Sept. 9, 2016
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
On campus in Nashville — Vanderbilt (0-1, 0-1 SEC) aims to notch its first victory of the season against visiting Middle Tennessee State (1-0, 0-0 C-USA) on Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium. Kickoff is 3 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
Here are three keys to the game for the Commodores:
1. Contain MTSU QB Brent Stockstill
The `Dores face a steep test in Middle Tennessee State quarterback Brent Stockstill. The redshirt sophomore, son of Blue Raiders head coach Rick Stockstill, completed 30-of-36 passes for 329 yards, five touchdowns and one interception in last week’s 55-0 rout of Alabama A&M. The quarterback started the game by completing 22 consecutive passes, which set an MTSU program record.
“He put up some video game-like numbers [last week],” Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason said on Tuesday.
The Commodores know not to sleep on Stockstill. Last season he went 32-of-51 for 286 yards and a touchdown in MTSU’s 17-13 loss vs. Vanderbilt, and Mason said he expects the same potential from Stockstill on Saturday. Though the Blue Raiders venture to Nashville with a banged-up receiving corps, Vandy will still have to deal with electric receiver Richie James on the edge. James hauled in eight catches for 73 yards against Alabama A&M after amassing 108 catches for 1,346 yards in 2015.
To stifle Stockstill, Vanderbilt must see more from its pass rush. Against South Carolina, Vandy’s defense broke into the backfield on several occasions but failed to record a single sack. The Commodores need to put the quick-throwing Stockstill on the ground and prevent the Blue Raiders from finding rhythm with their up-tempo attack. “We just have to take the next step,” safety/linebacker Oren Burks said, “and finish the plays.”
2. Win third down — especially in the second half
In Week 1, Vanderbilt’s defense held South Carolina to just 308 total yards, or 4.97 yards per play. Those numbers were better than what the Commodores’ defense gave up during an improved 2015 season (350.5 total yards, or 5.17 per play). In fact, nine SEC teams gave up more points than the `Dores’ did (13) in their season-openers.
But Vanderbilt’s defense also struggled to get off the field in the second half of its opening game. While South Carolina was just 6-of-16 on third down, it also converted four of its final seven third-down opportunities. That allowed the Gamecocks to keep drives alive and score all 13 of their points after halftime. “Our third-down efficiency defensively could have been better,” Mason said. “We missed the opportunity to get off the field a couple of times, and that was huge in this ballgame.”
Mason said the Commodores’ defensive intensity in the first half must extend for all 60 minutes. “Playing fourth-quarter football in this conference is just what you have to do,” Mason said.
3. Give the running game some help
A silver lining from the loss to South Carolina was the emergence of Vanderbilt’s run game. Ralph Webb, who piled up 2,059 rushing yard during his first two seasons on campus, combined with converted linebacker Khari Blasingame for 165 rushing yards on 35 carries, or 4.7 yards-per-carry. Those 165 yards were the most by two Vanderbilt running backs in a single game under offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig.
But the Commodores got very little help from the passing game. Quarterback Kyle Shurmur finished 8-of-22 for 73 yards (3.3 per attempt), and backup Wade Freebeck misfired on his only attempt of the game. In all Vanderbilt recorded 169 of its 242 total yards (70%) on the ground, and as a result the offense mustered just 10 points against the Gamecocks. “As an offense we have to score more than 10 points, and we know that,” said center Barrett Gouger.
Now the `Dores hope a slight shakeup on offense can spark VU’s aerial attack. True freshman Kalija Lipscomb leapfrogged C.J. Duncan on the depth chart as Vandy’s other starting receiver opposite Trent Sherfield. Lipscomb had one catch for 15 yards against South Carolina but impressed coaches during fall camp.
Meanwhile, Mason reiterated Shurmur as Vanderbilt’s starter but said Freebeck will still see the field in “situational” plays. But after one week of studying game film, Shumur’s renewed focus has Mason eyeing a turnaround against MTSU. “From game one to game two is where you make the biggest improvement,” Mason said. “[Shurmur] is ready to play. He’s primed.”
