Aug. 9, 2008
Linebacker Brent Trice contributed several punishing hits Saturday and returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Head Coach Bobby Johnson wouldn’t hint whether his offense or defense got the upper hand Saturday at Vanderbilt’s first preseason scrimmage in Vanderbilt Stadium on Saturday. The coach did say his youthful Commodores need a greater sense of purpose in such important practice settings.
“They came out pumped up, but some guys didn’t come out and say, ‘I’m going to turn it loose today.’ We’ve got to get better at that,” Johnson said. We just have to get that edge. This was the first scrimmage, so I’m going to chalk it up to a learning experience.
“We’re got some guys who are trying to impress coaches and show us they deserve to be in the game. (The scrimmages) are a wonderful opportunity to do that,” Johnson added.
The Commodores’ first full scrimmage of camp – and its initial workout on the Dudley Field surface in Vanderbilt Stadium, included 83 plays and 18 series. The session also featured work on every phrase of special teams.
Both units controlled portions of the scrimmage. The defense, led by defensive end Broderick Stewart, tackles Greg Billinger and T.J. Greenstone, linebackers Nathan Campbell and Brent Trice, and several secondary personnel including cornerbacks D.J. Moore and Jared Fagan, held their counterparts out of the end zone until the 10th series.
Stewart provided two key plays: a third down sack of Chris Nickson in the opening drive and a 17-yard tackle for loss that halted the third possession. Trice contributed several punishing hits, and snared a Larry Smith pass attempt in the flat, rambling 52 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. Campbell posted a pair of third-down tackles that stopped drives. Fagan’s interception and a pass deflection by Greenstone stopped consecutive excellent offensive scoring opportunities.
Larry Smith directed the first offensive scoring drive. Aided by the strong rushing of tailback Kennard Reeves, Smith finished the possession with a 2-yard scoring strike to receiver Justin Wheeler.
In red-zone situations to close the scrimmage, the offense scored on four of five possessions: Mackenzi Adams and Jamie Graham hooking up for three yards; Nickson and Walker connecting for six yards; Reeves rushing for 11 yards; and Smith finding Austin Monahan for 18 yards.
More on the Scrimmage: Series-by-Series
Series 1: The defense opens strong with DE Broderick Stewart recording a sack on Chris Nickson four yards behind the line-of-scrimmage forcing a punt.
Series 2: TB Kennard Reeves posts a 6-yard run while QB Jared Funk completes a pass to Brandon Barden for four yards on third down, but fails to move the chains.
Series 3: TB Jared Hawkins catches a 9-yard pass from Mackenzi Adams and later rumbles up the middle for 13 yards on a third-and-one. The drive stalls when Broderick Stewart blows up a screen pass to Hawkins for an 18-yard loss.
Series 4: Larry Smith completes a 4-yard pass to TB Gaston Miller for five yards. One play later safety/LB Brent Trice comes up with huge defensive play, picking off Smith’s pass and taking it 52 yards for the score.
Series 5: The series was highlighted by a 29-yard fade route reception by WR Terence Jeffers from Smith. TB Ryan van Rensburg ran the ball twice for 12 tough yards. DB D.J. Moore records a tackle-for-loss on a run by Miller to force a long third-down situation for the offense. Miller carries the ball three times for 16 yards. TE Justin Green recorded an 8-yard reception.
Series 6: TB Jeff Jennings carries four times for 28 yards, including breaking several tackles on a nice 14-yard run. Chris Nickson moves the offense to the defense’s 11-yard line before T.J. Greenstone batted down a pass from Nickson for a key third down stop.
Series 7-9: QB Jared Funk opened the series with a nice 11-yard draw. Two plays later the defense came up with its second interception of the day as Jared Fagan picked off Funk’s pass returning 10 yards. The defense stepped up big during the eighth and ninth series as they forced the offense into two straight three-and-outs.
Series 10: Reeves gets the offense rolling by carrying four times for 34 yards. WR Jamie Graham also hauls in a nice 11-yard pass from Larry Smith to move the chains. Gaston Miller carried the ball twice for 12 yards to set-up a second and goal situation for the offense. One play later, Smith hooked up with WR Justin Wheeler on a short fade route in the back in the end zone for the offense’s first score.
Series 11-12: The defense responded well after the touchdown and forced the offense to a quick three-and-out. Nickson and the offense got rolling again on the 12th series as they needed only six plays to find the endzone. The drive started with a designed QB-draw as Nickson scampered for 11 yards. On second and short situation Nickson hooked up with tight end Austin Monahan on an out-route for a gain of nine. After the defense stuffed two runs up the middle, wide out Sean Walker caught a five yard touchdown pass from Nickson.
Series 13-15: The 13th series was all Kennard Reeves. Reeves ran the ball four times for 30 yards, including an 11-yarder for a score. On the next possession that started on the 10-yard line, Mackenzi Adams handed off to Gaston Miller for a 7-yard gain. One play later, Adams’ 3-yard touchdown reception to Graham gave the offense its fourth score. Smith connects with Austin Monahan on a 18-yard pass for the final score.
Upcoming Practice Schedule
The Commodores have their first day off Sunday before starting two-a-days on Monday. The squad is scheduled to practice daily through Saturday, August 16. Dore Jam 2008, the Commodores’ annual fan day activity, is scheduled Sunday, Aug.17, from 4-6 p.m., at the team’s practice facility. The event features the unveiling of Vanderbilt’s new Nike uniforms, with pant and jersey combinations available in white, gold and black.
