Thursday, April 7, 2011

Vanderbilt schedules a road game with Ohio State in 2013; now let's load up on some cupcakes!

Surely you’ve heard by now that Vandy has scheduled an away game with Ohio State in 2013. I immediately remembered James Franklin the day he was hired saying that the SEC schedule was plenty tough and that he planned to line up non-conference games that would (1) give us a win and (2) build our confidence.

But the Tennessean is reporting that David Williams had scheduled this game himself before Robbie Caldwell got the boot. So Franklin was probably talking about not scheduling any national powers because he knew he had to PLAY OHIO STATE IN FREAKING COLUMBUS.

Actually, I’m not too upset about it. If we’d dropped Elon on this year’s schedule and suddenly added the Buckeyes, I’d be plenty ticked. But this year’s schedule is just about perfect for us. We’ve got an FCS team in Elon, a mid-major in Army and two decent programs in rebuilding mode in UConn and Wake, and three of them at home.

Next season we’re probably looking at home games with Western Kentucky and Wake, a road game at Northwestern and let’s hope a cupcake to be named later.

We’ve got two years to prepare for Ohio State, which will be our season opener. It’s just the kind of game that can get kids fired up and might even help us recruit. Look, we’re not talking about the OSU game ruining our chances at a national championship. The year we went to the Music City Bowl, we lost to stinking Duke at home on homecoming. If we win the games we have a chance of winning then Ohio State isn’t going to derail our bowl hopes. By the way, our other non-conference games in 2013 are likely at Wake Forest and at home against Northwestern and Austin Peay (now we’re cooking with gas!).

Here’s a look at our rough draft non-conference and rotating conference schedules for the next five seasons. Keep in mind that every year we play Ole Miss and the five other East teams – South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and Kentucky.

2011
SEC: At Alabama, Arkansas
Other: Elon, UConn, Army, at Wake Forest

2012
SEC: Alabama, at Auburn
Other: Western Kentucky (?), at Northwestern, Wake Forest, TBA

2013
SEC: at Miss State, Auburn
Other: at Ohio State, Northwestern, Austin Peay, at Wake Forest

2014
SEC: Miss State, at LSU
Other: at Northwestern, Wake Forest, TBA, TBA

2015
SEC: at Arkansas, LSU
Other: Western Kentucky?, MTSU, Memphis?, TBA

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Just how many Vanderbilt defensive backs are better than its second-, third- and fourth-best linebackers?

You may recall that on Saturday we commented on Dexter Daniels moving from linebacker to end and Al Owens moving from safety to outside linebacker, and then we analyzed all the moves we’ve been making in an effort to compensate for our lack of true linebackers.

It took awhile, but eventually Jeff Lockridge, whose full-time job is covering Vanderbilt sports, wrote a story for Monday’s Tennessean that quoted James Franklin saying this: “It doesn’t make sense (to stay in a 4-3) if your fifth and sixth DBs are better than your second, third or fourth linebacker. Let’s get our best guys on the field and put them in a position to be successful, and I think that will also allow us to be faster.”

That naturally leads people to say we should start running a 3-4 defense because that’s what Nick Saban does, and he’s pretty successful. But Saban also has access to a noseguard who’s a dozen cheeseburgers shy of 400 pounds, a stable of ends faster than our linebackers and larger than our defensive tackles, and a bunch of NFL linebackers.

So Franklin’s not talking about running an Alabama-style 3-4. He’s talking about getting our fastest, most athletic and best football players on the field even though they may not be card-carrying linebackers or NFL prospects at whatever position they happen to be playing. He’s talking about going to nickel and even dime packages, or maybe just moving some of our safeties to linebacker. I’ll tell you this: Sean Richardson would be a helacious outside linebacker.

Which brings us to this question: Who are the best guys in our back seven? I think Franklin is being generous to our linebackers when he says our fifth and sixth DBs may be better than our second, third or fourth linebackers. We may have at least 10 DBs better than our third or fourth linebackers.

In fact, I’ve got nine Commodore DBs – six corners and three safeties – ranked ahead of Vandy’s No. 2 linebacker; 11 DBs – six corners and five safeties – ranked ahead of our third and fourth backers; and 13 DBs – six corners and seven safeties – ranked ahead of our fifth backer.

