From 2-0 to 0-2. The start of the third week of the 2012 season differs significantly in feel from the same time a year ago when the Commodores had just staged a dramatic comeback against UConn. But such is life in college football where the barometer that measures the excitement level surrounding a program yo-yos up and down each week based on the result of the last game.
Thankfully, that next opportunity to get in the win column is less than a week away. Vanderbilt returns home Saturday to host Presbyterian College (0-2) at 11:30 a.m. CT (CSS).
“We’re not as far off as people may think and that’s what we talked to the players about as well,” Vanderbilt Head Coach James Franklin said Monday. “It’s a little play here. It’s a little more focus here. And it’s about understanding that this is not going to be fixed overnight. It’s a process and we are going to stick with our process and stay positive.”
Staying positive can be a challenge when faced with adversity, but Franklin believes this is an opportunity for the team to show its mettle.
“I think they believe and I think they are pissed and I think they are disappointed because we know we can be better, and they know how hard they’ve worked,” Franklin remarked. “Whenever you work really hard and invest in something and don’t have the type of success you think you deserve, that is hard for all of us. Adversity shapes character and this is a great opportunity to come even closer as a team and support one another and find a way to fight through this.”
Franklin also noted that while times may be difficult right now, there is a strong outlook for the future.
“I believe in these kids. I believe in our program. I love our fans and I’m very appreciative of the people that are sticking with us. We’ve seen some tough times in our past, we’re seeing a few tough times right now, but the future is bright and no one can tell me any different.”
Kenny Ladler out Saturday
Franklin announced Monday that starting safety Kenny Ladler would miss Saturday’s game, but did not disclose the length of time he is expected to be out.
“He won’t play this week, but he’s in good shape and he’ll be fine,” Franklin said. “I don’t know what exists after this week. He’s a great kid, he’ll be fine, but he’s not on the depth chart this week.”
Junior Javon Marshall is currently listed in Ladler’s place as the team’s starting free safety after starting the previous two games at strong safety. Senior Eric Samuels is penciled in as the starter at strong safety.
Pulling an all-nighter
The Commodores were delayed getting back from Chicago after Saturday’s game and did not arrive on campus until after 4 a.m. The delay was due to the team having to switch planes after the locking mechanism failed to work on the back door of the plane the team initially boarded.
Because of the late return, Franklin went straight to the office upon arrival and was wearing the same suit on Sunday evening that he put on following Saturday’s game.
“We got in at 4 (a.m.) and it didn’t make sense to go home,” Franklin said, “so I just came in, worked all day until 10 o’clock that night.”
Franklin mentioned that he showed up at the team meeting Sunday afternoon and received a few funny looks from players when they saw him wearing the same suit.
“They are kind of looking at me like, ‘Isn’t that the suit you had on last night?’ Yeah, it is.”
Offensive line disappointed in start
Vanderbilt’s offensive line showed significant signs of improvement during the offseason and into fall camp, but through the first two weeks of the season, the unit knows there are still steps to be taken. The Commodores have allowed eight sacks and are only averaging 81.5 yards on the ground (2.3 yards per carry) after finishing 2011 with the most yards rushing since 1994.
On Monday, junior tackle Wesley Johnson said that the unit realizes the mistakes that have been made and are fixing them.
“Now, I think we are all on the same page with what we need to do and we are ready to go forward,” Johnson said. “We are focusing a lot more and starting to pay attention to every little detail, and that is going to be the difference from what you’ve seen the last two weeks and what we’re doing now.”
Johnson went on to say that the blame for the unit not playing as well as he would like falls on the players.
“I think we were complacent,” Johnson said. “I don’t know if you could say we got entitled. I guess what little success we had last year, we didn’t handle it very well.”
About Presbyterian
Vanderbilt plays its lone FCS opponent at 11:30 a.m. CT on Saturday when Presbyterian College pays a visit. The Blue Hose are 1-1 on the season after losing 59-3 at Georgia Tech on Saturday. Presbyterian opened the season at home with a 45-10 win against Brevard College.
Presbyterian has been a member of the Big South Conference since the 2007-08 athletic season after previously competing at the Division II level. The Blue Hose finished last season with a 4-7 record.
The college is located in Clinton, S.C., and has an enrollment of 1,200 students. Presbyterian’s athletic department is under the direction of Brian Reese, formerly an associate director of student athletics at Vanderbilt. Reese has served as athletics director at Presbyterian since 2010.
What is a Blue Hose?
According to Presbyterian’s website, the Blue Hose nickname signifies fierce Scottish warriors. The nickname was officially adopted in the 1950s, but has a history that dates back to the early 1900s when the college’s athletic teams were referred to by sportswriters as the “Blue Stockings” because of the blue socks they wore.
Consistency at Quarterback
Coach Franklin was asked Monday to address the quarterback position on the team two games into the season.
“Inconsistent,” Franklin stated. “Jordan’s (Rodgers) preparation has been really good, his attitude has been really good. Just like last year, he can make plays with his feet. We have to throw the ball more consistently, and it’s not just throwing the ball, it is catching the ball more consistently as well.
“The way the game of football has evolved, you have to play consistently at that position to be successful and you have to support that guy as well. It’s been inconsistent since we got here. We had a quarterback battle last year and made some changes. This year I thought Jordan had a good offseason. We have to get it to translate on the field.”
Rodgers has started both games and is 30-of-56 (53.6 percent) passing this season with two touchdowns and one interception.
Changes in the film room
Vanderbilt’s offense has been unable to get over the 13-point hump in the first two games. To help sort through some of the things that have plagued the unit, Coach Franklin had the entire offense watch film together on Sunday.
“I think you have to do that from time to time so that the o-line is hearing what the quarterback coach is telling the quarterbacks; so that the receivers hear what the quarterback is being taught, what he is reading and looking at; the running back hears what the o-line is being coached and how that affects their landmarks and their reads.”
Franklin also pointed out that certain position groups will begin to meet together from here on out. The quarterbacks and receivers will meet together and the tight ends and offensive linemen will also meet.
Holding a fourth-quarter lead
Vanderbilt held leads entering the fourth quarter in each of its games. But each time, the opponent was able to go in front for good with late scores.
“It dings us pretty bad,” defensive end Johnell Thomas said. “If they don’t score, they don’t win and that’s the mentality we have going into the fourth quarter, especially when we’re up by whatever we were up. So it dings a little bit, but like I say, you grow from it, you learn from it.”
Overall, the fourth quarter has been a trouble spot for Vanderbilt’s defense. The unit has allowed just 40 points all season, but 24 of those points have come in the final quarter alone.