Sept. 15, 2016
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
On campus in Nashville — Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason has been burning the midnight oil this week in preparation for Georgia Tech. “There have been some long nights in the last couple of days for us coaches,” Mason admitted this week.
That’s because of the unique challenge the Yellow Jackets present to Mason’s defense. On Saturday the Commodores (1-1, 0-1 SEC) venture to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech (2-0, 1-0 ACC) at Bobby Dodd Stadium The game kicks off at 11:30 a.m. CT.
How can Vanderbilt return to Nashville with a victory? Here are three keys to Saturday’s matchup:
1. Stop. The. Run.
Make no mistake, Mason knows exactly what to expect from Georgia Tech’s offense on Saturday.
“Coach Paul Johnson has a tough, physical football team who is looking to do exactly what they do,” Mason said, “which is run the football, run the football and run the football a little more.”
Indeed, Johnson’s bread-and-butter at Georgia Tech is his triple-option offense. The Ramblin’ Wreck rushed 96 times in its first two games, more than all but 20 FBS teams. That offense, headlined by senior quarterback Justin Thomas, ranks 24th in FBS in rush yards per game (241.5) and also averages an efficient 5.03 yards per carry.
Now the onus is on Vanderbilt’s defensive front to limit the Yellow Jackets’ effectiveness on the ground. The Commodores allow just 108.5 rushing yards per game through two contests, 38th in the country, but they have yet to face a running attack quite like Georgia Tech. Mason said assignments and discipline are key in preventing Tech from controlling the line of scrimmage, as is stopping Thomas, who has run for 1,574 yards in the past two seasons.
“I don’t care what offense you run – spread, Air Raid – the quarterback is the point guard,” Mason said.
2. Eat the clock on offense.
Georgia Tech’s run-happy offense seeks to control time of possession. Vanderbilt’s own offense needs to sustain longer drives and limit the Yellow Jackets’ chances with the football. “When you’re playing a team like the triple-option, they hold onto the ball,” center Barrett Gouger said. “They take away possessions from the other team’s offense.”
Fortunately for the Commodores, this week’s opponent isn’t conducive to stopping the run. Georgia Tech ranks 78th nationally in yards-per-carry allowed (4.02) through two games. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, has Ralph Webb. The redshirt junior scampered for 211 yards last week against Middle Tennessee, the third-highest single-game total in program history.
The ‘Dores could use similarly efficient day from quarterback Kyle Shurmur, who completed 15-of-28 passes for 113 yards against MTSU. But the ground game is likely more important in keeping the clock in Vanderbilt’s favor. “I’m going to feed [Webb] as much as we can feed him,” Mason said. “You’ve got to go with what works for you.”
3. Control field position with Sam Loy.
Vanderbilt freshman punter Sam Loy has punted 10 times through two games and ranks 25th nationally in punting average (43.8 yards). In a game of field position and clock management, Loy must force Georgia Tech to run the length of the field on its own drives.
Meanwhile, if the Commodores’ own drives stall outside the red zone, placekicker Tommy Openshaw has to make Georgia Tech pay. Openshaw has hit two of his three field goals on the year, but he has yet to hit one from beyond 36 yards. (The junior’s one miss came from 45 yards against South Carolina.) The x-factor on Saturday will be protection on special teams; the Yellow Jackets have blocked field goals in both of their first two games.
“Special teams is going to have to make a difference for us,” Mason said.