Aug. 31, 2016
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
On campus in Nashville — Vanderbilt’s 2016 season begins on Thursday night in a primetime matchup against South Carolina at Vanderbilt Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT on ESPN.
What do the Commodores need to do to earn an SEC victory on opening night? VUCommodores.com offers three keys to the matchup for the ‘Dores.
1. Find a rhythm in the passing game
Last season Vanderbilt finished 13th in the SEC in pass-efficiency offense. Quarterback Kyle Shurmur, who started five games as a true freshman, completed just 42.7% of his throws along the way. The Commodores hope to improve those numbers this season, and at his weekly press conference on Tuesday, head coach Derek Mason praised his offense ahead of South Carolina. “I feel really good about where Kyle is, where the offense is, and where the team is,” Mason said.
The ‘Dores already boast a reliable weapon on the ground in junior running back Ralph Webb, who set a VU sophomore record with 1,152 rushing yards in 2015. But Shurmur, who Mason tabbed as the Commodores’ starter in July, now has an entire offseason in coordinator Andy Ludwig’s offense under his belt. Plus, VU should enjoy a deeper crop of receivers this fall. C.J. Duncan, who missed all of 2015 with a torn Achilles, is back starting alongside Trent Sherfield, VU’s reception leader (51) last season. Combined with senior Latevius Rayford and junior Caleb Scott, depth might be the receiving corps’ best asset.
“We’re very balanced,” Duncan said of Vandy’s receivers, “and we’re great by committee. I think Kyle’s been pleased with the playmaking ability on the outside.”
If Vanderbilt hopes to work out the kinks in its aerial attack, South Carolina could serve as a prime opponent. Last season the Gamecocks ranked 13th in the SEC in yards-per-attempt allowed (7.3). But new head coach Will Muschamp has a history of building strong defenses: In six seasons as a defensive coordinator in the SEC, Muschamp fielded a top-10 total defense or scoring defense five times.
2. Stifle South Carolina’s quarterback – whoever he is
The Gamecocks haven’t named a starting quarterback ahead of their venture to Nashville. But on Monday Muschamp said he expects to play two signal-callers in the opener. That was a likely nod to senior Perry Orth and freshman Brandon McIlwain, both of whom separated themselves from the crowd during camp.
Now those quarterbacks face a Vanderbilt defense that was successful against SEC passers last fall. Conference quarterbacks completed just 51.4% of their throws against the Commodores in 2015, the fourth-lowest percentage in the league. As the Gamecocks search for continuity, they must to do with a roster that is replacing its top receiver (Pharoh Cooper) and leading rusher (Brandon Wilds) from a year ago. South Carolina’s returning receivers alone combined for just 28 catches and 356 yards in 2015. That means VU’s defense, which returns eight starters, could hold an edge over a list of unproven playmakers.
The wild card? Interceptions. Despite finishing in the top half of the SEC in eight categories in 2015, Vanderbilt’s stingy defense mustered just six interceptions last fall, fewest in the league. But a seasoned secondary headlined by senior Torren McGaster and junior Tre Herndon should make ball-hawking a priority. After all, improvement is an expectation for the ‘Dores’ defense after a stellar 2015 season. “That was just a taste of what we can do as a defense,” linebacker Oren Burks said.
3. Win the battle of punt returns
Vanderbilt special teams coordinator Jeff Genyk spent much of his first offseason on campus revamping the ‘Dores’ punt coverage, and for good reason. Last season the Commodores gave up 468 yards on punt returns, a total that ranked 128th nationally in FBS.
Vandy’s success on punt returns could define the matchup with South Carolina. The Commodores were 3-1 in 2015 when outgaining opponents in punt return yards. That history bodes well for the ‘Dores’ opener: Sophomore Rashad Fenton and junior Chris Lammons are slated to handle the Gamecocks’ punt-return duties, but neither player has returned a punt in a college game. (Fenton has experience returning kickoffs, but not punts.)
Meanwhile, Vanderbilt shifted last year’s punter, Tommy Openshaw, to full-time placekicking. Now junior Reid Nelson is the Commodores’ primary punter. That renewed focus on punt coverage could give the ‘Dores’ defense – which should be the best unit on the field – an important edge in field position.