Sheldon Jeter Transferring

 Posted by on May 20, 2013
May 202013
 

Sheldon Jeter, one of the brighter young stars for Kevin Stallings last season, is transferring away from Vanderbilt in hopes to move closer to home. Jeter, along with Kedren Johnson and Kevin Bright, was seen by many fans (including myself) to be the future of a young basketball team that seemed to be rise. In fact, as some of my loyal readers will remember, Sheldon Jeter was actually my favorite player from last season.

I’m typically a very hopeful fan, but this one is certainly a setback. I honestly thought Jeter was on his way to be becoming one of the better players in the conference, and the excitement he brought to the court seemed to save a young Commodores team on multiple occasions last year. I still think that the program is headed in the right direction with guys like Johnson, Bright, and the incoming big man Damian Jones all poised to have bright futures, but things are not looking quite as good as we thought at the conclusion of the conference tourney.

Oh well though, it’s part of college sports. Some of my fellow fans are being a little absurd with their reactions, pointing fingers in a situation that, quite honestly, none of us know anything about. And so, for that reason, I will reserve any further judgement on the issue. All I can say is that I wish Sheldon Jeter the best in wherever he goes. Oh, and of course…

Go ‘Dores!

Elijah Staley

 Posted by on April 16, 2013
Apr 162013
 

High school athletes that are well-rounded enough to be notable in two or sports, which are few and far between, always have a tough decision to make when the go to the next level. Vanderbilt’s latest football commitment, quarterback Elijah Staley, is no exception. Staley, a three-star man under center who commitment to James Franklin and his team before the spring game this weekend, is also quite the high level prospect – in fact, an even more high level prospect – on the basketball court. A 6’7″  four-star power forward with high athleticism and potential, he quickly became the center of attention in Nashville.

Initial reports said that Staley had committed solely to play on the gridiron, but the quarterback has since opened the door to walk-on for Kevin Stallings as well if James Franklin will allow him to. This was quite exciting news for basketball fans, as we all know the team could use some post play (even if he is a little on the smaller side). As for football, it makes the depth chart under center even more crowded as Staley and fellow 2014 commit K.J. Carta-Samuels will be thrown in the mix next season.

Also, defensive end Lloyd Tubman, previously committed to Western Kentucky, announced his switch to Vanderbilt on Saturday as well. He’s not as recognized a recruit as his peers on the commitment list, but it is nice to see James Franklin continue to bring in guys. Hopefully both Staley and Tubman can become big contributors in the future.

Go ‘Dores!

Commodores Sweep Rebels

 Posted by on April 8, 2013
Apr 082013
 

Vanderbilt (29-4, 11-1 SEC) swept yet another conference opponent this weekend, defeating Ole Miss in three hard-fought games. After a pair of pitching duels in the first two games of the series, things heated up on Sunday as the Commodores needed extra innings to put away the Rebels. A poor throw by the star Ole Miss catcher Stuart Turner set up the game-winning run for Vanderbilt senior Connor Harrell in the top of the eleventh, and sophomore closer Brian Miller, who failed to save the game in the ninth inning, made quick work of three Rebel batters in the final inning to get his fifth win of the season. It was nice to see him respond so well after struggling a little earlier in the day.

Yet another hard-fought win and series sweep keeps the Commodores ranked second in the nation by the latest polls. North Carolina, the top team in the nation, suffered only their second loss of the season last week after falling to Clemson in the final game of their series. LSU, currently ranked third, made some big noise last week after sweeping a then-top-ten Kentucky. Vandy will be back in action tomorrow as they face Tennessee-Martin (9-22, 2-13 OVC) for a little in-state action at Hawkins Field. Nashville will be the site of the weekend series too, as Vanderbilt will host Missouri (11-17, 4-8 SEC).

Vanderbilt Sweeps Tennessee

 Posted by on March 31, 2013
Mar 312013
 

I had a fantastic Easter; I hope everyone else was blessed with a wonderful day as well. If you’re a Vanderbilt fan such as myself, then the news from Hawkins Field only made your day even better, as the Commodore baseball team did a little spring cleaning over the holiday weekend, and swept Tennessee in the annual series for the second time in the past three years.

