Rebel Chuck
07-15-2007, 08:31 PM
Dave Childers
There's one thing about Vanderbilt - the Commodores have been a persistent pain for Ole Miss since being name the Rebels' permanent opponent from the SEC East Division when the league spilt into two divisions over a decade ago.
James Bryant
Ole Miss got away with one against VU last year in Oxford
Ole Miss has continued to dominate in the win column (Vanderbilt won in 1999 and 2005), but most of the games have been close with the Commodores always circling the game with the Rebels as a must win to get to a bowl game.
Last year was no exception.
Ole Miss took the win, 17-10, but managed to gain just 179 yards of total offense while Vanderbilt racked up 400 yards against the Rebels. The difference in the game was Vanderbilt's five turnovers (four fumbles and an interception).
But it's just not Ole Miss that the Commodores played well last year.
They lost by three to Alabama, by two points to eventual division champion Arkansas, by six to eventual national champion Florida and managed to upend Georgia in Athens, 24-22.
The game could define the Rebels season - winning this one on the road in Nashville is a must as the Rebels return home the next week to face Florida, then must trip to Georgia to round out the month of September.
What should be more scary for Rebel fans is that the Commodores return 19 starters from last season.
Vanderbilt was expected to struggle after losing first round NFL draft choice Jay Cutler, but Chris Nickson responded by throwing for 2,085 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for a team-high 694 yards and nine more scores. His 231.6 yards of total offense ranked fourth in the SEC. Nickson ended the season strong when he threw for 250 yards or more in three of the final four games, including a 446-yard effort against Kentucky.
Despite Nickson's almost 700 yards on the ground, the Commodores focused in the spring on running the ball more effectively. Vanderbilt ranked fourth in the SEC in rushing and three running backs averaged at least four yards per carry. The Commodores rushed for 200 yards or more three times and 110 yards or less five times. The return of Jeff Jennings could be a big boost to the Commodores' offense. Jennings rushed for 448 yards two years ago before going down with a torn ACL and MCL against Kentucky. Cassen Jackson-Garrison, the leading rusher among tailbacks in each of the past two seasons, and Jared Hawkins, who averaged 6.9 yards on his 43 carries as a redshirt freshman, give Vanderbilt solid depth at the position.
Vanderbilt Vitals
2006 Record: (4-8, 1-7)
Coach: Bobby Johnson 47-57 (overall), 6-34 at Vanderbilt
Starters Returning: 19
Offensive Starters Lost: WR Marlon White (6-4, 208, Sr.), RG Mac Pyle (6-5, 315, Sr.)
Offensive Starters Returning: WR George Smith (6-3, 195, Jr.),WR Earl Bennett (6-1, 200, Jr.), QB Chris Nickson (6-1, 210, Jr.), TB Cassen Jackson-Garrison (6-1, 220, Sr.), LT Chris Williams (6-7, 315, Sr.), LG Ryan Custer (6-4, 295, So.)
C Hamilton Holliday (6-3, 295, Sr.),LG Josh Eames (6-5, 305, Sr.), TE Brad Allen (6-3, 240, Jr.)
Defensive Starters Lost: DE Chris Booker (6-4, 260, Sr.), DT Ray Brown (6-3, 295, Sr.), WLB Kevin Joyce (6-3, 228, Sr.)
Defensive Starters Returning: RT Theo Horrocks (6-4, 290, Sr.), DE Curtis Gatewood (6-3, 245, Sr.),MLB Jonathan Goff (6-4, 240, Sr.), SLB Marcus Buggs (5-11, 232, Sr.), CB D.J. Moore (5-10, 175, So.), SS Reshard Langford (6-2, 218, Jr.)
FS Ryan Hamilton (6-2, 210, So.), CB Joel Caldwell (6-0, 185, So.)
Starting Specialists Lost: None
Starting Specialists Returning: PK Bryant Hahnfeldt (5-11, 185, Jr.), P Brett Upson (5-11, 180, So.)
Star wide-receiver Earl Bennett caught a league-high 82 passes for 1,146 yards and six touchdowns and returns for his junior season. A two-time first-team All-SEC pick by the coaches, Bennett is on pace to break the SEC career record for both receptions and yards sometime during his junior season. George Smith and Sean Walker join Bennett in the Commodores' three-receiver sets. Smith emerged as a dependable threat as a sophomore a year ago, catching 21 passes for 313 yards.
The line will be anchored by a pair of All-SEC-caliber tackles, Chris Williams on the left side and Brian Stamper on the right. Williams, who was not highly recruited out of Baton Rouge five five years ago, has emerged as a possible first-day NFL Draft pick. Stamper, a second-team All-SEC pick two years ago, was granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA after missing the final seven games of the '06 season with a back injury.
Vanderbilt struggled on defense last year finishing 10th in the SEC. The Commodores recorded 25 sacks in 12 games after combining for 27 in the previous two seasons. Curtis Gatewood, a former linebacker who has excelled since his switch to end, accounted for seven of those sacks. The 6'3", 245-pound Memphis native is poised to have a big year. Senior Theo Horrocks appears set at one tackle position, but the other tackle spot and the end position opposite Gatewood won't be decided until the fall.
