Thursday, October 7, 2010

Wish list for Vanderbilt's game with Eastern Michigan

Vandy's a 23.5-point favorite in this one. So we're better than EMU and we should win handily, right? So what do we hope to accomplish?

1. Win the game. Caldwell needs to play to win. How many times have we seen Vandy play not to lose against the likes of the Citadel or Army or another one of the rare teams we're supposed to beat. On offense, let's come out on every drive like we're down three points and let's take the ball down the field and score. It would be bitterly disappointing to me and many other fans if we took a 10-0 lead and sat on it.

2. Play our game, then work on our game. Our strength: Warren Norman and Zac Stacy and even Tate and Reeves. Let's get the ball to those guys. Our weakness: Our passing game. Let's get the game under control and then let's start working on the passing game.

3. Play Charlie Goro. Yes, Jared Funk has faithfully practiced and held a clipboard for five years and has an NFL arm and all that. He's also thrown one pass for one of the worst offenses in college football. Time to move on. If we have a handy lead in the third quarter and want to give Funk a series, great. But let's get Charlie some work. Look what Randy Edsell's been doing with his QBs at UConn. Before the Vandy game, he replaced his No. 1 quarterback, a senior, with his No. 3 quarterback, a junior. But his No. 2 quarterback, a redshirt freshman, kept his job as the top backup.

4. Play all three freshman receivers at the same time. Get Chris Boyd into the game and let him run with Krause and Matthews and get those guys some catches.

5. Get James Kittredge and Logan Stewart some snaps. We're going to need more than six regular offensive linemen during our stretch run in the SEC. Those guys shouldn't see their first significant action against Florida or Arkansas. Let's get them some PT now.

6. Sit Zac and Warren. If we get a lead, let's go with Kennard Reeves and Wesley Tate. Reeves is a tough runner and is one guy who deserves to tote the rock. And let's show off some of Wes' versatility. Isn't he more than just a short yardage back?

Go Dores.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good Post
Lots and lots of trial and error as well as transition. The pieces have to start clicking and soon.

Anonymous said...

Dimon, I'll add one more... Let's attempt some LONG FGs if/when the opportunity exists. Let's open up all phases of our game and see what R. Fowler can do. Give C. Spear a shot as well. If we realistically plan to compete this year and next, we need to demonstrate competence in this area and build competition and confidence in all of our players.

DIMON KENDRICK-HOLMES said...

Yeah, I like the idea about long FGs, especially from Spear who supposedly has the big-time leg. Also, would like to see us try out some new kids at punt returner. Do we really want somebody as valuable as Zac Stacy out there fielding punts, especially when he refuses to call for a fair catch? I'd love to see a true freshman like Andre Hal or Jonathan Krause or even Andre Simmons or Steven Clarke get a shot at punt returning.

Anonymous said...

I couldn't agree more...let's hope we use this game as a breakout opportunity for some of our younger 'underexposed' guys.

Anonymous said...

Dimon, good post. I too would love to see Krause back returning punts with his speed. Any player NOT being red-shirted should play in this game. This is the last tune-up before a stretch of games that will dictate a good or awful season. Hopefully the coaching staff prepared the team well this week. Not sure about a 24 point spread though. Hopefully Larry Smith can get his timing down with the wr's because next week at uga, there will be no more time for experimenting. In these next several games, Caldwell needs to show the Vandy faithful that the team can win under his leadership. Go Does !

Anonymous said...

Dimon, seems like we are basically going with last season's wr's so far this season even though they were widely considered the worse group in the SEC last year. We recruited 4 highly touted guys at wr; krause is the only one getting minimum passes thrown his way; hard to imagine that Mathews does not have a catch yet; and Boyd has not even played. Looks like Pruit is red-shirting. Are we to believe that our freshman wr's can't crack into this line-up of wr's ? At 6'4 each, its really hard to believe that Mathews and Boyd have not been integrated into this offense.

Unknown said...

Clemson changed all three of their receivers this week because of lack of production. There is no apparent reason for us not to.

Anonymous said...

Vandy so far seems to stink less than EMU. VU ranks higher in most statistical categories. But, the Eagles edge VU in total offense (93 v. 104) and hung in there with not so terrible Miami, OH and Army. Just wonder if we're capable of blowing these guys out by 3+ TDs. I hope we get our wish list, but I also fear we may have to play EMU 3+ tough quarters before we comfortably separate.

Vandygal78 said...

All great ideas. Hope the Dores try out every combination of plays and players. Hope the defense gets back on track; that was the most disappointing aspect of the UCONN game. Still don't understand what happened there. Go Dores!

even more anonymous said...

No matter how many points we beat 'em by, we'll still be in 3rd place in the SEC East. And we still have a shot at a 6-6 finish.