Today we took down our poll asking which freshman receiver has the best chance to start for the Commodores in 2010. Bradley Roby was the runaway winner with 70 percent of the vote, followed by Chris Boyd and Jonathan Krause in a very distant second and third.
Of course, Roby recently switched his verbal commitment from Vandy to Ohio State, which makes the poll obsolete.
So we've got a new poll: By the end of the 2010 season, which wide receivers will have started for Vanderbilt? Obviously, you can vote for multiple players.
Here are the possibilities:
• Returning starters John Cole, a redshirt sophomore, and Udom Umoh, a redshirt junior.
• Redshirt junior utility man Jamie Graham, who's a natural at defensive back, but who can forget those end zone jump-ball grabs in 2008?
• Redshirt junior Tray Herndon and redshirt senior Turner Wimberly, who saw quite a bit of playing time in 2009 but didn't make much of a splash.
• Sophomore Brady Brown, a blue-chipper who played last season but didn't catch a pass, and redshirt sophomore Akeem Dunham, a gifted athlete who's still learning to play football. If you're wondering, Collin Ashley is no longer listed on the roster and has reportedly left school.
• Walk-ons Charlie Byrge and Jameson Sackey, who are both redshirt sophomores.
• True freshmen Chris Boyd, Trent Pruitt, Jonathan Krause and Jordan Matthews. A fifth, athlete Jerrell Priester, sometimes enters conversations about receivers but is listed as a running back and could end up as a corner.
Let me know if I'm leaving anybody out or if you think somebody else should be lining up at receiver — like Golden Tate's little brother Wesley or another of the running backs or maybe a defensive back such as Eric Samuels or Eddie Foster.
Showing posts with label vanderbilt football blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vanderbilt football blog. Show all posts
Monday, January 18, 2010
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Bobby Johnson answers questions about next season
I’m signing off for a while, but wanted to leave you with some Bobby Johnson quotes from last week’s call-in show. He did a good job explaining why the Commodores struggled this year. Some people scoff at this kind of thing, but I really do believe we’re on the right track and just had one of those years in which all the stars line up and, well, the world explodes and you’re screwed.
IS HE GOING TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE COACHING STAFF? (TED CAIN! TED CAIN! TED CAIN!): Get a load of this answer: “Do you make a change because you weren’t very good or do you try to find out why you weren’t very good and correct it? If it’s uncorrectable then you want to make a change. And if you can correct it, let’s get back to work.” What do you want to bet that this entire staff will be getting back to work.
WHY DON’T WE SCRAP THE NO-HUDDLE OFFENSE AND RETURN TO LAST YEAR’S OFFENSE? Johnson asserts that outside of the no-huddle, which was employed to confuse defenses, the offense is basically the same, with one back, the same pass routes and zone reads.
WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THE OFFENSE? “The lack of playmakers at the wide receiver position,” Johnson says, citing the losses of Jeffers-Harris and Wheeler. “The young guys have not been able to make up that slack,” he says. He says that John Cole is “getting a lot better,” Udom Umoh is “gonna be a good player,” and Collin Ashley is “getting better.”
WHAT HAPPENED TO WESLEY TATE — YOU KNOW, GOLDEN'S LITTLE BROTHER? “Warren and Zac just got a quicker start,” Johnson says, adding that after it was clear Tate would redshirt he moved over to the scout team and did “a fantastic job.” “Four years of Wesley Tate after a year’s experience will be much better for the program and for Wesley.” Norman and Stacy are talented backs who can do lots of things, but Tate may end up being the better pure SEC tailback. He’s a big strong guy with all the tools.
WHO ARE OUR TOP PLAYERS GOING INTO NEXT SEASON? Two words: “Larry Smith,” Johnson says. “I’m telling y’all, he’s gonna be a really good quarterback for us.” Other players: Defensive backs Sean Richardson, Casey Richardson and Eddie Foster, linebacker Chris Marve, and defensive linemen T.J. Greenstone, Adam Smotherman, Tim Fugger and Theron Kadri. (We get it, the defense is our strength.) On offense, running backs Zac Stacy and Warren Norman, of course, and also redshirt freshman tailback Wesley Tate. He also throws in tackle James Williams, whose loss this season hurt us more than anybody seems to realize, and redshirt freshman lineman Wesley Johnson.
SPEAKING OF THE OFFENSIVE LINE, WHO’S KEY FOR US NEXT YEAR? In addition to Williams and Johnson, the coach mentions Ryan Seymour, who started against Florida at left tackle and played well, and Caleb Welchans. He also mentions redshirt freshman Mylon Brown. He doesn’t mention current starters Reilly Lauer and Kyle Fischer, or rising fifth-year senior Joey Bailey, who’s played in every game.
IS HE GOING TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE COACHING STAFF? (TED CAIN! TED CAIN! TED CAIN!): Get a load of this answer: “Do you make a change because you weren’t very good or do you try to find out why you weren’t very good and correct it? If it’s uncorrectable then you want to make a change. And if you can correct it, let’s get back to work.” What do you want to bet that this entire staff will be getting back to work.
WHY DON’T WE SCRAP THE NO-HUDDLE OFFENSE AND RETURN TO LAST YEAR’S OFFENSE? Johnson asserts that outside of the no-huddle, which was employed to confuse defenses, the offense is basically the same, with one back, the same pass routes and zone reads.
WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THE OFFENSE? “The lack of playmakers at the wide receiver position,” Johnson says, citing the losses of Jeffers-Harris and Wheeler. “The young guys have not been able to make up that slack,” he says. He says that John Cole is “getting a lot better,” Udom Umoh is “gonna be a good player,” and Collin Ashley is “getting better.”
WHAT HAPPENED TO WESLEY TATE — YOU KNOW, GOLDEN'S LITTLE BROTHER? “Warren and Zac just got a quicker start,” Johnson says, adding that after it was clear Tate would redshirt he moved over to the scout team and did “a fantastic job.” “Four years of Wesley Tate after a year’s experience will be much better for the program and for Wesley.” Norman and Stacy are talented backs who can do lots of things, but Tate may end up being the better pure SEC tailback. He’s a big strong guy with all the tools.
WHO ARE OUR TOP PLAYERS GOING INTO NEXT SEASON? Two words: “Larry Smith,” Johnson says. “I’m telling y’all, he’s gonna be a really good quarterback for us.” Other players: Defensive backs Sean Richardson, Casey Richardson and Eddie Foster, linebacker Chris Marve, and defensive linemen T.J. Greenstone, Adam Smotherman, Tim Fugger and Theron Kadri. (We get it, the defense is our strength.) On offense, running backs Zac Stacy and Warren Norman, of course, and also redshirt freshman tailback Wesley Tate. He also throws in tackle James Williams, whose loss this season hurt us more than anybody seems to realize, and redshirt freshman lineman Wesley Johnson.
SPEAKING OF THE OFFENSIVE LINE, WHO’S KEY FOR US NEXT YEAR? In addition to Williams and Johnson, the coach mentions Ryan Seymour, who started against Florida at left tackle and played well, and Caleb Welchans. He also mentions redshirt freshman Mylon Brown. He doesn’t mention current starters Reilly Lauer and Kyle Fischer, or rising fifth-year senior Joey Bailey, who’s played in every game.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Isn't it nice...
...that we can create warm, special moments for deserving Tennessee seniors like Wes Brown?
What a way to end the season, huh?
What a way to end the season, huh?
Dear Bradley Roby...
The Commodore receivers are awful.
I'm thinking especially of our one guy who's supposed to be a deep threat, Udom Umoh. He just took a beautiful pass from Mac and... tried to tip it in the hands of a Vol.
