Vanderbilt Football; Two Down, Ten To Go
As any Vanderbilt football fan knows, head coach Derek Mason loves to say “Let’s go 1-0 this week”. So, far the ‘Dores are living by those words. And yes, Vanderbilt did come out of the gates swinging against Middle Tennessee State and Alabama A&M. As Vanderbilt heads into week three of the 2017 season, people are starting to take notice. In fact, everyone is starting to take notice. There is internet chatter that if Vandy beats Kansas State this weekend, they could crack the Top 25 in the coaches poll.
What We Know
This Vanderbilt team is comfortable and secure in Andy Ludwig’s offense. Kyle Shurmur is number one in the nation in total QBR. He has completed 35 of 46 passes with 498 yards and seven touchdowns. Meanwhile on the other side of the ball, the Black Death defense has not skipped a beat with the departure of Zach Cunningham. In fact, the Vandy defense is ranked three in the nation in total defense and number one in the SEC. That being said, they have not played a major contender. The next four weeks will be the true test for Vanderbilt.
Week Three
Kansas State arrives in town also riding the momentum of two wins. They have scored 55 points in each of their first two games. Mason will remind you this team is not afraid of anyone, and they shouldn’t be. He will have his team locked in, loaded, and ready to make a statement on Saturday night. The Wildcat defense is opportunistic and stingy; the Vandy offense will need to strike fast. Shurmur has a cool and quiet confidence, as long as he remains focused and his receivers stay alert, it will be a great battle between the white lines. Mason and his defense need to be relentless in their pursuit to stifle the K-State offense. Kansas State kicks off a four game stretch of Top 25 ranked opponents for the Dores.
Pass Rush
Vanderbilt’s pass rush has been on fire the first two weeks of the season. The Black Death defense has picked up eight sacks and 20 tackles for a loss in the first two games. Last season, they had a total of 15 sacks. Vandy led the nation in red zone defense last season and have continued the trend this year, while their two opponents are 0-for-2 in the red zone. Kansas State is ranked for a reason, as they are a well-rounded team. They play all three phases of the game determinedly. The Wildcats will put the Black Death D to the test, and Mason will have them ready for the fight.
Coming In Hot
Shurmur has started the year right where he left off last season, on fire. He has thrown seven touchdowns in the first two games. As Shurmur entered the 2017 season, he had thrown a total of 14 touchdowns in his entire Vandy career, and only nine last season. He ranks fifth nationally in passing efficiency with 217.2 and leads the SEC. Ralph Webb is currently number six in active NCAA rushing leaders with 3,445 yards. If Vanderbilt can strike hard and strike fast, they stand a chance against anyone who steps on the field with them.
Be Where Your Feet Are
The whole world is looking ahead to the Vandy vs. Alabama game, including CBS. Mason and this team are paying attention to their opponent at hand; they are being where their feet are. Not if, but when Vandy beats Kansas State, they will be serious contenders for the Top 25 Coaches Poll. This is the beginning of a very tough four game stretch, and Vanderbilt and Derek Mason have never been better prepared. This is a deep and talented team with a stellar coaching staff. It is going to be a fun four weeks on West End.
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