If Missouri’s three-game sample size is any indication, Tigers first-year offensive coordinator Derek Dooley is doing a nice job of reinventing himself within the Southeastern Conference.
The former Tennessee head coach returned to the SEC this year after five seasons as receivers coach with the Dallas Cowboys. Missouri is off to a 3-0 start and has scored at least 40 points in victories over UT-Martin (51-14), Wyoming (40-13) and Purdue (40-37), but Barry Odom’s Tigers will not be able to ease into their league schedule with a visit this week from No. 2 Georgia.
“Derek has brought some good changes for them, especially a commitment to the run game,” Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said Monday during his weekly news conference. “He has brought a physicality, which I think was Barry’s intent in getting Derek, because they did that with the Cowboys, and Derek has done that throughout his career.
“They have a commitment to run the ball and be physical even though they have a high-round draft pick at quarterback, and I think that’s important in this league. That’s the biggest change I’ve seen from a year ago, because they still have the other elements of that offense that are difficult to defend.”
Missouri’s attack is led by senior quarterback Drew Lock, who was an All-SEC selection last season after setting a league record with 44 touchdown passes. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder threw for 3,964 yards a year ago and through three games this season has completed 78 of 113 passes (69 percent) for 1,062 yards with 11 touchdowns and one interception.