Eli Drinkwitz criticizes Missouri's third-down, run defense after first quarter vs. Georgia

After Georgia jumped out in front with a game-opening field goal, Missouri took the lead on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Brady Cook to Luther Burden. But the Bulldogs were marching toward the end of the first quarter, and Eli Drinkwitz saw some areas his team needed to improve.

Georgia converted four of its first six third downs against Missouri, and that was one think Drinkwitz wanted to see improve the rest of the way. His interview with CBS’ Amanda Guerra came as the Bulldogs were on a goal-to-go situation, and they eventually scored a touchdown when Carson Beck found Dominic Lovett for the score — appropriately, on 3rd and goal.

But Drinkwitz also called out the Missouri run defense, which allowed 4.0 yards per rush through the first quarter-plus. He said clamping down the Georgia running game will be huge to keeping pace with the Bulldogs and, possibly, pulling off the upset.

“We’re not stopping the run well enough right now,” Drinkwitz said. “It’s creating some manageable down and distance, especially on that last third down.”

Eli Drinkwitz channels his ‘inner Kobe Bryant’ when talking about Missouri’s first CFP ranking

Missouri generated some chatter this week with its College Football Playoff ranking. The Tigers checked in at No. 12 in the first CFP top 25 of the year as part of their impressive 7-1 start. But Drinkwitz is keeping things in perspective, drawing inspiration from one of the greatest basketball players ever to describe the high ranking.

“I think I channel my inner Kobe Bryant and say, ‘Job’s not done yet,’” Drinkwitz said on an SEC teleconference call on Wednesday. “So I don’t necessarily think that any coach is sitting around looking at the rankings to start November.”

Missouri’s schedule isn’t going to get much easier. After Saturday’s game against Georgia, the Tigers have to take on Tennessee in Week 11 before closing out the year against Florida and Arkansas. While they have a chance to make things interesting, Drinkwitz said he has to keep his team focused on the current task at hand and try to avoid getting ahead of themselves.

“Obviously it’s just about where you’re at right now,” Drinkwitz said. “We still have a quarter of our season left to play and not really focused on what we’ve accomplished to this point.”

Missouri kept pace with Georgia through the first half, though, and headed to the halftime locker room tied 10-10 with the Bulldogs.