Bradley, you've made a verbal commitment to Vandy, and we've told you can play wide receiver. Heck, we've probably guaranteed that you'll be a starter as a true freshman.
Now Auburn wants you too, but they want you to play cornerback. Sure, you'd be a fine cornerback.
But wouldn't you like to step on an SEC campus and be the best receiver on the team?
Sure you would.
I'm thinking especially of our one guy who's supposed to be a deep threat, Udom Umoh. He just took a beautiful pass from Mac and... tried to tip it in the hands of a Vol.
Bradley, you've made a verbal commitment to Vandy, and we've told you can play wide receiver. Heck, we've probably guaranteed that you'll be a starter as a true freshman.
Now Auburn wants you too, but they want you to play cornerback. Sure, you'd be a fine cornerback.
But wouldn't you like to step on an SEC campus and be the best receiver on the team?
Sure you would.
Think we can score in the second half?
We scored on a long drive in the second quarter in Knoxville after Zac Stacy fielded a punt on the goal line.
I love the idea of Zac returning punts instead of Alex Washington, who's been awful in that role this season. Wonder if he's ever done it before?
Speaking of freshman running backs, Warren Norman broke Hershel Walker's record for all-purpose yards for a freshman.
Oh, and Ryan van Rensburg caught a touchdown pass.
Those geniuses at ESPNU just informed me that Vandy will NOT be going to a bowl this season.
Dang it.
I love the idea of Zac returning punts instead of Alex Washington, who's been awful in that role this season. Wonder if he's ever done it before?
Speaking of freshman running backs, Warren Norman broke Hershel Walker's record for all-purpose yards for a freshman.
Oh, and Ryan van Rensburg caught a touchdown pass.
Those geniuses at ESPNU just informed me that Vandy will NOT be going to a bowl this season.
Dang it.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Moral Victory Predictions for this week's SEC games
No earth-shaking matchups this weekend, but an interesting game here and there. Auburn and SC taking the week off to gear up for Bama and Clemson, respectively.
Here we go with the picks:
Miss State (4-6) at Arkansas (6-4): The Bulldogs are still maintaining hopes of bowl eligibility. Dan Mullen's doing a fine job this year, but the difference in this game will be the quarterbacks — Arkansas has one and the Bulldogs don't. Razorbacks, 27-16.
UTC (who cares?) at Alabama (10-0): People in Alabama kill moccasins with shotguns. That's pretty much what'll happen in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. Crimson Tide, 49-0.
Florida (10-0) at Florida International (who cares?): The Gators attack Roary the Panther. Roary? Gators, 38-3.
LSU (8-2) at Ole Miss (7-3): LSU's struggling and Ole Miss is playing well at home. Everybody's talking about Snead, but the Rebels' real hero is its awesome defensive line, which will make it a long day for whoever's playing quarterback for the Tigers. Rebels, 24-20.
Vanderbilt (who cares?) at Tennessee (5-5): The Commodores are starting a cheerleader at cornerback and the guy who pours the Gatorade at linebacker. And they're holding a contest in the parking lot to select one lucky tailgater to start at wide receiver. Nevertheless, expect this one as usual to be closer than the 18 point spread. Volunteers, 21-10.
Kentucky (6-4) at Georgia (6-4): The person who coordinates Vanderbilt's schedule needs to swap notes with the person who coordinates Kentucky's schedule. The Wildcats are the 11th best team in the SEC (by virtue of their loss to Miss State), but are headed to yet another bowl with only two conference victories. This is a tough, well-coached team, though, and it's not beyond the realm of possibility that the Cats could win in Athens and then take care of the Vols in Lexington for an impressive (for them) four SEC wins. But the Dawgs are trying to forget about their matchup next week with Georgia Tech, and they should be ready. Bulldogs, 17-14.
Here we go with the picks:
Miss State (4-6) at Arkansas (6-4): The Bulldogs are still maintaining hopes of bowl eligibility. Dan Mullen's doing a fine job this year, but the difference in this game will be the quarterbacks — Arkansas has one and the Bulldogs don't. Razorbacks, 27-16.
UTC (who cares?) at Alabama (10-0): People in Alabama kill moccasins with shotguns. That's pretty much what'll happen in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. Crimson Tide, 49-0.
Florida (10-0) at Florida International (who cares?): The Gators attack Roary the Panther. Roary? Gators, 38-3.
LSU (8-2) at Ole Miss (7-3): LSU's struggling and Ole Miss is playing well at home. Everybody's talking about Snead, but the Rebels' real hero is its awesome defensive line, which will make it a long day for whoever's playing quarterback for the Tigers. Rebels, 24-20.
Vanderbilt (who cares?) at Tennessee (5-5): The Commodores are starting a cheerleader at cornerback and the guy who pours the Gatorade at linebacker. And they're holding a contest in the parking lot to select one lucky tailgater to start at wide receiver. Nevertheless, expect this one as usual to be closer than the 18 point spread. Volunteers, 21-10.
Kentucky (6-4) at Georgia (6-4): The person who coordinates Vanderbilt's schedule needs to swap notes with the person who coordinates Kentucky's schedule. The Wildcats are the 11th best team in the SEC (by virtue of their loss to Miss State), but are headed to yet another bowl with only two conference victories. This is a tough, well-coached team, though, and it's not beyond the realm of possibility that the Cats could win in Athens and then take care of the Vols in Lexington for an impressive (for them) four SEC wins. But the Dawgs are trying to forget about their matchup next week with Georgia Tech, and they should be ready. Bulldogs, 17-14.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
2009 Vandy football slogan: Have fun, expect to get injured... but expect to be much better next season
Go to Vandy football message boards, and you'll read angry missives about how our lousy quarterbacks, lousy receivers, lousy offensive line, lousy head coach and especially lousy offensive coordinator led to the demise of this year's team.
Give me a break. And listen up, people: WE LOST TOO MANY KEY PLAYERS THIS SEASON.
Oklahoma was supposed to lose zero games this season and compete for the national championship. The Sooners lost quarterback Sam Bradford and have lost four games — four more than expected.
Vandy was supposed to lose, say, five or six games this season. We've lost an unbelievable number of players, and we're going to lose probably 10 games — four more than expected.
We've played almost the entire season without SEVEN starters (five of them on offense) and four key backups, and another EIGHT starters (six of them on offense) have missed at least one game. In fact, Bradley Vierling was the only preseason offensive starter not to miss a game this season. (That's if, like me, you'd projected Wheeler, Jeffers-Harris and Cole to start at receiver.)
Now we're facing Tennessee without NFL cornerback prospect Myron Lewis and probably linebacker Patrick Benoist.
Here's another thing: Even with our improved depth, we can't reload as quickly as other teams when we lose key players.
Consider this partial list of losses:
MISSED ALL OR MOST OF THE SEASON:
• Terrance Jeffers-Harris, starting receiver: Academically ineligible
• Justin Wheeler, starting receiver: Career-ending knee injury
• James Williams, starting offensive tackle: Broken leg
• Jared Hawkins, starting running back: Foot injury
• Austin Monahan, starting tight end: Knee injury
• Steven Stone, starting defensive end: Broken foot
• Ryan Hamilton, starting safety: Torn pectoral muscle
• Nate Campbell, backup linebacker: Dismissed from team
• Tristan Strong, backup linebacker: Knee injury
• Alan Strong, backup cornerback: Transferred to TSU
• Jay Fullam, backup safety: Injured hand
MISSED AT LEAST ONE GAME:
• Thomas Welch, starting offensive tackle: Injury
• John Cole, starting wide receiver: Broken hand
• Ryan Custer, starting guard: Injury
• Jamie Graham, starting defensive back/receiver: Concussion
• Larry Smith, starting quarterback: Torn hamstring
• Zac Stacy, starting running back: Ankle injury
• Sean Richardson, starting safety: Injured hand
• Myron Lewis, starting cornerback: Knee injury
• Eric Samuels, backup defensive back: Injury and a possible team issue
For the love of Dan McGugin, let's stop talking about who should replace Bobby Johnson. This is not "Same Old Vandy." If Johnson had experienced this kind of attrition his first season, he'd have been losing games 70-0 by the end of the season.