Jonathan Goff, rated by one scouting service as the top junior linebacker in the nation last year, flirted with the NFL Draft but opted to remain in Nashville for his senior season. Goff broke into the starting lineup late in his freshman season and has started 27 straight games in the middle. Marcus Buggs, another fifth-year senior, will start for the second straight season on the strong side. Sophomores Brandon Bryant and Patrick Benoist are battling for the start on the weak side.
Vanderbilt also struggled in the secondary last season. With the exception of safety Ben Koger, who had three starts last season, the same players return. Joel Caldwell, who started 11 games at cornerback as a redshirt freshman, was moved to safety in the spring. Caldwell Reshard Langford and Ryan Hamilton appear set as starters with Caldwell competing for playing time. Myron Lewis and D.J. Moore, who broke into the starting lineup four games into his true freshman season, will also see action in the seconday. The nickel back will be sophomore Darlron Spead.
Vanderbilt's struggles on special teams continued in 2006. The Commodores ranked eighth in the SEC in net punting, 12th in punt returns and 10th in kickoff returns. Kicker Bryant Hahnfeldt connected on 8-of-17 field goals but he did have the game-winner to beat Georgia. Hahnfeldt will return as the kicker and could also handle punting duties. He will battle sophomore Brett Upson (37.4-yard average in '06) for the job in preseason camp.
What's at stake: It may still be Vanderbilt - the consensus sixth place team in the SEC east - and a team destined for another losing season, but it's a much improved team capable of giving any SEC team more than it cares for. If Ole Miss is to get back to a bowl game, it desperately needs this win in Nashville.
Key offensive match up: Vanderbilt is strong on offense, but has some holes on defense. The Rebels must exploit those. The Rebels should be able to run against Vanderbilt, but also need to get a passing game opened up where the Commodores can't concentrate only on stopping the run.
Key defensive match up: Nickson missed most of last year's game in Oxford due to an injury, but poses a threat with a strong arm and great elusiveness. The Rebels need to contain him and get solid coverage on star wide receiver Earl Bennett to keep the Commodores in check.
Ole Miss will win the game if: Gets the passing game going and can slow down the Commodore offense.
Ole Miss will lose the game if: Doesn't play with the same effort it'll have to give Florida the following week. The talent edge may go to Ole Miss, but the experience factor rests with Vanderbilt. The Commodores come into the game thinking they should have won last year, and will be prepared to show that the better team last year lost.
There's one thing about Vanderbilt - the Commodores have been a persistent pain for Ole Miss since being name the Rebels' permanent opponent from the SEC East Division when the league spilt into two divisions over a decade ago.
James Bryant
Ole Miss got away with one against VU last year in Oxford
Ole Miss has continued to dominate in the win column (Vanderbilt won in 1999 and 2005), but most of the games have been close with the Commodores always circling the game with the Rebels as a must win to get to a bowl game.
Last year was no exception.
Ole Miss took the win, 17-10, but managed to gain just 179 yards of total offense while Vanderbilt racked up 400 yards against the Rebels. The difference in the game was Vanderbilt's five turnovers (four fumbles and an interception).
But it's just not Ole Miss that the Commodores played well last year.
They lost by three to Alabama, by two points to eventual division champion Arkansas, by six to eventual national champion Florida and managed to upend Georgia in Athens, 24-22.
The game could define the Rebels season - winning this one on the road in Nashville is a must as the Rebels return home the next week to face Florida, then must trip to Georgia to round out the month of September.
What should be more scary for Rebel fans is that the Commodores return 19 starters from last season.
Vanderbilt was expected to struggle after losing first round NFL draft choice Jay Cutler, but Chris Nickson responded by throwing for 2,085 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for a team-high 694 yards and nine more scores. His 231.6 yards of total offense ranked fourth in the SEC. Nickson ended the season strong when he threw for 250 yards or more in three of the final four games, including a 446-yard effort against Kentucky.
Despite Nickson's almost 700 yards on the ground, the Commodores focused in the spring on running the ball more effectively. Vanderbilt ranked fourth in the SEC in rushing and three running backs averaged at least four yards per carry. The Commodores rushed for 200 yards or more three times and 110 yards or less five times. The return of Jeff Jennings could be a big boost to the Commodores' offense. Jennings rushed for 448 yards two years ago before going down with a torn ACL and MCL against Kentucky. Cassen Jackson-Garrison, the leading rusher among tailbacks in each of the past two seasons, and Jared Hawkins, who averaged 6.9 yards on his 43 carries as a redshirt freshman, give Vanderbilt solid depth at the position.
Vanderbilt Vitals
2006 Record: (4-8, 1-7)
Coach: Bobby Johnson 47-57 (overall), 6-34 at Vanderbilt
Starters Returning: 19
Offensive Starters Lost: WR Marlon White (6-4, 208, Sr.), RG Mac Pyle (6-5, 315, Sr.)
