Nov. 11, 2016
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
On campus in Nashville -Vanderbilt had plenty to take away from its 23-16 loss at Auburn last weekend. The Commodores’ offense improved while its defense corralled a normally potent Auburn attack. But this week more than a few ‘Dores admitted the close loss continues to linger in the locker room.
“We aren’t here for moral victories,” quarterback Kyle Shumur said. “It’s all about winning for us.”
Vanderbilt (4-5, 1-4 SEC) gets another shot at a second SEC win of the season against Missouri (2-7, 0-5 SEC) on Saturday. How can the ‘Dores dispose of the Tigers? Here are three keys to the game:
1. Stop Mizzou’s passing game.
Missouri boasts one of the SEC’s most potent offenses. The Tigers average 487.3 yards per game, second among SEC teams, and manage a red-hot 6.2 yards-per-play. Under first-year offense coordinator Josh Heupel, Mizzou’s offense has improved dramatically from a dismal 2015 campaign; it jumped from a 13.6 points-per-game average to scoring 31.8 points per game this season.
Much of Missouri’s production comes via quarterback Drew Lock and his legion of pass-catchers. Lock averages 279.7 passing yards per game and is tied for first in the SEC in passing touchdowns (19). Moreover, the Tigers spread the ball around. Missouri is the only school in FBS to have six different players notch a 100-yard receiving game this season.
“What you see in Drew Lock is a guy who can put up numbers,” Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason said. “They’ve got an offensive machine that can score with anybody in the conference.”
Fortunately for the Commodores, they have stepped up against the pass in SEC play. Conference quarterbacks average just 168.2 yards through the air (or 6.1 per attempt) against Vanderbilt, third-worst in the SEC. But if the ‘Dores can’t stop Lock — and this game turns into a shootout — it could be a long afternoon in Columbia.
2. Keep rolling, Kyle Shurmur.
Vanderbilt ventures to Missouri riding a strong streak of play from quarterback Kyle Shurmur. Over Shurmur’s last four games, he has completed 59.8 percent of his throws for 614 yards and two touchdowns. In last week’s 23-16 loss at Auburn, Shurmur notched career-highs of 24 completions on 35 attempts, all for 221 yards, despite throwing a game-sealing interception. The sophomore hit 10 different pass-catchers in that game alone.
This week Shurmur said the Commodorews knew they would have to throw the ball to hang with Auburn. “A lot of those plays was just getting the ball out of my hands fast and getting those guys to the open field,” Shurmur said.
That’s the kind of performance Shurmur needs against Missouri. The Tigers rank eighth in the SEC against the pass (7.0 yards-per-attempt allowed), and last week they gave up 254 passing yards and two touchdowns to South Carolina freshman quarterback Jake Bentley in a 31-21 loss. Bentley completed 22 of his 28 throws and averaged 9.1 yards-per-attempt.
If a steady Shumur can complement Ralph Webb and the running game, Vanderbilt’s offense could break out against Missouri. “I think we’re executing better, but what I want to see is points on the board,” Mason said.
3. Study last season’s success.
Vanderbilt fans likely haven’t forgotten the program’s 2015 matchup with Missouri. The ‘Dores secured a 10-3 win over the Tigers in a defensive battle in Nashville, the first SEC victory of Mason’s tenure.
This week, Vanderbilt would be wise to remember what worked in that game. The ‘Dores’ defense held Missouri to 188 yards of total offense – the fewest by an SEC team against Vanderbilt since 2006 – and 0-14 on third downs. Lock completed just 14 of his 34 passes. On offense, Shurmur avoided interceptions and Webb scampering for 99 yards.
A similar recipe could pay off for Vanderbilt on Saturday. But Mason also knows the Tigers’ offense is much improved this season and should present a revamped challenge to Vanderbilt. “This offense looks different than it did a year ago,” Mason said.
Still, a history of recent success against Missouri could give the Commodores enough confidence to get over the hump in SEC play. The Tigers have lost five straight games, and their 31.8 point-per-game scoring average drops significantly (18.0) against conference competition. The ‘Dores know they have a good shot at closing out a win on the road; all five of Vanderbilt’s SEC games have been decided by a seven points or fewer. “It’s great that we stay in games, but at this point we need to finish the games and win,” center Barrett Gouger said.
Vanderbilt and Missouri kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network.