiger offense is struggling.
Missouri ranks as one of the worst offenses in the nation. The Tigers have generated the fewest offense yards per game (284.6) for their program since 1995.
They rank 102nd in FBS with 189.1 passing yards per game and 94th overall with 128.3 yards per game.
Defensively they rank in the middle of the pack of the SEC. Against SEC teams, in four games, the Tigers have given up 25.5 points per game, which includes 41 points to Georgia and 31 to South Carolina.
"The Sheldon Richardson kid up front is a kid we have to account for," Offensive coordinator Brent Pease said this week.
Richardson as an interior defensive tackle leads the entire Missouri team with 57 tackles.
"They don't do a lot of exotic stuff, but they are definitely good at what they do, they tackle well, they play leverage well, and they rally to the ball," said Pease.
"They all have good motors."
Pease said besides turnovers, the Gators biggest problem against Georgia failure to score in the red zone. Red zone scoring is one aspect the Gators would like to improve this week against a weaker but still talented Missouri defense.
Coach Will Muschamp said that several players were battling the flu this week, including Leon Orr and Matt Elam. Orr was actually admitted to the hospital and won't play Saturday, but it sounds like Elam and anyone else affected will be fine in time for kickoff Saturday.
Kickoff at The Swamp is at Noon ET. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN2.