Oct. 24, 2017
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Following a bye week, Vanderbilt football is back to the grind. The Commodores travel to South Carolina on Saturday for a 3 p.m. CT kickoff on SEC Network.
On Tuesday, head coach Derek Mason joined running back Ralph Webb and safety Ryan White in previewing the matchup.
Here’s what the Dores had to say:
– Mason said Vanderbilt was able to reenergize during its bye week. “Last week was a good week. We got back to fundamentals.”
– Mason said South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley poses a great challenge to his defense. “It starts with Jake Bentley. I believe he’s a talented quarterback. He has a strong arm, reads coverage well and can extend plays.”
– Mason said Vanderbilt’s defense must improve during the season’s second half. But the coach said the Commodores must want to get better. “I can talk to them until they’re blue in the face, but there’s no call, no pep talk that’s going to make it better. It’s about, do you believe and are you ready to commit to it to make it better?”
– Mason praised the Gamecocks’ defense under head coach Will Muschamp. “You can’t say enough about South Carolina’s defense. They’re opportunistic, they don’t commit a lot of penalties, they don’t beat themselves.”
– Following the loss at Ole Miss, Mason said all starting jobs are open, with the exception of Webb and quarterback Kyle Shurmur. On Tuesday t coach said that policy still stands, and he wants players who have earned their spots. “If I’m giving away seats on the bus, it’s not much of a competition.”
– Asked about the importance of a quick start against South Carolina, Mason shook his head. “It’s not about starting fast. It’s about, do you trust the process when adversity hits… Do you fight, do you compete, or do you become complacent?”
– White said Vanderbilt’s offense has been scoring points. Instead, it’s the defense that needs to step up. “The defense flat-out just hasn’t been doing its job… I feel like it’s on us.”
– Vanderbilt gave up seven sacks against Ole Miss, and Webb said the Dores must find a way to better protect Shurmur. “We just missed some keys. Guys have got to understand the protection and get it done. Sometimes you miss those one-on-one blocks, and we’ve got to find a way to win those battles.”
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.