Offensive Starters Returning: WR George Smith (6-3, 195, Jr.),WR Earl Bennett (6-1, 200, Jr.), QB Chris Nickson (6-1, 210, Jr.), TB Cassen Jackson-Garrison (6-1, 220, Sr.), LT Chris Williams (6-7, 315, Sr.), LG Ryan Custer (6-4, 295, So.)
C Hamilton Holliday (6-3, 295, Sr.),LG Josh Eames (6-5, 305, Sr.), TE Brad Allen (6-3, 240, Jr.)
Defensive Starters Lost: DE Chris Booker (6-4, 260, Sr.), DT Ray Brown (6-3, 295, Sr.), WLB Kevin Joyce (6-3, 228, Sr.)
Defensive Starters Returning: RT Theo Horrocks (6-4, 290, Sr.), DE Curtis Gatewood (6-3, 245, Sr.),MLB Jonathan Goff (6-4, 240, Sr.), SLB Marcus Buggs (5-11, 232, Sr.), CB D.J. Moore (5-10, 175, So.), SS Reshard Langford (6-2, 218, Jr.)
FS Ryan Hamilton (6-2, 210, So.), CB Joel Caldwell (6-0, 185, So.)
Starting Specialists Lost: None
Starting Specialists Returning: PK Bryant Hahnfeldt (5-11, 185, Jr.), P Brett Upson (5-11, 180, So.)
Star wide-receiver Earl Bennett caught a league-high 82 passes for 1,146 yards and six touchdowns and returns for his junior season. A two-time first-team All-SEC pick by the coaches, Bennett is on pace to break the SEC career record for both receptions and yards sometime during his junior season. George Smith and Sean Walker join Bennett in the Commodores' three-receiver sets. Smith emerged as a dependable threat as a sophomore a year ago, catching 21 passes for 313 yards.
The line will be anchored by a pair of All-SEC-caliber tackles, Chris Williams on the left side and Brian Stamper on the right. Williams, who was not highly recruited out of Baton Rouge five five years ago, has emerged as a possible first-day NFL Draft pick. Stamper, a second-team All-SEC pick two years ago, was granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA after missing the final seven games of the '06 season with a back injury.
Vanderbilt struggled on defense last year finishing 10th in the SEC. The Commodores recorded 25 sacks in 12 games after combining for 27 in the previous two seasons. Curtis Gatewood, a former linebacker who has excelled since his switch to end, accounted for seven of those sacks. The 6'3", 245-pound Memphis native is poised to have a big year. Senior Theo Horrocks appears set at one tackle position, but the other tackle spot and the end position opposite Gatewood won't be decided until the fall.
Jonathan Goff, rated by one scouting service as the top junior linebacker in the nation last year, flirted with the NFL Draft but opted to remain in Nashville for his senior season. Goff broke into the starting lineup late in his freshman season and has started 27 straight games in the middle. Marcus Buggs, another fifth-year senior, will start for the second straight season on the strong side. Sophomores Brandon Bryant and Patrick Benoist are battling for the start on the weak side.
Vanderbilt also struggled in the secondary last season. With the exception of safety Ben Koger, who had three starts last season, the same players return. Joel Caldwell, who started 11 games at cornerback as a redshirt freshman, was moved to safety in the spring. Caldwell Reshard Langford and Ryan Hamilton appear set as starters with Caldwell competing for playing time. Myron Lewis and D.J. Moore, who broke into the starting lineup four games into his true freshman season, will also see action in the seconday. The nickel back will be sophomore Darlron Spead.
Vanderbilt's struggles on special teams continued in 2006. The Commodores ranked eighth in the SEC in net punting, 12th in punt returns and 10th in kickoff returns. Kicker Bryant Hahnfeldt connected on 8-of-17 field goals but he did have the game-winner to beat Georgia. Hahnfeldt will return as the kicker and could also handle punting duties. He will battle sophomore Brett Upson (37.4-yard average in '06) for the job in preseason camp.
What's at stake: It may still be Vanderbilt - the consensus sixth place team in the SEC east - and a team destined for another losing season, but it's a much improved team capable of giving any SEC team more than it cares for. If Ole Miss is to get back to a bowl game, it desperately needs this win in Nashville.
Key offensive match up: Vanderbilt is strong on offense, but has some holes on defense. The Rebels must exploit those. The Rebels should be able to run against Vanderbilt, but also need to get a passing game opened up where the Commodores can't concentrate only on stopping the run.
Key defensive match up: Nickson missed most of last year's game in Oxford due to an injury, but poses a threat with a strong arm and great elusiveness. The Rebels need to contain him and get solid coverage on star wide receiver Earl Bennett to keep the Commodores in check.
Ole Miss will win the game if: Gets the passing game going and can slow down the Commodore offense.
Ole Miss will lose the game if: Doesn't play with the same effort it'll have to give Florida the following week. The talent edge may go to Ole Miss, but the experience factor rests with Vanderbilt. The Commodores come into the game thinking they should have won last year, and will be prepared to show that the better team last year lost.