Now, it is a well-known fact that baseball is not my strongest sport, but these kind of results demand attention even from me and my minimal knowledge of baseball. So, yeah, giving this stuff my best shot.

As with the first two games in the series, this win didn’t come easy and it took some late-game work to get the job done. It was freshman Kyle Smith, playing in the first conference action of his career, who played hero today, as he blasted a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh to bring the Commodores to a 10-8 lead. Another nice showing came the following inning, as Vanderbilt extended the lead with two more runs. As Tennessee answered the surge by loading the bases in the ninth inning, freshman pitcher Carson Fulmer was called upon to get the final out of the game, and he was success in doing so against the one batter he faced.

Smith now joins with Conner Harrell as the only Commodores with a grand slam this season. It was a huge moment for the freshman out of Mount Juliet High School, bringing in the game-deciding runs for the afternoon. Vanderbilt now improves to 25-4 (8-1 SEC) on the season. Next action will be coming this Tuesday against MTSU (16-14, 3-6 Sun Belt) before the team travels to Ole Miss (24-5, 5-4 SEC) for next weekend’s series. I’ll try to do a better job covering the team for the remainder of the season.

Go ‘Dores!

2013 Commodores Season Closing

 Posted by on March 21, 2013
Mar 212013
 

Smooth sailing was not an option for Kevin Stallings’ team this season. After opening the season with some of the worst non-conference performances in memory, the early conference season was not any more forgiving for the young. Almost 90% of the scoring from the previous year had been lost either to graduate or early departure, and everyone in Nashville was feeling the effects. Historically poor performances became a weekly occurrence for the team, and the embarrassing statistics seemed to have no end. Coach Stallings continuously stressed the difficulties of coaching such an inexperienced group, and many fans, who had grown accustomed to quite high levels of success, began to run out of patience for the young squad that was still searching for answers.

However, much to the joy of us fans, answers were eventually found. Star sophomores Kedren Johnson and Dai-Jon Parker brought hope for their future, with their consistency and leadership growing each and every night. Newcomers Kevin Bright and Sheldon Jeter became the sparks of the team, surprising even their own coaches with their wide range of talents. And even juniors Rod Odom and Kyle Fuller, who have both had so many doubters in their careers, reached newfound heights. A punishing defense and a powerful will to improve separated this Commodores from those before it. A new hope had been brought to Vanderbilt, and the ceiling looked as high as ever. And even though the talent may have fallen a little short this season, in a strange way, it was more exciting that anything fans have seen in years.

I applaud Kevin Stallings and every student-athlete on the team for their work this year. When nearly the entire fan base was turning their back on the hardwood, these guys kept going after it, improving day by day until they eventually made it click. It may have taken nearly an entire season for this breakthrough to happen, but it sets the stage for some really exciting things in the future. And no, this is not some overreaction. I truly am that impressed with the mid-season shift seen in this squad.

Now then, there are still some thing to tend to before we get too excited. Most importantly is Kedren Johnson. A nagging right shoulder injury held the sophomore back from what would have been an even greater season, and problems really increased in the late season, when the point guard could not go a game without shoulder issues bothering him. Matter of fact, from what Kevin Stallings has told the media, it’s kind of incredible that he did anything at all in the conference tournament. We already have news on how this problem will be dealt with, as KJ is planning  on shoulder surgery over the offseason (Source). It will prohibit Kedren from participating in any summer workouts, but it is necessarily that this problem is dealt with as soon as possible.

As for recruiting, there are still some things to be taken care of there as well. Damian Jones (6’9″ 220) is seemingly the perfect addition to the team. Not only is he an athletic big man with all kinds of potential, but he is also, by all accounts, a great kid who puts a high priority on academics. Honestly, he seems almost like the perfect student-athletes for the college basketball game, as he will likely be in college for at least three years (which is fantastic considering his outstanding potential). Now that is not to say he we immediately be the star the moment he steps on campus, but there are some high hopes for this guy to develop and become a fantastic college basketball player in time. Only good things can be said about this guy.

