Vanderbilt: Not A Chance This Saturday?

By Randy Sharber | Sep 12, 2015

Vanderbilt doesn’t have a chance against Georgia this Saturday….or do they?

The Commodores are coming off of a crushing defeat to Western Kentucky 10 days ago. The good news is that they have had 10 days to determine what happened. The bad news is that Georgia is next up. Do the Commodores have a chance? Yes, if Georgia forfeits, or their team bus gets bogged down in the wonderful weekend construction on the interstate system of Nashville.

I think the traffic situation mentioned above actually could happen. I don’t know how to handicap that, but I think Vanderbilt may have just become the favorite.

Seriously, even Georgia fans will tell you that a Mark Richt coached team will have big let down during the season. It will normally come against South Carolina though. If I was in the Vanderbilt game day administration, I would shut that foghorn thing up today and play a rooster crowing all day long over the P.A. system.

Vandy is struggling in all aspects right now. Second year head coach Derek Mason made some progress last week. The game was not a complete disaster as most were in 2014, but it still turned out to be a loss.

The Commodores simply do not have the talent to compete yet. What they do have is a very good defensive coordinator. That happens to be Derek Mason as well. As the Godfather asked the mortician to use “all of his skills” to make his son Sonny presentable, so must Mason use all of his skills today.

More from Vanderbilt Commodores

The Bulldog offense is just getting rolling. They have the most talented running back in the country in Nick Chubb. He is the next great Georgia back. The problem is that there are two more right behind him.

Sony Michel and Keith Marshall start anywhere else other than Tennessee, LSU, Arkansas and Alabama in the conference. These guys are good. They are all averaging right at 7 yards per carry through the first game.

That stat is not misleading. I know they played Little Sisters of the Poor last week, but these guys have done this their entire career at Georgia. It does not matter who they play. Georgia comes right at you. They will come right at Vanderbilt today.

Vanderbilt will have to Anchor Down as the Bulldogs Hunker Down. Whoever is “Down” enough will win I suppose? I really don’t know what either one of those “downs” means. Is it good to be anchored down? Is it good to be hunkered down? Gets a little confusing.

I know that first “downs” are good. Look for Georgia to have plenty, and Vanderbilt to have few. Vanderbilt’s offense does not have any playmakers to speak of. Quarterback Johnny McCrary is capable of being that playmaker with his legs. Not his arm. He is dangerous when the throws…for Vanderbilt.

Running back Ralph Webb is a serviceable back for the Commodores. He runs low to the ground, is strong, and he is quick. I really like Webb’s style. But he has a line that is not capable of giving him a lot of help. There is not much room to work. One of the Commodores spoke that Webb was as good as Nick Chubb this week. That may have possibly been a yarn.

I think today’s game will be determined by Georgia’s play, not Vanderbilt’s play. If the Dogs play well, they will win by 31. If they play uninspired, they will only win by 17. I see no way that Vandy can win this one today.

So what can you hope for as a Vanderbilt fan? Here is what you should look for. Did the team make progress from week one to week two? I think Vanderbilt was better last week than they were at any point last season from an organizational point. The coaching staff did not look so befuddled.

That is a start. Progress needs to be made every week. Vanderbilt should not expect to beat Georgia today. Georgia is the premier team in the SEC East. Vanderbilt is the least premier team in the East. Just do not get blown out today. You can’t afford to get run out of your own stadium.

The Commodore defense is good. This should be a good test for them today. Georgia has athletes all over the field as usual. The Commodores have a few as well on defense. They also have Mason who will put them in a good situation to succeed.

They can not be on the field all day though. They tired in the second half last week. The offense has to put together a few first downs here and there to give this defense a rest. Otherwise you will see Chubb running up and down West End like a Mayoral candidate as of late in Nashville.

Remember Vanderbilt game day personnel… Blast It’s time for some Carolina football (insert rooster crow now)

Final Score in Nashville today…..Georgia 38 Vanderbilt 13

More from Tenn Truth

Home/Vanderbilt Commodores