COLUMBIA - Another week, another tough road test for the Missouri Tigers.
Last time it was playing Oct. 1 at LSU, a 42-7 loss. This time they travel to Gainesville, Fla., to take on the No. 18 Florida Gators at 3 p.m. today (SEC Network). Sandwiched in-between was the team's bye week.
Missouri (2-3, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) spent its bye week digesting extra film. Defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross and his defenders met to discuss the unit's struggles at times this season after fielding a top-10 ranked defense last season.
Now they get to see how much their extra week of work will pay off.
"There's definitely a little of a chip on our shoulder," sophomore quarterback Drew Lock said, "you know, we want to prove that, we know what we can do it, we just want to prove and actually put it into action and get an SEC win. That would be big for us, especially down there in Florida territory."
Florida (4-1, 2-1 SEC) might be Lock and Missouri's resurgent offense's toughest task yet this season. Like Missouri, Florida is also coming off an unofficial bye-week after its game against LSU last Saturday was postponed by Hurricane Matthew.
The Gators have allowed the fewest yards against, third in points against and fourth in passing yards against. Those rankings start with Florida's front-seven.
Defensive end Jabari Zuniga leads Florida with five sacks, followed by defensive end Jordan Sherit with three and linebacker Alex Anzalone with three. Defensive backs Jalen Tabor and Quincy Wilson each have have snagged two interceptions.
"They're very athletic," Missouri coach Barry Odom said. "They play extremely hard. I think that the structure of things they do they can take away part of your offense by a couple of guys they've got lined up on the perimeter, the way they play they're really good. They present challenges when they go man coverage with their skill set and up front they're pretty good."
Still, Odom said Missouri isn't deviating from it's fast-pace offense.
"Our best chance right now offensively is try to play fast," he said, "and I don't think we would be very efficient if we tried to line up in the huddle and come out of it and run power football. That's not what our roster is right now. That's what it may be one day, but it's not today."
Missouri's offense was the top-rated offense in the SEC before being humbled by scoring seven points with just 265 total yards at LSU. Lock finished 17-of-37 with 167 passing yards and an interception. Junior wide receiver J'Mon Moore, who led the conference in receiving yards and touchdowns, was limited to one catch with 16 yards.
Despite the Tigers' struggles last game, Florida head coach Jim McElwain isn't taking them lightly.
"Philosophically, they're just waiting for that one time to or two times three times, whatever it is for you to fall asleep a little bit," McElwain said. "I look at it as a great opportunity for our secondary guys who you know what are pretty darn good and this is a chance for them to stay focused, that they can communicate throughout the game and the speed and pace of the game they play as well. This will be a great opportunity for these guys to go out and show who they are."
Lock has admitted he's been frustrated at times this season, but not in a defeated way like he did as a true freshman last season. Now, he almost instantly knows what he did wrong if he threw a bad pass or took a sack.
McElwain watched Lock when Lock was still at Lee's Summit High School and isn't surprised at the growth he has shown.
"He's a guy who, man, he's talented," McElwain said. "He gets the ball out quick he's got a very accurate, strong arm. What I see from him this year is a great understanding to where he is going with it immediately. I think that's a testament to their offensive line for the few sacks they've given up but his ability to know and react and get the ball out really frustrates pass rushers.
"Him knowing exactly what Josh wants him to do and him executing and this guy's a really good player and he's got a long career ahead of himself."
Offensively, Florida has had its struggles this year. The Gators are 71st in yards per game and 67th in points per game. Odom, however said their receiving corps of Antonio Callaway, DeAndre Goolsby and Brandon Powell can "keep you up at night."
Especially now that quarterback Luke Del Rio is healthy.
"Well I think any time that he's been named the starter at the beginning of the year, and in their mind's Jim's a really good coach, he's probably their best quarterback," Odom said. "So looking early, especially the Kentucky game, I think they score 45, he was pretty efficient all day in that game."
The well-traveled Del Rio began his career at Alabama in 2013, before transferring to Oregon State and playing a year with the Beavers in 2014, then transferring to Florida in 2015 and sitting out the year. Del Rio was the opening week starter for the Gators before sustaining a knee injury Sept. 17 against North Texas.
Del Rio is 62-for-101 with 762 passing yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions in his three starts, all wins.
"A lot of talent, honestly, but nothing that we can't handle," Missouri redshirt junior linebacker Joey Burkett said, "And I know if we work hard this week, continue to work hard from last week we can carry it over into next week and really execute the game plan well then we'll be fine."