Sure, this has been a nightmarish season because of all the players we've lost. But the fact that we can still hang tough with bowl-bound teams like South Carolina, Florida and Kentucky is a testament to our depth, especially our defensive depth.
And consider this: Because of this one bad season, we'll be deeper and more experienced than ever next season.
Give me a break. And listen up, people: WE LOST TOO MANY KEY PLAYERS THIS SEASON.
Oklahoma was supposed to lose zero games this season and compete for the national championship. The Sooners lost quarterback Sam Bradford and have lost four games — four more than expected.
Vandy was supposed to lose, say, five or six games this season. We've lost an unbelievable number of players, and we're going to lose probably 10 games — four more than expected.
We've played almost the entire season without SEVEN starters (five of them on offense) and four key backups, and another EIGHT starters (six of them on offense) have missed at least one game. In fact, Bradley Vierling was the only preseason offensive starter not to miss a game this season. (That's if, like me, you'd projected Wheeler, Jeffers-Harris and Cole to start at receiver.)
Now we're facing Tennessee without NFL cornerback prospect Myron Lewis and probably linebacker Patrick Benoist.
Here's another thing: Even with our improved depth, we can't reload as quickly as other teams when we lose key players.
Consider this partial list of losses:
MISSED ALL OR MOST OF THE SEASON:
• Terrance Jeffers-Harris, starting receiver: Academically ineligible
• Justin Wheeler, starting receiver: Career-ending knee injury
• James Williams, starting offensive tackle: Broken leg
• Jared Hawkins, starting running back: Foot injury
• Austin Monahan, starting tight end: Knee injury
• Steven Stone, starting defensive end: Broken foot
• Ryan Hamilton, starting safety: Torn pectoral muscle
• Nate Campbell, backup linebacker: Dismissed from team
• Tristan Strong, backup linebacker: Knee injury
• Alan Strong, backup cornerback: Transferred to TSU
• Jay Fullam, backup safety: Injured hand
MISSED AT LEAST ONE GAME:
• Thomas Welch, starting offensive tackle: Injury
• John Cole, starting wide receiver: Broken hand
• Ryan Custer, starting guard: Injury
• Jamie Graham, starting defensive back/receiver: Concussion
• Larry Smith, starting quarterback: Torn hamstring
• Zac Stacy, starting running back: Ankle injury
• Sean Richardson, starting safety: Injured hand
• Myron Lewis, starting cornerback: Knee injury
• Eric Samuels, backup defensive back: Injury and a possible team issue
For the love of Dan McGugin, let's stop talking about who should replace Bobby Johnson. This is not "Same Old Vandy." If Johnson had experienced this kind of attrition his first season, he'd have been losing games 70-0 by the end of the season.
Sure, this has been a nightmarish season because of all the players we've lost. But the fact that we can still hang tough with bowl-bound teams like South Carolina, Florida and Kentucky is a testament to our depth, especially our defensive depth.
And consider this: Because of this one bad season, we'll be deeper and more experienced than ever next season.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Moral Victory! SEC Power Ratings: Ole Miss makes a move, Vandy stuck at bottom
Alabama and Florida remain the top two teams in the nation, and will battle for the right to play Texas, barring any crazy upsets. Vandy sealed its position in the cellar last weekend, while Ole Miss made the biggest jump. Here we go:
1. ALABAMA: 10-0 (7-0)
Stock: Holding steady
Remaining games: UTC, at Auburn, vs. Florida (SEC Championship)
Best case: 13-0 (9-0); BCS National Championship Game
Worst case: 11-2 (7-2); Sugar Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 12-1 (8-1); Sugar Bowl
2. FLORIDA: 10-0 (8-0)
Stock: Holding steady
Remaining games: Florida International, Florida State, vs. Alabama
Best case: 13-0 (9-0); BCS National Championship Game
Worst case: 11-2 (11-2); Sugar Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 13-0 (9-0); BCS National Championship Game
3. LSU: 7-2 (4-2)
Stock: Holding steady, but poised for a collapse
Remaining games: at Ole Miss, Arkansas
Best case: 10-2 (6-2); Capital One Bowl
Worst case: 8-4 (4-4); Independence Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 9-4 (4-4); Chick-Fil-A Bowl
4. GEORGIA: 6-4 (4-3)
Stock: Rising from No. 5
Remaining games: Kentucky, at Ga Tech
Best case: 8-4 (5-3); Capital One Bowl
Worst case: 6-6 (4-4); Independence Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 7-5 (5-3); Outback Bowl
5. OLE MISS: 7-3 (3-3)
Stock: Way up, rising from No. 8
Remaining games: LSU, at Miss State
Best case: 9-3 (5-3); Capital One Bowl
Worst case: 7-5 (3-5); Independence Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 9-3 (5-3); Capital One Bowl
6. TENNESSEE: 5-5 (2-4)
Stock: Dropping from No. 6
Remaining games: Vanderbilt, at Kentucky
Best case: 7-5 (4-4); Outback or Cotton Bowl
Worst case: 5-7 (2-6); No bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 7-5 (4-4); Music City Bowl
7. ARKANSAS: 6-4 (2-4)
Stock: Holding steady (though dropping from No. 6)
Remaining games: Miss State, at LSU
Best case: 8-4 (4-4); Cotton Bowl
Worst case: 6-6 (2-6); no bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 8-4 (4-4); Cotton Bowl
8. AUBURN: 7-4 (3-4)
Stock: Dropping from No. 7
Remaining games: Alabama (after bye week)
Best case: 8-4 (4-4); Capital One Bowl
Worst case: 7-5 (3-5); Independence Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 7-5 (3-5); Liberty Bowl
9. S CAROLINA: 6-5 (3-5)
Remaining games: Clemson (after bye week)
Best case: 7-5 (3-5); Chick-Fil-A Bowl
Worst case: 6-6 (3-5); Papajohns.com Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 6-6 (3-5); Independence Bowl
10. MISS STATE: 4-6 (2-4)
Stock: Holding steady
Remaining games: at Arkansas, Ole Miss
Best case: 6-6 (4-4); Liberty Bowl
Worst case: 4-8 (2-6); no bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 4-8 (2-6); no bowl
11. KENTUCKY: 6-4 (2-4)
Stock: Holding steady
Remaining games: at Georgia, Tennessee
Best case: 8-4 (4-4); Outback Bowl
Worst case: 6-6 (2-6); Papajohns.com Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 6-6 (2-6); Papajohns.com Bowl
12. VANDERBILT: 2-9 (0-7)
Stock: Stuck at the bottom
Remaining games: at Tennessee
Best case: 3-9 (1-7)
Worst case: 2-10 (0-8)
Moral Victory! Prediction: 2-10 (0-8)
1. ALABAMA: 10-0 (7-0)
Stock: Holding steady
Remaining games: UTC, at Auburn, vs. Florida (SEC Championship)
Best case: 13-0 (9-0); BCS National Championship Game
Worst case: 11-2 (7-2); Sugar Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 12-1 (8-1); Sugar Bowl
2. FLORIDA: 10-0 (8-0)
Stock: Holding steady
Remaining games: Florida International, Florida State, vs. Alabama
Best case: 13-0 (9-0); BCS National Championship Game
Worst case: 11-2 (11-2); Sugar Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 13-0 (9-0); BCS National Championship Game
3. LSU: 7-2 (4-2)
Stock: Holding steady, but poised for a collapse
Remaining games: at Ole Miss, Arkansas
Best case: 10-2 (6-2); Capital One Bowl
Worst case: 8-4 (4-4); Independence Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 9-4 (4-4); Chick-Fil-A Bowl
