Slate eases considerably for the offense
Vanderbilt entered the season with an expectation it would move the ball and put up points. The Commodores did that to a fair degree against the non-conference portion of their slate, but have struggled against Southeastern Conference opponents, averaging just 15.3 points and 306.3 yards in four league games.
There is an acceptable explanation for some of it.
First, running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who exited the Florida game three minutes into the second quarter after ripping off 131 yards and a score on eight touches, hasn’t played since due to a concussion.
Second, it’s not been the easiest schedule for an offense to play. The Commodores have faced Kentucky (12.9 points per game), Georgia (16.3), Florida (16.6) and South Carolina (25.3) in league games so far.
Finally, the Commodores played in difficult conditions at Kentucky, with Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason noting he’d never played through what he termed “40 to 45-mile-per-hour winds.”
Vanderbilt doesn’t figure to have many excuses going forward.
Mason expects Vaughn to return for Saturday’s game at Arkansas, which gives up 32.2 points per game. In fact, the Commodores’ four remaining games come against the league’s four-worst scoring defenses in No. 11 Tennessee (30.0), No. 12 Missouri (30.9), the No. 13 Razorbacks and No. 13 Ole Miss (34.6).
The Razorbacks are fresh off a 23-0 shutout of Tulsa. The Commodores have lost five of six, but coach Derek Mason thinks his team is close to turning things around.
“This football team continues to grow,” Mason said. “Not far away. There are no small victories in this deal, but when it’s all said and done, there’s information there to be had in that ballgame. We’ve got to take that information and turn it into action.”
Certainly, recent history is on VU’s side in terms of producing against what’s left on the schedule. Vanderbilt hasn’t played Arkansas since 2011, but last year put up 17 on Missouri, 35 against Ole Miss and 42 against Tennessee.
Vanderbilt will need to get tight end Jared Pinkney more heavily involved. The 6-foot-4, 255-pound junior had 12 catches for 241 yards the first three games, but has only 13 catches for 151 yards since.