However, there are still all kinds of questions surrounding this class. A decommitment from Darius Thompson (6’4″ 180) last month only made things look more foggy. Although, after seeing him play in person, losing him is not as bad as once thought. It is still a little disappointing because he was the only other commit in the class, but his play style was not quite what we needed from an incoming player. Not only would he be yet another point guard added to the mix (Johnson, Fuller, McClellan), but he is very passive point guard at that. He is a talented player without question, but he is the type to pass first (and second and third). Vanderbilt needs big men and scorers, which he is neither.

“We’re looking to add to this class, either through conventional (high school signee) or non-conventional (transfer) ways. It would fall under the category of the best player that we can find. We would certainly be pleased if it were a big guy, but there aren’t many of those guys to go around.”
- Kevin Stallings (Source)

We’ll have to wait and see if any additions will be made to the recruiting class. Right now all we know is that Damian Jones is going to be a Commodore, and that, my friends, is some good news. Hopefully he can blossom into the great player many are predicting, and this Vanderbilt team can take the next step closer towards greatness.

It’s great to be a Vanderbilt fan! Go ‘Dores!

SEC Tourney | Vanderbilt vs. Arkansas

 Posted by on March 14, 2013
Mar 142013
 

Not many games around the country, even in this week of conference tournaments, are quite like this second round matchup right here. In this all new Southeastern Conference landscape, the Commodores and Razorbacks were one of the many teams paired up for a two-game regular season series. And the two games could not have gone any differently. Vanderbilt fans would rather forget, if we could, the embarrassing 33-56 defeat suffered in Fayetteville in the early going of conference play. Not only was it a historically awful offensive night for the Commodores, it also put them in Arkansas records book for the lowest point total ever in conference play against the Razorbacks. Vanderbilt would get their revenge in Nashville though, as they dominated in a 67-49 win, holding the struggling Razorbacks to their lowest score all season long. Oddly enough, that win would start a the strongest stretch of games all season for the Commodores, as they were able to close the season winning six of their last nine games. And it would be that stretch of winning that brought VU out of playing in the first round of the conference tourney, setting up this second round matchup between these two teams.

After watching film of the two earlier meeting, the key to this game was quite easy to find. If Vanderbilt wants to advance in the tournament, then they must control the tempo. Arkansas will win a fast-paced game every time, we saw how that went in the early conference season. Now controlling this tempo, contrary to what you might think, is not decided much by what the Commodores do on offense, but rather how well the defense plays.

Strong halfcourt defense was the difference maker for this team in the closing parts of the season. A powerful defense became one of the few things that this inexperienced team actually had. And this was put on great display when the Razorbacks came to Memorial Gym, as the man-to-man defense of the Commodores punished the visiting offense time and time again. Guys like Dai-Jon Parker were flying all over the place, stifling the fast nature of the Arkansas offense and forcing many bad shots late in the shot clock. As we all know, bad shots often lead to misses, which then lead to Arkansas being unable to setup the dangerous press that cause Vanderbilt so much trouble earlier in the year. As the Commodore offense then had time to set up their series of high picks and backdoor cuts, the pace was easily dictated by Kedren Johnson and company.

Now things are not going to come as easy as they did at Memorial Gym of course, because even though this game may be played in Nashville, we know how that goes. Shoot, the majority of people at this game will be Kentucky fans. Still, Vanderbilt has grown quite a lot since that abysmal showing at Arkansas. Dai-Jon Parker, Sheldon Jeter, and Josh Henderson are playing on a complete other level from what we saw there. We have to hope that Kevin Stallings has his team ready for this second round matchup, and that the defense will show is similar fashion of what was seen near the end of the regular season. A disciplined game from Vanderbilt should win this game.

I expect a strong performance from the wings tonight. Rod Odom and Sheldon Jeter, in particular, fared quite well in the last meeting. Not only were they the leading scores, but they did well in all facets of the game. Rod was unusually efficient putting the ball on the floor and drawing fouls, which was one of the biggest differences of the game because Marshawn Powell (who torched Vandy in the previous meeting) was in such foul trouble (seriously, he had three fouls in about five minutes of play). It would be great if Rod could be that successful going to the basket once again. More important than anything though, as stated earlier, will be the play of everyone on defense. Guys like Dai-Jon Parker and Sheldon Jeter always seem to be the motor of this Commodore defense, and we need them giving their absolute best effort tonight.