4. GEORGIA: 6-4 (4-3)
Stock: Rising from No. 5
Remaining games: Kentucky, at Ga Tech
Best case: 8-4 (5-3); Capital One Bowl
Worst case: 6-6 (4-4); Independence Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 7-5 (5-3); Outback Bowl
5. OLE MISS: 7-3 (3-3)
Stock: Way up, rising from No. 8
Remaining games: LSU, at Miss State
Best case: 9-3 (5-3); Capital One Bowl
Worst case: 7-5 (3-5); Independence Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 9-3 (5-3); Capital One Bowl
6. TENNESSEE: 5-5 (2-4)
Stock: Dropping from No. 6
Remaining games: Vanderbilt, at Kentucky
Best case: 7-5 (4-4); Outback or Cotton Bowl
Worst case: 5-7 (2-6); No bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 7-5 (4-4); Music City Bowl
7. ARKANSAS: 6-4 (2-4)
Stock: Holding steady (though dropping from No. 6)
Remaining games: Miss State, at LSU
Best case: 8-4 (4-4); Cotton Bowl
Worst case: 6-6 (2-6); no bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 8-4 (4-4); Cotton Bowl
8. AUBURN: 7-4 (3-4)
Stock: Dropping from No. 7
Remaining games: Alabama (after bye week)
Best case: 8-4 (4-4); Capital One Bowl
Worst case: 7-5 (3-5); Independence Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 7-5 (3-5); Liberty Bowl
9. S CAROLINA: 6-5 (3-5)
Remaining games: Clemson (after bye week)
Best case: 7-5 (3-5); Chick-Fil-A Bowl
Worst case: 6-6 (3-5); Papajohns.com Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 6-6 (3-5); Independence Bowl
10. MISS STATE: 4-6 (2-4)
Stock: Holding steady
Remaining games: at Arkansas, Ole Miss
Best case: 6-6 (4-4); Liberty Bowl
Worst case: 4-8 (2-6); no bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 4-8 (2-6); no bowl
11. KENTUCKY: 6-4 (2-4)
Stock: Holding steady
Remaining games: at Georgia, Tennessee
Best case: 8-4 (4-4); Outback Bowl
Worst case: 6-6 (2-6); Papajohns.com Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 6-6 (2-6); Papajohns.com Bowl
12. VANDERBILT: 2-9 (0-7)
Stock: Stuck at the bottom
Remaining games: at Tennessee
Best case: 3-9 (1-7)
Worst case: 2-10 (0-8)
Moral Victory! Prediction: 2-10 (0-8)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Top Vandy recruit Dudchock jumps ship to Stanford
Lots of people have worried about the effect Vandy's lousy season would have on all those outstanding verbal commitments.
Well, espn.com is reporting that Davis Dudchock, a four-star tight end from Alabama, has switched his commitment from Vanderbilt to Stanford, a top academic school whose gridiron success is making Commodore fans even more restless these days.
No worry, though. The Commodores quickly replaced him with... Blake Gowder, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound FULLBACK who had offers from Air Force, Samford, Georgia State and Murray State.
And we don't even use a fullback in our system. And we've already got a former three-star fullback, redshirt sophomore Ryan van Rensburg, who's been playing some at blocking tight end since the injury to Austin Monahan, but whose playing days appeared numbered by the eminent arrival of... Davis Dudchock.
We don't need to expand our collection of scrappy little players who are playing in the SEC only because Vandy will take them and who can play six different positions, none of them well enough to start. We need big, fast athletes who can play now.
But here's hope for Gowder: He did have 1,453 yards and eight touchdowns receiving and he's listed by some services as a wide receiver. But he's way too short to be playing tight end in the SEC and he's way too slow (4.7 40) to be a receiver in the SEC. Maybe he'll play linebacker for us.
Some other verbal commitments have been talking about jumping ship too, including DT Jared Morse, ATH Jerrell Priester and DB Kenneth Ladler, who's now saying he wants to enroll early (except Vanderbilt doesn't allow recruits to enroll in the spring).
Here are some guys we absolutely need on the team next year:
• Wide receiver Bradley Roby, a fast, sure-handed burner who can actually separate from defensive backs and close on a long ball. He could start right away.
• Wide receiver Jonathan Krause, a quick receiver who can get open and get tough yards after the catch.
And here are some guys who, long-term, we can't afford to lose:
• Defensive tackles Kyle Woestmann and Vince Taylor.
• Offensive linemen Grant Ramsay and Logan Stewart.
• Defensive ends Thomas Ryan and James Kittredge
• Defensive backs Andre Hal, Karl Butler and Andre Simmons.
Well, espn.com is reporting that Davis Dudchock, a four-star tight end from Alabama, has switched his commitment from Vanderbilt to Stanford, a top academic school whose gridiron success is making Commodore fans even more restless these days.
No worry, though. The Commodores quickly replaced him with... Blake Gowder, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound FULLBACK who had offers from Air Force, Samford, Georgia State and Murray State.
And we don't even use a fullback in our system. And we've already got a former three-star fullback, redshirt sophomore Ryan van Rensburg, who's been playing some at blocking tight end since the injury to Austin Monahan, but whose playing days appeared numbered by the eminent arrival of... Davis Dudchock.
We don't need to expand our collection of scrappy little players who are playing in the SEC only because Vandy will take them and who can play six different positions, none of them well enough to start. We need big, fast athletes who can play now.
But here's hope for Gowder: He did have 1,453 yards and eight touchdowns receiving and he's listed by some services as a wide receiver. But he's way too short to be playing tight end in the SEC and he's way too slow (4.7 40) to be a receiver in the SEC. Maybe he'll play linebacker for us.
Some other verbal commitments have been talking about jumping ship too, including DT Jared Morse, ATH Jerrell Priester and DB Kenneth Ladler, who's now saying he wants to enroll early (except Vanderbilt doesn't allow recruits to enroll in the spring).
Here are some guys we absolutely need on the team next year:
• Wide receiver Bradley Roby, a fast, sure-handed burner who can actually separate from defensive backs and close on a long ball. He could start right away.
• Wide receiver Jonathan Krause, a quick receiver who can get open and get tough yards after the catch.
And here are some guys who, long-term, we can't afford to lose:
• Defensive tackles Kyle Woestmann and Vince Taylor.
• Offensive linemen Grant Ramsay and Logan Stewart.
• Defensive ends Thomas Ryan and James Kittredge
• Defensive backs Andre Hal, Karl Butler and Andre Simmons.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Analysis of Vandy-Kentucky highlights
Ah yes, it's time once again to break down our weekly highlights, which this year have contained a curious number of touchdowns scored by our opponents.
Here's this week's breakdown:
1. Assorted Commodore interceptions, Lewis and Foster (37 seconds)
2. Assorted Mackenzi Adams passes to John Cole, including the TD (36 seconds)
3. Assorted Ryan Fowler field goals (27 seconds)
4. Assorted Randall Cobb touchdowns (24 seconds)
5. Team rushing out onto field at the start of the game (20 seconds)
Hey, where's the footage of the black-and-gold-clad crowd going crazy when the Commodores took the lead?
