2011 Vanderbilt Commodores Football Preview

Given the unique set of circumstances that will always make the Vanderbilt football job one of the toughest jobs in the country (high academic standards, being the smaller school in the state, limited resources), the Commodores  can ill afford to have perpetual turnover at the top. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what they’ve had as they enter the 2011 season with their third head coach in three years. Bobby Johnson’s late resignation in July of 2010 forced the school to hastily hire assistant Robbie Caldwell for what turned out to be a one-year tenure. Caldwell then resigned and former Maryland head coach in waiting James Franklin now takes over a program that has won just four games since the Music City Bowl season of 2008. Franklin faces many challenges heading into the 2011 season, but an experienced squad returns and that should help ease the pain of another coaching change.

Normally a coach would be elated to return all eleven starters on offense. Vanderbilt, however, returns those eleven starters from an offense that ranked at or near the bottom in the SEC in nearly every offensive category. The Commodores averaged a paltry 16.9 points per game and just 159.4 yards per per game through the air in 2010. For those numbers to increase, they’ll need significantly better play from quarterback Larry Smith, who seemed to be a rising star in the 2008 Music City Bowl season but has struggled in the two subsequent campaigns. Smith reached rock bottom in 2010, splitting time with Jared Funk and finishing the season with just six touchdowns and five interceptions. He will need to post significantly better numbers in 2011 if Vanderbilt is to entertain any notion of getting out of the SEC East cellar and perhaps back to the postseason.

The return of all the skill position players that contributed in 2010 should help boost production in the coming year. Running back Warren Norman averaged six yards per carry in 2010 and his backfield mate Zac Stacy also returns. In addition to the backfield, Vanderbilt also returns all four of its leading receivers from a year ago. None of the receivers posted big numbers in 2010, but with a year under their belts and a (hopefully) more consistent Smith throwing the ball, coaches are hoping to see more production through the air. New offensive coordinator John Donovan will install more of a pro-style offense that relies on running the ball and making short, accurate throws rather than having Smith work mostly from the shotgun, as he did previously. This should also help the offense while still utilizing Smith’s mobility in the offense. If Smith struggles, do not be surprised if true freshman Lafonte Thourogood is given some opportunities to play and perhaps show Vanderbilt fans the future at quarterback.

Defensively, the Commodores need drastic improvement if they have any designs on a better 2011.   Franklin likes to joke that being a defense-minded man was why Vanderbilt hired him in the first place. Vanderbilt will need every bit of his expertise to improve a defense that gave up over 30 points per game and almost 200 yards per game on the ground in 2010. Up front, three starters return in addition to a lot of small but quick defensive linemen who saw playing time due to a rash of injuries. The Commodores will still be young and a bit undersized, but there is some tested depth on the roster.

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The defensive line will need to play well and be much stouter against the run than it was in 2010, because only one linebacker returns. That one returning linebacker, Chris Marve, was the only dependable linebacker the team had last year. Franklin said he still considers linebacker a position of concern heading into the fall. August camp will continue the battle for the two outside linebacker positions, and if suitable prospects don’t emerge, the Commodores could be in for another long year against powerful rushing teams.

The good news is the secondary returns almost completely intact and is full of bona fide SEC-caliber talent. Casey Hayward was voted second team All-SEC at cornerback in 2010 after posting six interceptions. Eddie Foster started most of the season at the other cornerback position and returns along with both starting safeties Sean Richardson and Kenny Ladler. Given how much Vanderbilt struggled to stop the run last season, don’t be surprised to see Franklin’s defense take a lot more chances with stacking the box and run blitzes and lean on his secondary to play well in man coverage. If it does, the Commodores should show improvement in 2011.

The schedule is the typical SEC grinder and doesn’t give Vanderbilt any breathers out of conference. Vanderbilt hosts defending Big East champion Connecticut in week two. Two weeks later it begins a three-week stretch that features games at South Carolina, at Alabama, and then at home against Georgia. Avoiding LSU from the West helps, but trips to Florida, Tennessee, and Wake Forest to end the season likely mean that while the team may be improved, the win-loss record might not reflect it.