See you at the game. Go ‘Dores!

Vanderbilt Host South Carolina

 Posted by on March 7, 2013
Mar 072013
 

The Commodores, coming off a rough loss in Gainesville, have one final regular season test awaiting them, as they host the Gamecocks of South Carolina this Saturday. It will be the second meetings between these two teams this season, and it’s likely that fans from both sides are hoping for a better performance than what was seen back in January. South Carolina will of course want to avenge their home loss (in which they shot an astonishingly low 23.7% from the field), but even Vanderbilt fans like myself are hoping for a stronger game from the Commodores. While Vandy may have gotten the win in Columbia, it was quite the ugly game, especially from star player Kedren Johnson, who shot a horrific 0-6 in the last meeting. Guards Kyle Fuller and Dai-Jon Parker were the only double digit scorers for VU in the previous game, and they played well enough to score 12 and 11 points respectfully.

Vanderbilt, as previously mentioned, is coming off a rough outing against the Gators on Wednesday night. However, even with the 26-point road loss still fresh in the minds of this young team, my expectation is that the Commodores should be able to shake it off rather well. Multiple final scores from this season have been a little tough to look at, but they have all been growing experiences for Kevin Stallings’ team. So, as Kedren Johnson and company take the court this weekend, expect them to be too bothered by the loss in Gainesville, especially under the safety of Memorial Gym. Vandy should be playing at the same level of the three-game streak we saw just before.

Still, that doesn’t mean Vanderbilt is just going to embarrass South Carolina this weekend. While our three-game streak may have included some flashes of brilliance, it also had some quite pitiful moments, such as the first half against Georgia. All things considered, Vanderbilt is certainly the better team here. The only major obstacle in the way of sure victory is that there is almost certainly going to be an extended period of time where the Commodores just will not be able to buy a basket, and that has been true for almost any game this season. And at that moment, whenever the cold streak may start, will be where the game is decided. If this young team keeps up their intensity, even when the baskets just aren’t falling, then they should walk away victorious.

A win this weekend would do wonders for the Commodores, who currently sit tied with Texas A&M for the tenth spot in the conference with a 7-10 record in SEC play. Getting out of this tenth spot would of course get Vanderbilt out of playing in the first round of the conference tournament, which has now change formats with the addition of Texas A&M and Missouri to the mix. The Aggies will be headed to Arkansas on Saturday for their own season finale.

Vanderbilt, for all their growing pains, has been a strangely fun team to watch this season. All these inexperienced players have sent us fans on a unexpectedly interesting roller coaster of ups and downs. I have come to accept this team for what it is, and even with games like the one seen yesterday, the future is bright in my eyes. Watching potential develop throughout the course of the season has been fun, and that will stay true regardless of what happens in these final few games of the season.

See you at Memorial Gym this Saturday. Go ‘Dores!

Next Step for Vanderbilt

 Posted by on January 30, 2013
Jan 302013
 

Kevin Stallings was tasked with basically starting over with his basketball team this season. And while this was more than partially his own fault, he has done a nice job with this squad regardless of what my fellow fans may think. Growing pain are going to be rough with a team this young, and there have certainly been multiple games that I would rather forget, but there is still hope if you ask me. As Stallings has spent this entire season separating the players from the pretenders, it appears that finally some real promising pieces are starting to emerge.

Nine players have gotten enough meaningful minutes to be considered legitimate options at this point in the season. All of these guys have started at least one game. One of those players, James Siakam, has been seen as a fringe option at times this season, and even he has gotten a starting opportunity now. Kevin Stallings has definitely given everybody a shot, and anyone who says otherwise is either out to get the coach or is too stubborn to realize that maybe AJ Astroth just isn’t ready for the college game yet (yeah, you guys know who you are).

