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Vandy making strides under Johnson By Pat Forde Special to ESPN.com |
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Vanderbilt Commodores
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Coach: Bobby Johnson (2-10, 2nd season) 2002 overall record: 2-10 Conference record: 0-8 Returning starters Offense: 7 Defense: 8 Kicker/Punter: 1 2002 statistical leaders (* - returners) Rushing: Kwane Doster* (798 yds) Passing: Jay Cutler* (1,433 yds) Receiving: Dan Stricker (620 yds) Tackles: Hunter Hillenmeyer (168) Sacks: Hunter Hillenmeyer (4) Interceptions: Jonathan Shaub (3) Outlook: The hope in the non-orange section of Nashville is that Bobby Johnson's growth chart will be steep. Prior to getting the Vanderbilt job last year, 24 of Johnson's 25 years of coaching had been at Furman, with just a single big-time season sprinkled in (defensive coordinator at Clemson in 1993). So last year was a learning year about life in the SEC. And at Vanderbilt, mostly what you learn is the difficulty of breaking the cycle of defeat. Nevertheless, there were isolated incidents of optimism from Year One under Johnson. For the first time in a decade, Vandy did not lose an SEC game by more than 25 points. It scored its most points in an SEC game in five years (38) in a shootout loss to Mississippi. It scored its most points in any game (49 against Furman) since 1989. The 'Dores lost their top four tackles and top two receivers, including true mainstays Hunter Hillenmeyer on defense and Dan Stricker on offense. But a team that lived by the run should thrive in that area, with option-running Jay Cutler at quarterback, four quality backs behind him and three returning starters on the line. What Cutler must prove is that he's capable of throwing well enough to keep defenses more honest than the average used-car salesman. The tough-minded Cutler completed fewer than 50 percent of his passes and was virtually 50-50 on touchdowns (10) and interceptions (nine) -- and that's with the school's all-time leading receiver in Stricker as a target. Vandy scored just 34 first-quarter points last year and punted more frequently than any other team in the league, proving itself unable to surprise opponents. It was last in the league in total offense. Then again, it was last in the league in total defense, too. Vandy must prove that its defense can stand up and stuff the run after surrendered an ungodly 30 rushing touchdowns, by far the most in the SEC. Sophomore end Jovan Haye, already voted the defensive captain, will lead that unit. The chronic lack of big-play, game-breaking speed and athleticism is again an issue. Last year Vandy was the only team in the SEC not to score a touchdown via defense or the kicking game, and a league-low 13 percent of its points came after forcing turnovers. Keep an eye on: The sophomore class. Vanderbilt came out of spring practice with 23 sophs on its 44-man two-deep chart, including perhaps its three best players: Cutler, Haye and tailback Kwane Doster. (Doster set a school freshman rushing record last year with 798 yards -- despite being a backup part of the year and then missing the final game with an ankle sprain.) That group should be the one that decides Johnson's fate at Vanderbilt -- and, with a few huge breaks, could be the one that ultimately leads the Commodores to their first winning season since 1982. Key game: Vandy will be presented a great opportunity right away to show that this year will be different. A Mississippi team thinking big and eyeing a 4-0 start comes to Nashville Aug. 30 to play a Commodores team it barely survived last year in Oxford. Given Vanderbilt's experience level, it should be ready for this opener. We'll find out whether the Commodores are good enough to win it. If they are, Johnson earns an immediate and substantial credibility boost. It's a good year if. . .: Vandy has lost 17 straight SEC games, has only won two in a season once since 1994 and has never finished higher than fifth in the six-team East since the league went to divisional play in 1992. Knocking off a single league opponent would play well in Nashville, and knocking off two might cause pandemonium. Anything more than the usual two victories on the year would be an improvement. Chattanooga and Navy are on the schedule for that very purpose, but to reach three the Commodores will have to find away to beat someone else in the league that eternally dominates them. Pat Forde covers college football for the Louisville Courier-Journal.
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