Man, we’re stockpiling talent at safety! We’re not going to leave them all there, I tell you that.

Anyway, here’s how I rank the athletes in our back seven (you know I expect you to disagree and to tell me why):

1. Chris Marve, R-Sr, LB (6-0, 235): Our best defensive player and NFL prospect. All-American candidate. Enough said.

2. Casey Hayward, Sr, CB (6-0, 185): Our best defensive back and cover man; has started 24 straight games since his sophomore opener. Also an All-American candidate.

3. Sean Richardson, Sr, S (6-2, 215): A wicked hitter who sometimes struggles in coverage. Has 22 career starts at strong safety. An All-SEC candidate.

4. Eddie Foster, Jr, CB (5-10, 175): Arguably our fastest player; started every game last season plus four as a true freshman. Had a game-turning pick-six in the upset of Ole Miss.

5. Kenny Ladler, So, S (6-1, 205): The first early enrollee in modern VU history, he started nine games last season at free safety. Not a burner but always seems to get there in time.

6. Andre Hal, So, CB (6-0, 185): A talented cover man who started two games last season as a true freshman. He could easily be Hayward’s heir apparent as the Commodores’ shut-down corner.

7. Trey Wilson, Jr, CB (6-0, 190): Has played in every game since arriving on campus, with one start. Having a great spring and could leap-frog Foster and Hal on the depth chart.

8. Eric Samuels, Jr, S/CB (6-0, 200): One of the team’s best athletes, he’s practicing at safety and could crack the starting lineup at nickel back. Hasn’t come close to reaching his potential.

9. Steven Clarke, So, CB (5-10, 190): Overshadowed by his big-name teammates in the secondary of his Miami high school, Clarke surprised VU fans by getting big minutes against SEC opponents.

10. Derek King, Fr, CB/ATH (5-11, 195): A big-time recruit coveted by Auburn and Tennessee, King’s expected to make a splash as soon as he arrives on campus.

11. Chase Garnham, So, OLB (6-3, 225): A raw talent who was moved from safety his senior year in high school. Has great feet and speed to burn. Played special teams last season while slower, veteran linebackers got the defensive minutes.

12. Andre Simmons, So, S (6-0, 205): A great athlete and ferocious hitter who played mostly special teams last season and is raring to see more action.

13. Karl Butler, So, S (6-1, 205): Like Simmons, was impressive enough to play right away as a freshman but spent most of his time learning the ropes behind Richardson, Ladler and Fullam.

14. Archibald Barnes, R-Jr, OLB (6-4, 228): Came to campus as an athlete and considered at receiver and safety before sticking at LB. Listed as a preseason starter last year, but was replaced early on by slower senior Nate Campbell. A nice athlete, but may not be an SEC linebacker.

15. Tristan Strong, R-Jr, OLB (6-1, 235): Was a solid prospect with an offer from Auburn, but has battled injuries and like Barnes has the look of a versatile athlete instead of an everyday starter.

16. Larry Franklin, Fr, S (6-1, 212): A rock-solid prospect who could be a force at safety or, as the team’s biggest safety, move to linebacker. This guy could either redshirt or rocket up the depth chart in the preseason.

17. Javon Marshall, R-So, S (5-10, 195): The rare secondary prospect to redshirt, he battled injuries early as a redshirt frosh but eventually became a stalwart on special teams. A solid hitter with good speed.

18. DeAndre Jones, R-Jr, MLB (6-1, 235): A good-looking athlete who was a better prospect coming out of Memphis than Chris Marve. But he’s struggled with injuries and has been unable to crack a lackluster lineup. He could leap up the charts or disappear.

19. Jahmel McIntosh, Fr, S/CB (6-1, 200): Like Karl Butler last year, he’s athletic enough to play corner but big and strong enough to likely land at safety or warrant a future move to linebacker. If the receiving corps goes belly up, he could get a look there too this season.

20. Jimmy Stewart, Fr, OLB (6-3, 210): Franklin loves this kid, whom he stole from Maryland; he’s awfully light to play end right now and will get a shot in the preseason at outside backer.