Anyways, as was mentioned earlier, some guys really have emerged as difference makers. Kedren Johnson, Dai-Jon Parker, Kevin Bright, and Sheldon Jeter will all be great pieces moving forward. And this is fantastic news not just because it is three more solid players than many thought we had at the beginning of the season, but also because all of these guys are either a freshman or sophomore. I have high expectations for all of these guys to become great players in their time here at Vanderbilt.

Kyle Fuller, Rod Odom, and others will also be important as this team progresses onward. How we move forward with these players is critical. Zoomey, in particular, could flourish in the right role. He is a great backup point guard for this team, and his change of pace has really proved to be deadly at times this season. Not to mention his energy and emotion, which can really lead young teams like the one we have here in Nashville. Rod Odom is a different case. He just needs some kind of motivation, whether that comes from being sent to the bench or some other technique. I hate being such a big critic of Rod, because he honestly never catches a break, but some change needs to happen. Stallings has done surprisingly well motivating guys so far this season, hopefully he can pull that off with Rod sometime soon.

Josh Henderson, Shelby Moats, and James Siakam are all interesting cases as well. Hendo responded very well in his last outing, and in turn deserves the starting spot in my opinion. I will try to not get too excited though, as this was just one good game out of many, but hopefully he can play with the same passion in his next game. It has been discussed before, but his body langue can be awful at times, and yesterday was the first time we really saw that change. Hopefully he can keep that up. Moats is in a really interesting position. Overall, he has executed better than his peers at the five spot. His work in the pick and roll/pop has shown to be a bright spot at times for this team. However, he is kind of in the dog house at the moment and no one really knows what his play time will be like next time the team hits the court. His improvement from the beginning of the season is quite noticeable though, as he has grown into a serviceable big man after being given some serious minutes. Siakam, who just got his first start, still has a ways to go. However, that is partially on the coaches for failing to give him any consistent playing time to let him establish his role with the team. He probably earned some major points with the staff for his offensive rebound and score off the missed free throw in the final minutes yesterday though, which should help him to finally get consistent minutes. Siakam has plenty of potential and already has the confidence to take his game to a higher level; I am excited to see how he will do with a more defined role with the team.

Rotations should begin to look more and more clear as the season continues. Some quite winnable games are coming up, and it would be fantastic to see this young team go on a little run. Regardless of the bumps that may still be in the road though, just look back on some of the earlier games from the season and realize the strides that have been made with this group. Some help has finally started to emerge for Kedren Johnson, and the future of these young players is quite promising. And while we shouldn’t get too ahead of ourselves, you have to think that maybe Damian Jones is just the piece this team needs to put it all together. We’ll have to wait and see on that, but in the meantime hopefully we see the progress continue with this Vanderbilt team.

Go ‘Dores!

Kentucky @ Vanderbilt Preview

 Posted by on January 9, 2013
Jan 092013
 

Vanderbilt will host the defending national champion in their league action of the season tomorrow. Vandy was one of only two teams to defeat the Wildcats last season, however, as players and fans of both teams know, a lot has changed since that conference tournament matchup. Vanderbilt and Kentucky both come into this game with a completely different starting lineup, and the new stars of their respective teams will look to play with the same intensity that was seen in the three contest last season.

Kentucky will bring its usual collection of talented newcomers to Nashville. Star frosh Archie Goodwin, Nerlens Noel, Alex Poythress, and Willie Cauley-Stein make up yet another stellar class put together by John Calipari. It is not only freshman newcomers that make a difference for this team though, as transfer guards Ryan Harrow and Julius Mays are also a big pieces for the Wildcats this season. And then of course the sophomore sharpshooter Kyle Wiltjer will provide a lot of minutes and quick scoring ability off the bench.

Kentucky Backcourt

Ryan Harrow and Archie Goodwin will likely make up the starting backcourt. Harrow, a transfer from North Carolina State, came into this season with sky-high expectations. He has not been the dominant Calipari point guard we are so used to seeing, but he has significantly increased production in his last four games and does look much improved from his slow start to the season (which was staggered by illness and family matters). He has all the tools to become a great point guard, with fantastic quickness and athleticism. Kedren Johnson will need to keep the intensity on defense to make sure Harrow doesn’t run wild.

