Georgia vs. Missouri: Game Grades, Analysis for Bulldogs and Tigers

The Georgia Bulldogs ran away from the Missouri Tigers on Saturday in a statement win.

Georgia star running back Todd Gurley missed the game as part of an indefinite suspension and a pending NCAA investigation, but the Dawgs were still the better team on Saturday, and as a result, the Bulldogs now appear to be in control of the chaotic SEC East.

Below are game grades for position groups (based on expected performance) and analysis.

Position Unit	First-Half Grade	Second-Half Grade
Passing Offense	B+	B
Rushing Offense	B+	A-
Pass Defense	A	A+
Run Defense	B+	A
Special Teams	B+	B
Coaching	A+	A+

Georgia Bulldogs Grade Analysis

Passing Offense

Hutson Mason did just enough in the first half to make a difference.  He completed a high percentage of passes, as one would expect, and kept the ball moving throughout the game's first two quarters.  In the second half, he continued to make throws as needed, but the onus was placed heavily on the running game and eating of clock.  All in all, this was a solid outing for Mason.  He did everything Georgia needed.

Rushing Offense

With Gurley out, freshman Nick Chubb was forced to step up.  He did so in a big way, running for 59 yards in the first half and over 140 yards overall.  Much like Gurley, Chubb got stronger as the game went on.  When he needed a break, Brendan Douglas was more than willing and able to provide a spark.  Credit goes to the offensive line for another stellar blocking performance.

Pass Defense

Georgia's pass defense was ferocious in the first half.  Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk never looked comfortable, and his three first-half turnovers breathed life into a Georgia team looking for a Gurley-less lift.  Mauk picked up right where he left off in the second half, throwing two more interceptions while facing relentless pressure.  This was Georgia's best performance against the pass in several years.

Run Defense

Missouri had limited success running the football, but once the Tigers fell behind, the ground attack became less viable.  Most of Missouri's ground success came with Georgia in prevent defense at the end of the first half.

Special Teams

Georgia's first six points came on two field goals by Marshall Morgan, the kick coverage was sound and the Bulldogs threatened in the punt return game repeatedly.  No news, as always, is good news for special teams play.

Coaching

Give credit to Mark Richt and his coaching staff for getting this team ready to play without its star.  Georgia came out on fire on defense, and even the offense looked confident throughout the first half.  After what had the makings of a slow start in the second half, Georgia once again stepped up and made play after play.  Richt and his staff did a stellar job of keeping the team focused and preserving a huge shutout victory.

Position Unit	First-Half Grade	Second-Half Grade
Passing Offense	F	F
Rushing Offense	C	C
Pass Defense	B	C
Run Defense	B	C
Special Teams	C	B
Coaching	C	C-

Missouri Tigers Grade Analysis

Passing Offense

Mauk struggled for the entirety of the first half.  His five completions on thirteen attempts were only overshadowed by his two interceptions and his lost fumble.  Unfortunately for him, the second half wasn't much better as he completed just four more passes and threw two more interceptions.  Mauk will want to soon forget a day in which he completed less than 50 percent of his passes and threw for fewer than 100 yards while turning the ball over five times.

Rushing Offense

An emphasis on the ground game was never present for Mizzou.  Once the Tigers fell behind, the ground attack was not an option.  Both Marcus Murphy and Russell Hansbrough broke a few runs, but the Tigers never put together a consistent string of ground pickups.

Pass Defense

Missouri defended well on third downs thanks to a strong pass rush, and that was arguably the highlight of the first half for the Tigers.  Had the pass rush not been productive, the deficit would have been even greater at halftime.  It's hard to give the Tigers too much credit, however, as Mason and backup Brice Ramsey completed just shy of 80 percent of their passes.

Run Defense

Nobody broke a long run in the first half, but Georgia still moved the ball somewhat effectively—even without Gurley.  Nonetheless, Chubb's ability to churn out yardage was a factor.  As the game wore on, the Missouri defense wore out.  Chubb picked up yards in bunches late, and Douglas was also successful in moving the chains.

Special Teams

Punt coverage was poor for Mizzou, and the recovery of a muffed punt was negated by a Tiger penalty in the first half.  Outside of that, very little of consequence occurred for the Tigers within this phase.

Coaching

Missouri was completely outcoached in this contest.  The offense had no answer for Georgia's pressure, and the defense was unable to consistently get off the field.  This game should have been controlled by Gary Pinkel's team, but the Tigers never even threatened the Bulldogs.

All stats courtesy of NCAA.com.