Here's this week's breakdown:
1. Assorted Commodore interceptions, Lewis and Foster (37 seconds)
2. Assorted Mackenzi Adams passes to John Cole, including the TD (36 seconds)
3. Assorted Ryan Fowler field goals (27 seconds)
4. Assorted Randall Cobb touchdowns (24 seconds)
5. Team rushing out onto field at the start of the game (20 seconds)
Hey, where's the footage of the black-and-gold-clad crowd going crazy when the Commodores took the lead?
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Forget Saturday's game in Knoxville...we're looking to the future (and the future may or may not mean Brady Brown)
Sure, I'll watch Vandy give it the old college try on Saturday night in Knoxville. But I'm not going to spend much time worrying about the game (6 p.m. on ESPNU).
Not much to analyze: The Volunteers don't have much finesse on offense, but they're big and strong athletic and they're going to try to wear us down just like they did last year and just like Kentucky and everybody else in the SEC did to us this year. And if they give us the ball, well, they can just wait three downs until we punt it back to them.
Team Moral Victory is not quitting on the Dores, but we do plan to spend this week looking at our prospects for next season and then give it a rest for a while until something happens with recruiting or coaching changes or something like that. You'll forgive us if we don't recap the Top 10 plays of the season or name a team MVP or any of that crap that's fun to do if, say, your team goes to a bowl for the first time in 53 years.
Anyway, today we're going to look at our true freshmen in the order of votes received in our "Who'll play as a true freshman?" fan poll:
• Brady Brown (56%): LIMITED ACTION. Everybody, including us, was sure that the 6-foot-5 Texan would make an immediate impact as a possession receiver and be starting by the end of the season. He did play as a true freshman, but he turned out to be only 6-3, and he's only seen time in four games and hasn't caught a pass. Still, he's a raw prospect who should improve and compete for playing time next season — but his biggest competitors, huge targets Chris Boyd and David Dudchock, graduate from high school next spring.
• Zac Stacy (44%): PART-TIME STARTER. Had the best chance of the freshmen tailbacks to play right away, and thanks to Jared Hawkins' injury, he started the season opener and broke 100 yards, then looked impressive against LSU in Baton Rouge. Hampered by ankle injuries most of the season, but has shown flashes of brilliance and his future is bright, especially with plans to repair that ankle in the offseason.
• Eric Samuels (44%): LIMITED ACTION. The prep running back/defensive back was moved immediately into the secondary, where he had a sensational opening game, intercepting a pass and recovering a fumble. But he was injured on the interception return and was never the same, seeing spot duty in the middle of the season and then vanishing altogether with the emergence of fellow freshman Eddie Foster. Will get a close look in the spring at corner, safety or nickel, where he should get a jump on all those true freshmen DBs who'll show up for preseason camp.
• Wesley Tate (39%): REDSHIRT. Despite a solid preseason camp, he was overshadowed by Warren Norman and has been a sure redshirt. But he has all the tools to be a big-time SEC tailback — even more so than Stacy and Norman, who are change-of-pace guys — and will get every opportunity in the spring to be a powerful go-to back who'll wear down opposing defenses. He'll certainly benefit from an extra year of weight lifting and drills.
• Trey Wilson (36%): SECOND-TEAM CORNERBACK. Missed all of preseason camp after dropping a bed on his toe while moving into his dorm, but was too good to keep off the field. He's played in every game, is a fixture on the depth chart as a backup corner and special teams contributor, and could grab a starting job next year as a true sophomore like Casey Hayward and Sean Richardson did this year.
• Javon Marshall (27%): REDSHIRT. Even with the team desperate for secondary help, Marshall didn't make waves in the preseason and has been headed for a redshirt since the opener. And with a bunch of corners and safeties committed to join the team next year, he may be in an uphill climb for playing time during his Commodore career.
• Warren Norman (21%): STARTER. Expected to redshirt and put on weight, Norman instead burst on the scene in the preseason, rushed for more than 100 yards in the opener, and has been a revelation as a kick returner, taking three to the house and closing in on Herschel Walker's record for most all-purpose yards by a freshman. Though nobody's excited about the Commodore offense, everybody's excited about this kid's future.
• Eddie Foster (10%): PART-TIME STARTER. Considered too light to play as a true frosh, Foster wowed coaches in the preseason with his speed, savvy and toughness. By the end of the season, he was starting at nickelback. The fastest player on the field, Foster's future is bright. Hey, can he line up at wide receiver?
• Mason Johnston (7%): REDSHIRT. With Barden and Monahan anchoring the tight end position, Johnston was a lock to redshirt, and after Monahan was lost for the year the coaches kept him on the bench and turned instead to fullback Ryan van Rensburg and wide receiver Justin Green. He'll compete next season with Barden, Monahan and four-star commitment Davis Dudchock.
• Justin Cabbagestalk (5%): REDSHIRT. Offensive linemen always redshirt at Vandy, but Cabbagestalk had the added burden of facing a criminal trial. (Nothing as serious as holding up somebody at a Knoxville service station and making a getaway in a Prius.) He's suspended this season and has been on campus practicing with the team. We'll see if he's here next year.
• Jay Fullam (4%): INJURED/REDSHIRT. Overshadowed by the other freshmen DBs on signing day, Fullam impressed coaches in the preseason and was a lock to play right away until he broke his hand and needed surgery. Expect the Chattanooga native to challenge for Ryan Hamilton's old starting position in the spring.
• Charlie Goro (4%): REDSHIRT. A redshirt from Day One, Goro's been traveling to all the games and calling in signals while junior Jared Funk's been playing special teams. He'll get his shot in the spring. By all accounts, he's a winner and a leader who's got good wheels and a quick but not particularly strong arm. Expect him to see some spot action and assume the backup quarterback role next season, and to be ready to go if Larry Smith is injured or falters.
• Thad McHaney (4%): REDSHIRT. A big, fast kid who was lost in the mix at defensive end but will get a shot in the spring. He's been on the get-bigger-get-stronger plan.
• Blake Southerland (4%): REDSHIRT. With Brent Trice and Patrick Benoist graduating, we're looking for some new blood at linebacker, and Southerland will challenge the four-headed Strong-Jones-Barnes-Daniels monster of current redshirt freshmen.
• Wesley Johnson (2%): REDSHIRT. A terrific offensive line prospect who right now is packing on the pounds and hoisting the weights, the Nashville native will get every chance to crack the lineup at guard or even possibly center in the spring.
• Mylon Brown (1%): REDSHIRT. The rare true freshman lineman at Vandy who tips the scales past 300, Brown is a raw, powerful guy who'll get a chance to play at tackle or guard. Jamie Bryant would love for a couple of redshirt freshmen to nail down starting jobs for the next four years.
• Walker May (1%): REDSHIRT. A bit light in the pants, May nevertheless wowed coaches in the preseason and dang near got a shot to play defensive end after Steven Stone broke his foot. Now he's packing on the pounds. He's a long, fast, disruptive player who'll make a splash in the spring.
• Collin Ashley (N/A): SECOND-TEAM RECEIVER. How bad was the Commodores' receiving corps? Well, after signing day, Justin Wheeler blew out his knee ending his career and Terrance Jeffers wasn't wowing anybody in the classroom, and so Bobby Johnson saw the writing on the wall and went out and got Ashley, an undersized but game-ready receiver from a big Texas high school who was planning to walk on at Arkansas. Ashley's played in every game and is fearless over the middle. Ideally, he's a role player who lacks the strength and ability to separate from SEC corners that we're hoping verbal commitments Bradley Roby and Jonathan Krause will bring next year. But he's stepped up when nobody else has, and our hat's off to him.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
That sound you hear is Vandy fans booing Ted Cain
So the Dores are deep in their own territory late in the third quarter and trailing 17-13. Third and six. So what do we do? We run the ball, something we haven't been able to do all day.