21. Jacquese Kirk, Fr, CB/WR (6-0, 160): With his slight stature and with our gaping holes at receiver, he’ll probably wind up on offense. But there’s no doubt he could play corner if needed – don’t forget that Eddie Foster weighed 160 as a freshman starter.

22. Andrew Williamson, Fr, S (6-1, 195): Not as vaunted as the other recruits, but a big tough kid who may redshirt but could also surprise some people and eventually wind up at linebacker.

23. Blake Gowder, R-Fr (6-2, 225): An all-purpose athlete with fine ball skills, Gowder’s moving from H-back to backer. This may not be his last position change.

24. Al Owens, R-Jr, OLB (6-2, 215): Played in one game last season, while a host of true freshmen saw the field. The move to linebacker is his last chance to play, and his odds are long.

25. Andrew East, R-Fr, MLB (6-1, 225): Recruited as a longsnapper, East has never been expected to carry the team as a defensive player.

These are just our preseason rankings. It’ll be interesting as the season progresses to see who rises and who drops.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Vanderbilt: Desperately seeking linebackers

Vanderbilt needs linebackers.

Just look at our roster.

In the middle, we have one proven, beyond-a-shadow-of-a-doubt SEC linebacker: Chris Marve. You already knew that.

We have two junior outside backers who’ll be in the starting rotation: Archibald Barnes, a wiry athlete who came to Vandy as a candidate for wide receiver or safety, and Tristan Strong, who’s been projected in the starting rotation for two years but has battled injuries instead.

And we have a true sophomore with great speed who played on special teams last year and seems ready to join Barnes and Strong in the rotation: Chase Garnham.

Then there’s DeAndre Jones, a terrific athlete from Memphis and even better prospect than Marve who but for injuries and whatever reasons hasn’t caught on.

Those are the linebackers. We’re looking for more, and until we sign some linebackers in the class of 2012 we’re stuck with finding them on our current roster.

This spring, Franklin shipped three potential linebackers – Fitz Lassing, Marc Panu and Blake Southerland – to fullback, and replaced them at linebacker with Blake Gowder, a guy who came to school as a fullback. Franklin actually uses a fullback and needed to find some, but he also needed SEC-caliber athletes at linebacker and Gowder is the best candidate from that group.

Micah Powell started last season at linebacker but moved to running back last season to provide depth and will stay there because we’re short on numbers at RB but also because Powell wasn’t the answer at LB.

Dexter Daniels – along with Barnes, Jones and Strong one of the four linebackers from the signing class of 2008 – has just moved to defensive end because for the time being we’re short on numbers at DE (that’ll change by preseason camp) but also because for three seasons Daniels hasn’t been able to turn heads at backer. Franklin said Daniels came to school at 247 and could put on another 15 pounds. Daniels came to school at 215 and doesn’t strike me as anything close to an SEC end. This is about giving a guy a chance late in his career because he’s not catching on.

Speaking of which, Al Owens has moved from safety to linebacker, creating the illusion that he’s getting to compete for playing time late in his career. Really, I think Franklin’s deciding now which of the redshirt juniors is coming back for a fifth year. Owens and Daniels won’t be, and their scholarships will go to some SEC caliber linebackers or other athletes.

We really, really need some linebackers in the next class, starting with a guy in the middle to replace Marve. Until we get them, we’ll keep shuttling guys around and fantasizing about moving athletes like Wesley Tate, Lafonte Thourogood, and nearly everyone of our safeties – Kenny Ladler, Sean Richardson, Andre Simmons, Karl Butler and incoming freshmen Larry Franklin, Andrew Williamson and Jahmel McIntosh – to linebacker.

Oh, and Wesley Tate’s a keeper at running back. He’s having a great spring and the coaches are talking about him as an every-down running back. Apparently, the foot’s healed.

As far as other guys moving around, Eric Samuels keeps moving because he’s one of the best athletes on the team and is going to play somewhere in the secondary.

For now, Franklin is playing McGyver, making a weapon with duct tape, drinking straws and paper clips because, well, he doesn't happen to have a bazooka with him right now.