Archie Goodwin is an even more difficult defensive assignment. While the star freshman may not be a great shooter from the outside, his ability to attack the basket and finish through defenders is something special. Moreover, his pull up jump shot is enough to leave any defender weary of giving him any space. Goodwin has a confidence level that is through the roof, and is a major scoring threat at all times. Goodwin is also a very capable player at point guard, and is can find his teammates well at all times. However, he is known to get a little overconfident, and struggles taking care of the ball at times. Vanderbilt will need to take advantage of when this young star makes mistakes.

Julius Mays will make for basically the only reserve in the backcourt. He has spent time at both North Carolina State and Wright State in his long college career. Mays is a smart player, and his passing skills make him a valuable backup for the Wildcats. He has really struggled shooting the ball lately, but he makes a difference in so many areas that Calipari keeps him on the court. What would make for a real problem would be is Mays started hitting his shots, which would make for yet another threat in this Kentucky offense. Another possible guard who might see some time is walk-on Jarrod Polson, who made headlines with his big time play in the first game of the season against Maryland. Since then though, he has been a relative non-factor and it is unlikely he will play much at all if this game is close.

As always with Calipari teams, his guards are going to play hard throughout the game. Vandy will need a great performance from their backcourt to win this game, since getting an advantage in the paint is practically impossible. Kedren Johnson and Kyle Fuller will also need to extra care of the ball against a strong Kentucky press. I do think that the Commodores will perform decently defensively against the Wildcat backcourt. Kyle Fuller and Dai-Jon Parker are very skilled defenders and they should keep Kentucky guards from creating too much trouble.

Kentucky Frontcourt

Kentucky will likely start Alex Poythress, Willie Cauley-Stein, and Nerlens Noel in the frontcourt. It will likely be the most physically and athletically intimidating front that Vanderbilt will see all season long. All three of these freshman have great length and leaping ability that, of course, will make for a lot of dunks and some alley-oops against a Commodore frontcourt that just doesn’t matchup. Poythress, who we all remember from the recruiting battle, is an athletic freak and that loves to throw down whenever possible. A strong player, he is also capable of stepping out for a mid-range jumpshot.

Willie Cauley-Stein has an outstanding number of tools in his arsenal. A wide receiver in high school, he is very quick for a seven footer. Cauley-Stein creates a lot of problems for opposing teams with his work in the Kentucky full-court press; his versatility and hustle make for quite the impressive combination. Nerlens Noel, another freshman with outstanding length, is somewhat limited offensively but makes up for it as a rebounder and shot blocker. He is not Anthony Davis, but who is? He looked soft against the very talented Maryland center Alex Len, but Vandy does not have that type of player to push around Noel.

As for reserves, Kyle Wiltjer is sure to get a lot of minutes. He is a lot different from the frontcourt players listed above, but his shooting abilities really add another dimension to the Kentucky offense. Also, Archie Goodwin will occasionally slide over the three spot as well. Much like Kevin Bright, he is a great rebounder for his size and his serviceable there as well.

As you could probably tell earlier, I worry that Vanderbilt will struggle with the Kentucky frontcourt. It is just not a good matchup for the Commodores, who lack any threatening post presence. Kevin Bright could fare decently against Goodwin at the three, but the four and five spots are just not on the same level. If there was ever a day to get James Siakam some minutes, it would be tomorrow, where Vandy could make use of his athleticism.

Conclusion

Vanderbilt guards would need to dominate in order to win this game, and the shots would need to fall. Kentucky is not quite on the level they have been in recent years, but this Commodores team would need a near perfect performance to overcome their mismatches. Hopefully Memorial Magic can really show up tomorrow night.

Go ‘Dores!

Music City Bowl Preview

 Posted by on December 30, 2012
Dec 302012
 

Vanderbilt football has made a habit of rewriting history. So often this team will accomplish multiple feats in a game that were never before reached by its predecessors. And the coolest part about it, at least for Commodore fans like me, is that the fun is not over. Vandy still has one big goal to meet – capping this season with a bowl victory.