So we punt. And now the third quarter's ending and we've had the ball for three plays on offense.
No kidding.
So we punt. And now the third quarter's ending and we've had the ball for three plays on offense.
No kidding.
Vandy-Kentucky halftime report: Scoreboard straining to handle the activity
Up till now, the home team portion of the scoreboard at Dudley Field hasn't seen this kind of action in an SEC game this year: 13 points.
Holy smoke!
Yes, in three SEC home games this year, Vandy has scored a total of 6 points (3 against MSU and UGA and zero against Miss).
Our one touchdown came off a beautiful juggling grab by John Cole, a Bluegrass son who you've probably heard was snubbed by the Wildcats. It was set up by Myron Lewis' pick of a Newton pass tipped by T.J. Greenstone.
Here are the highs and lows from the 13-10 halftime score:
HIGHS
• Nice picks by Lewis and Eddie Foster.
• We're getting Warren Norman and Zac Stacy involved in the passing game.
• Outside of a Locke pass for 41 yards, the Cats' three other passers are 3-11 for 13 yards.
• We've outgained the Cats, 178-174.
• Ryan Fowler has booted field goals of 42 and 47 yards.
LOWS
• We're losing defenders left and right. Casey Hayward and Patrick Benoist are in the locker room with concussions.
• Horrible opening drive with two of our three penalties and a sack that pinned us deep in our own territory.
Holy smoke!
Yes, in three SEC home games this year, Vandy has scored a total of 6 points (3 against MSU and UGA and zero against Miss).
Our one touchdown came off a beautiful juggling grab by John Cole, a Bluegrass son who you've probably heard was snubbed by the Wildcats. It was set up by Myron Lewis' pick of a Newton pass tipped by T.J. Greenstone.
Here are the highs and lows from the 13-10 halftime score:
HIGHS
• Nice picks by Lewis and Eddie Foster.
• We're getting Warren Norman and Zac Stacy involved in the passing game.
• Outside of a Locke pass for 41 yards, the Cats' three other passers are 3-11 for 13 yards.
• We've outgained the Cats, 178-174.
• Ryan Fowler has booted field goals of 42 and 47 yards.
LOWS
• We're losing defenders left and right. Casey Hayward and Patrick Benoist are in the locker room with concussions.
• Horrible opening drive with two of our three penalties and a sack that pinned us deep in our own territory.
Vandy-Kentucky preview: Our wish list for today's game
Sure, it would be nice to get a win. I've kind of forgotten what it feels like. And if you don't think beating Kentucky would be a quality win, consider that our two wins have come against the worst team in college football (Rice) and a bad lower-division team (Western Carolina).
I won't take any pleasure from bouncing anybody out of a bowl. Hopefully, we'll beat Kentucky and Tennessee and both of those teams can still go to bowls. I'm not concerned about other teams or hoping that other teams screw up so we can look better. We look bad and all we can do is worry about ourselves and try to get better.
That said, here's my wish list for today's game:
• The seniors celebrate their wonderful careers AFTER the game's over, not before it begins.
• The front seven has a big game and stops the run and assorted Cobb craziness the Cats will throw at us.
• Steven Stone has a big game. We're so deep at end that nobody really worried about his departure, but against Florida he showed how important he is to the success of our team and why his injury hurt us so much.
• Warren Norman takes a kickoff to the house.
• A receiver or two emerges as a legitimate threat, without making Mackenzi Adams look too great, which would have everybody spending all winter and spring and summer second-guessing Johnson's decision to start Smith. (It was the right call, people!)
• Oh yeah, we win.
I won't take any pleasure from bouncing anybody out of a bowl. Hopefully, we'll beat Kentucky and Tennessee and both of those teams can still go to bowls. I'm not concerned about other teams or hoping that other teams screw up so we can look better. We look bad and all we can do is worry about ourselves and try to get better.
That said, here's my wish list for today's game:
• The seniors celebrate their wonderful careers AFTER the game's over, not before it begins.
• The front seven has a big game and stops the run and assorted Cobb craziness the Cats will throw at us.
• Steven Stone has a big game. We're so deep at end that nobody really worried about his departure, but against Florida he showed how important he is to the success of our team and why his injury hurt us so much.
• Warren Norman takes a kickoff to the house.
• A receiver or two emerges as a legitimate threat, without making Mackenzi Adams look too great, which would have everybody spending all winter and spring and summer second-guessing Johnson's decision to start Smith. (It was the right call, people!)
• Oh yeah, we win.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Vanderbilt battles Kentucky for recruits
Sure, Vandy's battling Kentucky at Dudley Field on Saturday. But off the field, the Commodores have been slugging it out with the Wildcats for recruits.
The two schools are vying for the following high school seniors:
• Rajaan Bennett, RB, Georgia
• Tim Jackson, DE, Florida
• Kenarious Gates, OT, Georgia
• Austin Collinsworth, S, Kentucky
• Dale Trimble, CB, Alabama
• Avery Willimason, LB, Tennessee
So far, Vanderbilt's winning 3-2, having received verbal commitments from these players who had UK offers:
• Jared Morse, DT, Alabama
• Jerrell Priester, RB/CB, South Carolina
• Thomas Ryan, DE, Florida
But losing these players to the Wildcats:
• Ryan Smith, S, Alabama
• Justin Henderson, DE, South Carolina
Of course, the battle's never over. Morse has said recently that his verbal commitment to the Dores was "soft," and that he's considering other schools, including Kentucky and (ahem) Alabama.
The two schools are vying for the following high school seniors:
• Rajaan Bennett, RB, Georgia
• Tim Jackson, DE, Florida
• Kenarious Gates, OT, Georgia
• Austin Collinsworth, S, Kentucky
• Dale Trimble, CB, Alabama
• Avery Willimason, LB, Tennessee
So far, Vanderbilt's winning 3-2, having received verbal commitments from these players who had UK offers:
• Jared Morse, DT, Alabama
• Jerrell Priester, RB/CB, South Carolina
• Thomas Ryan, DE, Florida
But losing these players to the Wildcats:
• Ryan Smith, S, Alabama
• Justin Henderson, DE, South Carolina
Of course, the battle's never over. Morse has said recently that his verbal commitment to the Dores was "soft," and that he's considering other schools, including Kentucky and (ahem) Alabama.
It's prediction time again here at Moral Victory!
So last week we went 7-1, to bring our overall record to 61-15, or 80.3 percent.
Here are our picks for this week:
• Tennessee at Ole Miss: Vols didn't need Nu'keese anyway. Volunteers 23-21.
• Kentucky at Vanderbilt: Commodores always struggle on senior day. But we're predicting the Dores finally break 10 points in an SEC game. Wildcats 20-14.
• Florida at South Carolina: Gators look better this week. Gators 38-14.
• Auburn at Georgia: Dawgs have the home field disadvantage in this one. But Richt wants to get a win before facing a swarm of Yellow Jackets. Bulldogs 24-17.
• La Tech at LSU: Tigers playing for a berth in the Capital One Bowl. Tigers 34-14.
• Alabama at Miss State: Dan Mullen will have a few tricks up his sleeve and put a scare into the Tide. Crimson Tide 26-20.
• Troy at Arkansas: This time last year, Troy put a big-time scare into LSU. But the Razorback offense is just too good. Razorbacks 31-17.
Here are our picks for this week:
• Tennessee at Ole Miss: Vols didn't need Nu'keese anyway. Volunteers 23-21.
• Kentucky at Vanderbilt: Commodores always struggle on senior day. But we're predicting the Dores finally break 10 points in an SEC game. Wildcats 20-14.
• Florida at South Carolina: Gators look better this week. Gators 38-14.
