Vanderbilt: Is Deep Water A U Coaching Situation?

Vanderbilt has a new uniform. Wow. Vanderbilt has shortened practices. Double wow.

There is not a lot of news coming out of Vanderbilt University’s football camp this fall. The Commodores are entering their second season with head coach Derek Mason at the helm, and all is quiet on the West End front.

The only real news that has come out of the camp is the unveiling of the new “Deep Water” alternate uniform the Commodores will wear, and the news that the players are experimenting with a new piece of technology that will shorten practice times. It makes the Commodores more efficient.

Are these really the things you want coming out two weeks from your first game? Maybe so, if there is not a lot to talk about. I just don’t see how uniforms or shorter practice times can help Vanderbilt at this stage. But maybe Coach Mason is using these items to keep the young Commodore squad’s mind on the present and future, more so than the past year. It did not go well.

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Vanderbilt got off to a rocky start as soon as they took the field last season. They had the often used, James Franklin coined, “Anchor Down” motto sewn across the shoulders of their jersey when they opened against a very weak Temple team. The motto went against the NCAA’s no slogan rule of course. It is of note that the Dore’s also unveiled this “new” uni on that night. It resulted in a 37-7 thumping at the hands of the visiting Owls. They practiced a normal amount of time for that game as well.

No, Vanderbilt has more important issues. Issues that actually matter like who will be the quarterback? How will Derek Mason fare by being defensive coordinator and head coach? With a roster void of talent at the wide out position who is going to catch the ball for Vandy? Can Vanderbilt win with just defense?

These are all valid points. Vanderbilt’s quarterback situation was handled poorly last year. It was musical chairs for several different signal callers. This season it seems they are at least down to two. Wade Freebeck will eventually be named the starter in my opinion. He is a capable quarterback. At 6’4″ 220, he has the size to survey the field, and the arm strength to make any throw. He played at a high level at St Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida, and can do the same here.

Freebeck finished his freshman season at Vanderbilt throwing for 376 yards on 34-72. He showed good presence and awareness while on the field with the exception of the Kentucky game. He was blitzed repeatedly and it shook the young quarterback. The offensive line did not help the young man. He threw three interceptions in that game.

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Another talented Sophomore, and a more exciting player, is quarterback Johnny McCrary. McCrary flashed brilliance at times against lesser teams. He had a five touchdown pass game against the likes of Old Dominion. He was 20-29 in that game for 281 yards. His issue is similar to Freebeck’s. He needs to protect the ball much better. He had nine touchdown passes, and eight interceptions. Most all of the interceptions occurred in the 4 SEC games he appeared in.

Mason is again holding off on naming a starter. Again, it is a mistake. Name one, stick with him, and move on. Vanderbilt is two weeks from tomorrow away from starting against a pretty decent Western Kentucky team. They are weaker than Vanderbilt, but still a team that can be dangerous for the Commodores. Let the team know now who will lead them. This team needs confidence.

As for Mason calling the defensive signals, I believe that will be a good thing. He did a great job at Stanford, and will do a great job on the defensive side here. He seems better suited for this than the administration of head coach. He will get the defense in the best position possible to stop the opposition. The question is does he have the athletes to play his schemes here in Nashville.

Mason says he has more talent on this roster than he did at Stanford on defense. Coach speak? Probably. But he does have some guys that have a year under their belt, and a little more experience going into 2015. That is huge. Vanderbilt overall was the second youngest team in all of college football last season, only behind Oregon. Tennessee was third youngest. The difference was that Oregon’s freshman played mostly in mop up rolls. Vanderbilt freshman started.

As for the receiving corp mentioned up top, I don’t know what they will do there. They had one proven receiver. CJ Duncan was the guy looking to lead the Commodores in receiving this season, but an unfortunate leg injury has sidelined him for the season. He was pretty much it. It will be interesting to see who steps up.

Darrius Sims will have to be that guy. But although electric with the ball in his hand as evidenced by his return skills, he is a true defensive back learning to play receiver. That is not easy. Sims has the talent however, and should give the Commodores one offensive weapon anyway that is not a running back.

Vanderbilt is in for a long season. Coach Mason has a lot of things to correct in year two. He still has some of James Franklin’s guys on defense that have talent. He did a great recruiting job to keep linebacker Josh Smith nearby. This guy could be special. Linebacker Nigel Bowden is as good as it gets. The defense should be pretty good, but can they win consistently with the defense on the field for most of the game? I don’t know. We will have to see.

The Deep Water Uniform is nice. I just think the name is a little suspect with a coach that seems to be in over his head at the moment. Coach Mason will learn. He is an intelligent guy. He knows football. He knows defense for sure. He just has to learn how to be a head coach. He can start by naming a starting quarterback now, before the water gets too deep.

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Vanderbilt: Is Deep Water A Uniform or Coaching Situation?

By Randy Sharber | Aug 19, 2015

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