Sept. 23, 2016
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
On campus in Nashville — Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason had a message for his team following last week’s disappointing loss at Georgia Tech. “I said, listen, we can’t change what just happened,” Mason said on Tuesday.
“But what we’ve got to do is make sure we get back to work, look at this film and take everything from it that moves us forward. The things that don’t have anything with what we’re trying to do, let’s flush it. And that’s exactly what we did.”
Mason described the Commodores (1-2, 0-1 SEC) as “resilient” in preparation for their Week 4 matchup against Western Kentucky (2-1, 0-0 C-USA). How can Vanderbilt bounce back and snag its first road victory of the season? Here are three keys to the matchup with the Hilltoppers.
1. Stifle WKU’s passing game.
Western Kentucky has been fairly one-dimensional on offense through three games. The Hilltoppers rank ninth in FBS in passing offense (10.0 yards-per-attempt) but just 118th nationally in rushing offense (2.94 yards-per-carry). That means the Tops boast a decidedly pass-happy attack, in which quarterback Mike White has evolved into a solid replacement for the departed Brandon Doughty. White completes 63% of his throws and has 13 plays of 25 yards or more in 2016, fourth-most of any player in the country.
But White isn’t the Hilltoppers’ only weapon. Senior receivers Nicholas Norris and Taywan Taylor are one of just two pass-catching duos on FBS teams with at least 2,000 career receiving yards each. The Biletnikoff Award watch list honorees are sure to test a Vanderbilt secondary that helped allow 621 passing yards in its last two games against Middle Tennessee State and Georgia Tech.
“Obviously, they can sling it around the park,” Mason said. “The quarterback is extremely talented. He’s got great arm talent. He can find windows, similar to [Middle Tennessee quarterback Brent] Stockstill.”
The Commodores can’t afford to be picked apart by White and Co., and added pressure could help their case against Western Kentucky. Vandy’s defense has recorded just two sacks in the first three games of the season. But the Hilltoppers will line up against the ‘Dores without senior offensive tackle Forrest Lamp, who suffered a leg injury in last week’s 31-24 win over Miami (Ohio). Lamp had started 39 consecutive games at left tackle and been a lynchpin of the Tops’ line.
2. Help Ralph Webb find his groove again.
One week after reeling off 211 rush yards against Middle Tennessee State – the third-highest single-game total in Vanderbilt history – Webb was not his explosive self against Georgia Tech. He managed just 69 yards on 18 carries (3.8 average) and was kept out of the end zone in the loss to the Yellow Jackets. To no surprise, Vanderbilt’s offense sputtered as a result.
The Commodores need Webb to return to form against Western Kentucky. Last week quarterback Kyle Shumur had a nice day against Georgia Tech, completing 17 of 26 passes for 149 yards. But Vanderbilt struggled without the help of its normally efficient ground game; the ‘Dores finished just 4-of-13 on third downs against Georgia Tech. This week Mason said short drives prevented momentum in coordinator Andy Ludwig’s play-calling, and Webb knows he plays a pivotal role in moving the Commodores’ offense.
“Keep the chains alive,” Webb said. “We have to keep the drives alive, we didn’t do that quite enough to stay on the field [against Georgia Tech].”
Webb currently leads all SEC players with 125.7 rushing yards per game and averages 5.6 yards per carry, up from 4.2 in 2015. This week Shurmur praised Webb as a “complete back”, one who can jump out of the backfield, catch passes and block. That versatility might prove useful against Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers allow just 2.85 yards-per-carry thus far this season, a run defense that ranks 20th in the country. But Mason knows just how important Webb is to Vanderbilt’s game plan.
“I’ve always said about Ralph, I thought he was limitless in terms of what he can do,” Mason said. “Every year, he’s had to add dimensions to his game, and that’s what he’s done.”
3. Maintain composure on the road.
With a max capacity of 22,113 fans, Western Kentucky’s Houchens-Smith Stadium isn’t an SEC-caliber hornets’ nest. But the matchup with Vanderbilt is a unique opportunity for the Hilltoppers, who have never hosted an SEC program in Bowling Green. That’s one reason why Mason expects Western Kentucky – situated about 70 miles north of Nashville – to wake up for the Commodores’ arrival.
“It’s a backyard brawl,” Mason said. “Anytime you play Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky, etc., those borders are extremely tight.”
A win in Bowling Green would serve as a first step in curing Vanderbilt’s road woes. Including last week’s loss at Georgia Tech, the Commodores are 1-10 in their last 11 games on the road. The program could use renewed momentum heading into next week’s home meeting with Florida. Plus, the ‘Dores might have revenge in mind when they kickoff on Saturday. Last season Western Kentucky upset Vanderbilt in Nashville, 14-12, a result that likely still lingers in the Commodores’ locker room.
But Webb stiff-armed the possibility of a distracted Vanderbilt squad. “It’s just another day,” he said, “and another game.”