• Auburn at Georgia: Dawgs have the home field disadvantage in this one. But Richt wants to get a win before facing a swarm of Yellow Jackets. Bulldogs 24-17.
• La Tech at LSU: Tigers playing for a berth in the Capital One Bowl. Tigers 34-14.
• Alabama at Miss State: Dan Mullen will have a few tricks up his sleeve and put a scare into the Tide. Crimson Tide 26-20.
• Troy at Arkansas: This time last year, Troy put a big-time scare into LSU. But the Razorback offense is just too good. Razorbacks 31-17.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Quick! Name this Commodore!
No senior being honored on Saturday in Nashville played more games than the guy pictured above. Who is he?
It's Brent Trice, who didn't start until this season but has been a stalwart at safety and linebacker since he avoided a redshirt and played right away as a true freshman.
Here are the guys calling it quits at the end of this season, in order of total games played:
47 GAMES
• Brett Upson (47 starts)
• Bradley Vierling (23)
• Brent Trice (9)
46 GAMES
• Greg Billinger (22)
• Ryan Custer (19)
• Chris Johnson
45 GAMES
• Myron Lewis (35)
• Broderick Stewart (21)
• Joel Caldwell (17)
43 GAMES
• Thomas Welch (22)
42 GAMES
• Alex Washington (8)
41 GAMES
• Mackenzi Adams (10)
40 GAMES
• Steven Stone (29)
• Patrick Benoist (28)
39 GAMES
• Ryan Hamilton (36)
37 GAMES
• Jared Hawkins (13)
31 GAMES
• Justin Wheeler (10)
28 GAMES
• Justin Green (0) (redshirt junior)
21 GAMES
• Chris Reinert (0)
19 GAMES
• Gaston Miller (0) (redshirt junior)
10 GAMES
• Chris DeGeorge (0)
4 GAMES
• John Laughrey (0)
1 GAME
• Bo Baggarley (0)
• Eric Hensley (16)
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Justin Green and Gaston Miller to forgo their final year of eligibility...who's next?
Redshirt juniors Justin Green and Gaston Miller will be honored Saturday on senior day, which means they are calling it quits after this season.
Green caught a TD pass as a wide receiver against Western Carolina, but hasn't made a catch since and is back at backup tight end, where he'll likely see even less playing time next year.
Miller, a tailback and return specialist, has been made obsolete by the presence of true freshmen Zac Stacy and especially Warren Norman. He hasn't even been traveling to away games.
Both guys are moving on with their lives, and we wish them the best.
Leaving a year of eligibility on the table is not unusual. Last year before the Tennessee game, the university said goodbye to a whopping 12 redshirt juniors, about half of whom were walk-ons.
Two of those, Chris Johnson and Bo Baggerley, will be honored on their second straight senior day. This time last year, both decided to end their football careers but then got accepted to graduate school at Vandy and opted to play another year.
Also, two other redshirt juniors, Derrius Dowell and Darlron Spead, decided in the spring to forgo their final years of eligibility.
Which raises the question of who else might skip his fifth year.
Good candidates would be:
• QB Jared Funk, who still hasn't thrown a pass and would likely begin next season in the familiar position of third-team quarterback, behind Larry Smith and Charlie Goro. But his presence would keep us from burning the redshirt off true frosh Nash Nance if somebody gets injured next season.
• LB Michael Garcia, a walk-on who hasn't played this season after being injured in the preseason.
Other possibilities include:
• LB Austin Newton, a reserve who's missed the last couple of games and will likely begin next season behind a glut of redshirt freshmen and sophomores on the depth chart.
• OL Chris Aaron, who's seen limited action this season and may or may not get a shot to play more next season.
• RB Kennard Reeves, a solid backup at running back, whose playing time has decreased with the emergence of Stacy and Norman — and will continue to slip with redshirt freshman Wesley Tate and true freshmen Myron Ross and Jerrell Priester in the mix next season.
• WR Turner Wimberly, who started one game at receiver but would likely play much less next season as youngsters Collin Ashley and Brady Brown continue to develop and true frosh Chris Boyd, Bradley Roby, Jonathon Krause and Trent Pruitt arrive on campus.
The following guys play a big part in the team's plans for next season and will almost certainly return:
• DT Adam Smotherman will return as a starter to anchor the D-Line.
• C Joey Bailey will get the first shot to replace Bradley Vierling next season and will be counted on to lead an offensive line that loses four fifth-year seniors.
• DE Teriall Brannon will compete to replace Broderick Stewart or Steven Stone as starters.
• OL Reilly Lauer continues to be considered too light to be an SEC lineman but for the second straight year is finishing the season as a starter, and he'll get a serious shot to start again next year.
Green caught a TD pass as a wide receiver against Western Carolina, but hasn't made a catch since and is back at backup tight end, where he'll likely see even less playing time next year.
Miller, a tailback and return specialist, has been made obsolete by the presence of true freshmen Zac Stacy and especially Warren Norman. He hasn't even been traveling to away games.
Both guys are moving on with their lives, and we wish them the best.
Leaving a year of eligibility on the table is not unusual. Last year before the Tennessee game, the university said goodbye to a whopping 12 redshirt juniors, about half of whom were walk-ons.
Two of those, Chris Johnson and Bo Baggerley, will be honored on their second straight senior day. This time last year, both decided to end their football careers but then got accepted to graduate school at Vandy and opted to play another year.
Also, two other redshirt juniors, Derrius Dowell and Darlron Spead, decided in the spring to forgo their final years of eligibility.
Which raises the question of who else might skip his fifth year.
Good candidates would be:
• QB Jared Funk, who still hasn't thrown a pass and would likely begin next season in the familiar position of third-team quarterback, behind Larry Smith and Charlie Goro. But his presence would keep us from burning the redshirt off true frosh Nash Nance if somebody gets injured next season.
• LB Michael Garcia, a walk-on who hasn't played this season after being injured in the preseason.
Other possibilities include:
• LB Austin Newton, a reserve who's missed the last couple of games and will likely begin next season behind a glut of redshirt freshmen and sophomores on the depth chart.
• OL Chris Aaron, who's seen limited action this season and may or may not get a shot to play more next season.
• RB Kennard Reeves, a solid backup at running back, whose playing time has decreased with the emergence of Stacy and Norman — and will continue to slip with redshirt freshman Wesley Tate and true freshmen Myron Ross and Jerrell Priester in the mix next season.
• WR Turner Wimberly, who started one game at receiver but would likely play much less next season as youngsters Collin Ashley and Brady Brown continue to develop and true frosh Chris Boyd, Bradley Roby, Jonathon Krause and Trent Pruitt arrive on campus.
The following guys play a big part in the team's plans for next season and will almost certainly return:
• DT Adam Smotherman will return as a starter to anchor the D-Line.
• C Joey Bailey will get the first shot to replace Bradley Vierling next season and will be counted on to lead an offensive line that loses four fifth-year seniors.
• DE Teriall Brannon will compete to replace Broderick Stewart or Steven Stone as starters.
• OL Reilly Lauer continues to be considered too light to be an SEC lineman but for the second straight year is finishing the season as a starter, and he'll get a serious shot to start again next year.
Moral Victory! SEC Power Rankings + Predictions + Bowl Projections
Today we look at the new Moral Victory! power rankings, as well as the best and worst scenarios for each team. (At least we don’t have to travel to a bowl and freeze our butts off this year.) And we predict where each team will finish. Outside of Vanderbilt, every SEC team still has bowl hopes, and almost every team except Miss State and Kentucky could end up playing on New Year’s Day.
