Georgia coach Kirby Smart has plenty of familiarity with Missouri as the Bulldogs prepare for a noon kickoff in Columbia, Missouri on Saturday.

The Georgia coached previously worked with new Missouri offensive coordinator Derek Dooley with the Miami Dolphins and at LSU.

During his regular Monday press conference, Smart said Missouri is “built like an SEC team” and is not one that Georgia can simply deploy four, or more, defensive backs to stop the high-powered passing attack.

Drew Lock

Lock’s maturity level is what sets him apart, and Smart said he’s got one of the fastest releases he’s seen.

“I don’t know if his arm can get any stronger,” Smart said. “He can make every throw.”

Injury update

Left tackle Andrew Thomas (ankle) and WR Terry Godwin (contusion) are expected back this week, and Godwin was expected to practice on Monday. Thomas is hopeful to return, but not as likely as Godwin. Thomas missed part of the South Carolina game, and sat out last week’s Middle Tennessee game.

“We’re hoping to get active a little more. But he’ll be out there rehabbing and getting him going. Hoping to get him back this week, but will have to see how he rehabs.”

Running back depth

After questions about the status of RB D’Andre Swift, who made just four carries for 12 yards against MTSU, Smart said Georgia would be 100 percent against Missouri.

Albert Okwuegbunam

The Georgia coach declined to pronounce Missouri’s big tight end, but he said Okwuegbunam would be a matchup problem for the Georgia defense.

“He’a really good player,” Smart said. “And Derek Dooley being a tight end guy, they will really use him. In warm ups the tight end looks like a lineman. They do things with him they do with receivers, but he can block, too.”

Jake Camarda

Smart was asked about the performance of Georgia’s punter, who he said has done a good job punting the ball, but may need to work on his hang time, and Smart said the goal for punting are different goals depending on where they are on the field.

“He’s probably got to use his pitching wedge instead of his 8-iron at times.” Smart said.