In between Vanderbilt and this final hurdle is ACC opponent North CarolinaState. Overall, it was a solid season for the Wolfpack. While the team had its ups and downs, a victory over then third-ranked Florida State was a strong enough highpoint to make their average 7-5 finish look a little brighter. And the rising draft stock of quarterback Mike Glennon in what is a weak draft class has also turned the spotlight onto a team that, for the most part, was not spectacular (by the way, expect a lot of draft scouts to be watching this one, which could mean a lot for players of both teams). Tennessee was the only common opponent between these two teams, an, as you well know, those games went in quite different directions. NC State struggled to slow down the Volunteers in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff and fell 21-35. Vandy, meanwhile, embarrassed Tennessee in historical fashion 41-18 in Nashville.

However, anyone who is putting a lot of stock on the outcomes of those two games, which have over a two and a half months difference between them, is foolish. NC State has changed quite a lot since that early season affair, and any scout done there (especially for the offense) has minimal value at best. Mike Glennon has had superb production since that first game debacle, and the Wolfpack did not even give freshman their now top running back Shadrach Thornton (who closed the season out with three-straight 100-yard performances) a carry until the third game of the season.

As a whole, this Woldpack offense has a lot of weapons. Glennon is a gunslinger capable of making huge passes on any down, and he has plenty of dangerous targets in the receiving corps. Quinton Payton (6-4, 210) is a huge target, and among the tops in the ACC in yards per catch. Tobias Palmer and Bryan Underwood may not have the size of their starting counterpart, but they hauled in a combined 16 receiving touchdowns over the season, and the options are far from ending there. At tight end, Mario Carter and Asa Watson are both 6-4 targets that are sure to get some looks, and running backs Shadrach Thornton and Tony Creecy are both very capabale recievers coming out of the backfield. Thornton has also been a work house running the ball, and the freshman closed out the season with three games of 20+ carries and over 100 yards.

One place where the NC State offense is vulnerable is their offensive line. Not only is their play questionable at times, but Mike Glennon also has a serious lack of mobility, and it caused him to suffer from 36 sacks this season (tied for 14th worst in the nation). Given the fantastic play that the Vanderbilt front seven had in the second half of the season, and the growing tendency for defensive coordinator Bob Shoop to blitz, this is one area where the Commodores could really take control of the game. So look out for top Commodore pass rushers like Chase Garnham, Walker May, and Caleb Azibuke to potential cause some havoc for the Wolfpack offense.

As for the NC State defense, it was easily one of the best in their conference and among the top three in interceptions, sacks, tackles for loss, and scoring defense. It is headlined by a fantastic defensive backfields with guys like David Amerson, Dontae Johnson, Earl Wolff, and Brandon Bishop. Amerson, as most probably remember, led the nation with 13 interceptions last season. He still is one of the better in the country, and quarterbacks always have to think twice about looking his way. A pair of fifth-year senior in Earl Wolff and Brandon Bishop will make for one of the better safety duos that Vanderbilt has seen all season. As stated earlier, NC State is also quite disruptive in their pass rush. No player is far greater than any other, but they get they tackles for loss by committee and they constantly rotate a strong group of guys in.

Overall, the Wolfpack are a sound defensive team with multiple strong pieces. Vanderbilt, however, has seen better multiple times this year and it will be nothing new to them. Maybe last year this defense would give me serious worries, but Jordan Rodgers has developed into too sound of a quarterback to make me scared of a good ACC defense when he has seen SEC defenses like Georgia and Florida multiple times in his career now. Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd are simply too talented of a duo to not breakthrough eventually, regardless of how talented the defense is. Until then, Rodgers is smart enough to be safe with the ball and put his team in a position to win the game. Oh, and as for Zac Stacy, he could be in a really productive day against what has been a pretty weak NC State rushing defense over the course of this season. And we all know how a game goes when the complete Commodore offense is clicking.

So, yes, my prediction is of course for a Commodore victory. Vandy was just too strong in the closing parts of the season to make me think they will give this final game up. It should be a great game though, and if my prediction is right it will be great day for Vanderbilt history. I hope to see you there.

Go ‘Dores!

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