1. ALABAMA: 9-0 (6-0)
Remaining games: at Miss State, UTC, at Auburn, vs. Florida
Best case: 13-0 (9-0); BCS National Championship Game
Worst case: 11-2 (7-2); Sugar Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 12-1 (8-1); Sugar Bowl
2. FLORIDA: 9-0 (7-0)
Remaining games: at South Carolina, Florida International, Florida State, vs. Alabama
Best case: 13-0 (9-0); BCS National Championship Game
Worst case: 11-2 (11-2); Sugar Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 13-0 (9-0); BCS National Championship Game
3. LSU: 7-2 (4-2)
Remaining games: La Tech, at Ole Miss, Arkansas
Best case: 10-2 (6-2); Capital One Bowl
Worst case: 8-4 (4-4); Independence Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 10-2 (6-2); Capital One Bowl
4. TENNESSEE: 5-4 (2-3)
Remaining games: at Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, at Kentucky
Best case: 8-4 (5-3); Capital One Bowl
Worst case: 6-6 (3-5); Papajohns.com Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 8-4 (5-3); Cotton Bowl
5. GEORGIA: 5-4 (3-3)
Remaining games: Auburn, Kentucky, at Ga Tech
Best case: 8-4 (5-3); Capital One Bowl
Worst case: 5-7 (3-5); no bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 7-5 (5-3); Outback Bowl
6. ARKANSAS: 5-4 (2-4)
Remaining games: Troy, Miss State, at LSU
Best case: 8-4 (4-4); Cotton Bowl
Worst case: 6-6 (2-6); no bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 7-5 (3-5); Independence Bowl
7. AUBURN: 7-3 (3-3)
Remaining games: at Georgia, Alabama
Best case: 9-3 (5-3); Capital One Bowl
Worst case: 7-5 (3-5); Independence Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: Chick-Fil-A Bowl
8. OLE MISS: 6-3 (2-3)
Remaining games: Tennessee, LSU, at Miss State
Best case: 9-3 (5-3); Capital One Bowl
Worst case: 6-6 (2-6); no bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 7-5 (3-5); Liberty Bowl
9. S CAROLINA: 6-4 (3-4)
Remaining games: Florida, Clemson
Best case: 8-4 (4-4); Outback Bowl
Worst case: 6-6 (3-5); no bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 7-5 (3-5); Music City Bowl
10. MISS STATE: 4-5 (2-3)
Remaining games: Alabama, at Arkansas, Ole Miss
Best case: 6-6 (4-4); Liberty Bowl
Worst case: 4-8 (2-6); no bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 4-8 (2-6); no bowl
11. KENTUCKY: 5-4 (1-4)
Remaining games: at Vanderbilt, at Georgia, Tennessee
Best case: 8-4 (4-4); Chick-Fil-A Bowl
Worst case: 5-7 (1-7); no bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 6-6 (2-6); Papajohns.com Bowl
12. VANDERBILT: 2-8 (0-6)
Remaining games: Kentucky, at Tennessee
Best case: 4-8 (2-6)
Worst case: 2-10 (0-8)
Moral Victory! Prediction: 2-10 (0-8)
1. ALABAMA: 9-0 (6-0)
Remaining games: at Miss State, UTC, at Auburn, vs. Florida
Best case: 13-0 (9-0); BCS National Championship Game
Worst case: 11-2 (7-2); Sugar Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 12-1 (8-1); Sugar Bowl
2. FLORIDA: 9-0 (7-0)
Remaining games: at South Carolina, Florida International, Florida State, vs. Alabama
Best case: 13-0 (9-0); BCS National Championship Game
Worst case: 11-2 (11-2); Sugar Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 13-0 (9-0); BCS National Championship Game
3. LSU: 7-2 (4-2)
Remaining games: La Tech, at Ole Miss, Arkansas
Best case: 10-2 (6-2); Capital One Bowl
Worst case: 8-4 (4-4); Independence Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 10-2 (6-2); Capital One Bowl
4. TENNESSEE: 5-4 (2-3)
Remaining games: at Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, at Kentucky
Best case: 8-4 (5-3); Capital One Bowl
Worst case: 6-6 (3-5); Papajohns.com Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 8-4 (5-3); Cotton Bowl
5. GEORGIA: 5-4 (3-3)
Remaining games: Auburn, Kentucky, at Ga Tech
Best case: 8-4 (5-3); Capital One Bowl
Worst case: 5-7 (3-5); no bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 7-5 (5-3); Outback Bowl
6. ARKANSAS: 5-4 (2-4)
Remaining games: Troy, Miss State, at LSU
Best case: 8-4 (4-4); Cotton Bowl
Worst case: 6-6 (2-6); no bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 7-5 (3-5); Independence Bowl
7. AUBURN: 7-3 (3-3)
Remaining games: at Georgia, Alabama
Best case: 9-3 (5-3); Capital One Bowl
Worst case: 7-5 (3-5); Independence Bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: Chick-Fil-A Bowl
8. OLE MISS: 6-3 (2-3)
Remaining games: Tennessee, LSU, at Miss State
Best case: 9-3 (5-3); Capital One Bowl
Worst case: 6-6 (2-6); no bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 7-5 (3-5); Liberty Bowl
9. S CAROLINA: 6-4 (3-4)
Remaining games: Florida, Clemson
Best case: 8-4 (4-4); Outback Bowl
Worst case: 6-6 (3-5); no bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 7-5 (3-5); Music City Bowl
10. MISS STATE: 4-5 (2-3)
Remaining games: Alabama, at Arkansas, Ole Miss
Best case: 6-6 (4-4); Liberty Bowl
Worst case: 4-8 (2-6); no bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 4-8 (2-6); no bowl
11. KENTUCKY: 5-4 (1-4)
Remaining games: at Vanderbilt, at Georgia, Tennessee
Best case: 8-4 (4-4); Chick-Fil-A Bowl
Worst case: 5-7 (1-7); no bowl
Moral Victory! Prediction: 6-6 (2-6); Papajohns.com Bowl
12. VANDERBILT: 2-8 (0-6)
Remaining games: Kentucky, at Tennessee
Best case: 4-8 (2-6)
Worst case: 2-10 (0-8)
Moral Victory! Prediction: 2-10 (0-8)
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Senior day not kind to Commodores
Saturday's last home game, against Kentucky, is senior day at Vanderbilt.
I hate senior day. You know, when seniors walk out onto the field BEFORE the game and hug their mamas and receive a round of warm applause from the fans.
And then they play the game and lose. At least that's how it is at Vanderbilt.
Know how many times Bobby Johnson has won on senior day in Nashville?
Once — Kentucky in 2003.
Know how many times Woody won on senior day? Zero.
OK, maybe we would have lost all those games anyway. But I don't like it.
Why not celebrate outgoing seniors AFTER they play, like the basketball team does. Every year at this time I like to remember that Shane Foster had one of the greatest games in Vanderbilt history, against Miss State on senior night. He rained down three-pointers to bring the Dores back against a stout Bulldog defense and then to put the game into overtime and then to win it. And THEN he hugged his mama and then the crowd went crazy.
I hate senior day. You know, when seniors walk out onto the field BEFORE the game and hug their mamas and receive a round of warm applause from the fans.
And then they play the game and lose. At least that's how it is at Vanderbilt.
Know how many times Bobby Johnson has won on senior day in Nashville?
Once — Kentucky in 2003.
Know how many times Woody won on senior day? Zero.
OK, maybe we would have lost all those games anyway. But I don't like it.
Why not celebrate outgoing seniors AFTER they play, like the basketball team does. Every year at this time I like to remember that Shane Foster had one of the greatest games in Vanderbilt history, against Miss State on senior night. He rained down three-pointers to bring the Dores back against a stout Bulldog defense and then to put the game into overtime and then to win it. And THEN he hugged his mama and then the crowd went crazy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
