The Vanderbilt Commodores are ready to tackle the SEC. As September winds down and the first month of college football season comes to a close, let us look at what Vanderbilt has accomplished. What do they need to do to win some SEC games over the next two months? Head Coach Derek Mason has been talking all offseason about the depth of this team, and they are deep and beefy on the front lines. Furthermore, Kyle Shurmur has an arsenal of weapons at his disposal. While new defensive coordinator Jason Tarver has the defense playing with a renewed sense of urgency.
Four Down
This 2018 Commodore team kicked off the season with back-to-back wins over Middle Tennessee State and Nevada. Those were two solid games to boost confidence as well as work out some of the bugs. The big game on their schedule was the business trip to South Bend to take on a ranked Notre Dame. This game gave us a glimpse of what Vandy is capable of, and they were more than competitive. What is that famous Vince Lombardi quote, “We didn’t lose the game, we just ran out of time.” That was Vandy against the Irish. If college football had five quarters, the ‘Dores would have knocked off the Irish. In week four, they took a small step back against South Carolina with a slow start and frustrating day for Shurmur. The Gamecocks came out with their foot on the gas and never let up.
Now What?
South Carolina exposed some holes in Vandy’s game, but nothing that cannot be fixed with minor adjustments and fine-tuning. The ‘Dores will host Tennessee State on Saturday afternoon, which is the perfect game to tweak and tighten up before they get into the meat of their SEC schedule. Tennessee State is athletic and can be a competitive team, especially when equipped with experienced transfer players.
There seems to have been an increase in defensive turnovers this season. More than ever, Vandy needs to capitalize on them so they result in points on the board EVERYTIME, as the Dores have been leaving points on the field. The front lines need to stand their ground and play smart. I believe that Shurmur has brushed off his bad day and is ready to lead his team with his unshakable “cool as a cucumber” confidence.
The NEW Black Death
Tarver has Vanderbilt’s defense playing some lights-out Black Death defense. The turnovers, the interceptions, and the hustle to the ball are refreshing and exciting to watch. In fact, after the Notre Dame game, the defense was ranked 15th nationally. This is a talented and deep defense, with conceivably more potential than any of Mason’s previous teams. If they can start to put defensive points on the board after the turnovers, it is a whole new level of play, for Vandy.
Shurmur, Lipscomb, and Vaughn, Oh My!
Senior quarterback Shurmur is surrounded by an army of talented athletes. Kalija Lipscomb and Jared Pinkney have been fruitful targets with sticky fingers this fall with 306 and 283 receiving yards, respectively. Furthermore, the running game has been a pleasant surprise, lead by Ke’Shawn Vaughn with 230 rushing yards. That, followed by Jamauri Wakefield with 187 yards and 138 rushing yards for Khari Blasingame. IF the O-line can protect Shurmur while simultaneously making holes for all of his offensive options, this experienced offense will make a big impact in the SEC.
Looking Ahead
It is a well-known fact that the SEC is a tough conference to play in. Vandy will be between the hedges against a top-five ranked Georgia Bulldog team. They will need to be opportunistic and come out swinging if they want to pull off another upset in Athens. The ‘Dores will then return home to host the Gators and new head coach, Dan Mullen, in which the last three meetings against Florida have been “should’ve won” games.
On The Road Again
Kentucky was instrumental in exposing some of their weaknesses last season, so the matchup at the end of October will be a substantial game. The Wildcats have been the big news this season in the SEC with their on-field dominance, they will also be the first stop for the ‘Dores three-game stretch on the road. The Wildcats are always tough, but I believe Vandy will make them earn every point and will not go gently into the night.
The second stop is in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Vandy will take on another program under a new head coach, Chad Morris. The Razorbacks are struggling to find their rhythm. Vandy’s experienced team should make short work of the Hogs, yet there are no guaranteed wins.
Vandy will have a much-needed bye week before taking on Missouri on November 10th. The Tigers dominated their non-conference play before being bitten hard by the Bulldogs 43-29 in week four. This game could go either way depending on how well both teams are navigating conference play.
Strong Finish
Finally, the Commodores will return home to host Ole Miss and Tennessee. Hope springs eternal that Vandy will be bowl eligible going into the final two games of the season. Everything I have seen from this 2018 Vanderbilt team would lead me to believe they will pull off more than one upset and will be bowl eligible by the time they return home in November. Mason has been saying since July that he has a “deep roster”. If these players continue to improve as the season progresses, and more importantly stay healthy, everyone on the Vandy bandwagon is in for a treat.
It is easy to get frustrated with college football. It is an imperfect game played by kids. The team that Mason has put on the field this season has displayed the limitless potential of what happens when a team is given a chance to build and grow the right way. With their perseverance and continued discipline on the field, the Commodores will prove to be ready to tackle the SEC.
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