How Missouri got Luther Burden III the ball
Breaking down the schemes that produced a dynamic Biletnikoff Award semifinalist
Game changer.
Blue-chip prospect.
Star on the rise.
These are the words used to describe Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III, who many project to be the first receiver taken in next year’s NFL draft.
What’s crazy is we are only one month removed from the most recent draft…
And the buzz around Burden’s game was already taking off well before then.
Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers were two great college prospects.
Both receivers were drafted in the first round and figure to play huge roles for their respective teams in their rookie seasons.
Yet there was something about the way Burden played the game that really stuck in people’s minds.
Let’s dive in 👇
PROFILE
Luther Burden III took the SEC by storm last fall.
He blew the roof off his freshman totals in 2023:
86 passes
1,212 receiving yards
6 touchdowns.
His 91.0 PFF receiving grade also ranked third in the country.
Missouri knew what they had in Burden before the season had even started. He is the second highest-rated recruit to attend the university.
Everything changed when the coaching staff moved him to the slot, expanding the offense’s versatility.
Burden said this in an interview with SEC Network’s Out of Pocket show:
“I just feel better in the slot position because I got more access to getting the ball and helping the offense out.”
The coaching staff made a conscious effort to get the ball in his hands early and often because Burden was such a natural playmaker after the catch.
At 5-11 and 208 pounds, Burden plays the game in a similar style to San Francisco 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel.
He’s got both the size to punch through tackles…
And the quickness to escape them when given space to run.
USAGE
I went back to Burden’s 2023 game film and watched every target thrown in his direction.
By doing so, I gained a better understanding of his dynamism as a football player…
As well as the structure of the Missouri offense.
Here are six plays that stuck out to me.
JET SWEEP
One of the best ways to script a touch to your best player is to use him as an extension of the running game.
Mizzou understood the value of this with Burden — he took 18 carries for 88 yards and two touchdowns.
The team had a tremendous amount of success with Jet Sweep.
Burden would come across the formation via jet motion
He would take the handoff/toss from the quarterback
Then he would look for a crease to turn upfield
Mizzou got Burden his first touch of the game against Florida by calling Jet Sweep.
Quarterback Brady Cook sends Burden in motion and snaps the ball just as the receiver is about to pass the left tackle. This gives Cook ample time to secure the snap and quickly toss the ball in front of Burden.
With a few yards of lateral acceleration behind him, Burden is able to overcome a missed block by his tight end and find the edge for a nine-yard gain.
By running Jet Sweep, Missouri nearly picks up a first down on a low-risk play to their best player.
Jet Sweep was often called within the first two offensive drives of the game.
Running it early helped Mizzou confirm what rules and adjustments the defense had for Burden in these situations.
The staff would study the defense’s reaction in-game, gaining valuable intel for the future to set up other plays off the same motion later in the game.
TUNNEL SCREEN
Mizzou drew up a ton of screens for Burden.
As long as…
The pass got to him on time
Burden had solid blocking in front of him
There was a good chance for a house call.
The Tunnel Screen to Burden was a popular call — no matter the down, distance, or field position.
In this clip against NC State, Mizzou pairs its Tunnel Screen with GT Counter action.
The guard and tackle pull as normal, but the remaining linemen release to cut off the second level instead of down blocking.
The result is an easy throw and catch for Cook and Burden.
Blockers in front.
Clear lane to the end zone.
Burden tucks the ball and eventually barrels forward for a 15-yard touchdown.
ARROW SCREEN
Another staple look from Mizzou in this category was its Arrow Screen.
Mizzou loved this play for Burden — and it’s easy to see why.
It’s another safe, quick-game RPO concept that gets both quarterback and playmaker on the move.
On this play versus Tennessee, Mizzou pairs Burden’s Arrow route with a zone read run scheme.
Cook is tasked with reading the right edge defender.
He ends up crashing hard to the run, so Cook pulls the ball on the bootleg which means…
Burden’s route now has him running parallel to his quarterback.
He makes the quick transition from receiver to runner…
And accelerates away from his pursuit, taking advantage of the space that was cleared out by his teammate.
Simple, but very effective.
FLOOD
This concept is used by pretty much every team in football.
The Los Angeles Rams use it. San Francisco 49ers. Georgia Bulldogs. Texas Longhorns.
You name it, they run it.
The Flood concept uses three receivers at different levels to attack one side of the field.
The quarterback typically reads deep to shallow as the defense picks which routes to cover.
Missouri would find ways to put Burden at every level...
But on this specific variation he is the point man running the Go (clearout) route.
The Tigers start in a trips set here but Orbit motion from the X receiver forces the defense to spin and communicate.
Usually, the route Burden is running is unavailable but will make the routes underneath it to be more friendly to the quarterback.
In fact, the second route in the progression — the deep out — looks available for the taking.
But Burden’s quick stack of the cornerback opened up the skies for Cook, who realized he could beat the safety over the top.
The athleticism is on full display here:
Burden runs past every defender on his side of the field and Cook uncorks a ball that drops into the bucket just before the end zone.
CHINA
A tried and true red zone concept, Missouri’s version of China out of a 3x1 set uses
A corner route from the #3 receiver
A 5-yard in route from the #2 receiver
A 5-yard hitch route from the #1 receiver
One reason why this concept is a go-to for teams in the red zone is because…
China works against both man or zone coverage, and it can put multiple defenders in conflict.
The corner route attacks the space behind the outside cornerback, while the in and hitch routes place horizontal stress on the underneath defenders.
Burden, naturally, is running the corner route when Missouri called China against Vanderbilt.
And he scored not once…
But twice on China in that game.
On both occasions, Burden gets a free release against off-coverage.
This was a huge reason why Missouri moved him to the slot!
He keeps his route tidy by avoiding contact during his break toward the back pylon.
After that, it’s just a matter of tracking the ball into his hands.
DEEP CROSS
This last example is a great reminder that players make plays.
Missouri has dialed up Deep Cross here against Florida.
There is a wide bunch to the right which includes
A cross route by the #3 receiver (Burden)
A spray dig route by the #2 receiver
A shallow route by the #1 receiver
It’s a good call that gets Burden open against zone coverage on the opposite end of the field.
But what’s more impressive is how Burden gets the most out of this explosive play.
As he breaks toward open space, Burden not only finds the ball in the air…
But he sees the safety coming downhill to hit him as well.
This subtle show of multitasking preps him to brace for contact after the catch.
The safety looks like he hit a light pole when he finally arrived.
Burden runs him over and continues breaking tackles.
Completely unfazed.
THE NEXT STEP
So there you have it.
Six plays that exploited the unfair advantage Luther Burden III presents an offense.
So what’s in the cards for Missouri next year with Burden?
I think Missouri did a great job fitting its personnel to its scheme last season.
They developed an arsenal of plays that got its best player in space, and they stuck to it until somebody stopped it.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Missouri stuck to its same repertoire but added even more designs over the offseason to intentionally get Burden the ball…
While also expanding his route tree at the slot position.
He’s a tough competitor who can win in so many ways.
And to think he could be even better than he was last year…
Now that’s a scary thought.
Appreciate you reading Yards After Catch today!
It’s cool to see how many different ways an offense can get their best playmaker open (and just how simple it can be if your playmaker is THAT guy).
Until next time,
Cole