Nov 26, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Kyle Shurmur (14) attempts a pass during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium. Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Vanderbilt’s offenses have generally been horrible for most of the past quarter-century.
That might change in 2017.
After fielding one of the worst offenses in America during the first half of the 2016 season, the light came on. In Vandy’s last six games, the Commodores averaged 443 yards and 28 points.
Left tackle Will Holden, a fifth-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals, is gone, and so is starting center Barrett Gouger. But practically everyone else of significance returns.
That includes junior quarterback Kyle Shurmur. As coaches gained confidence in his ability to grasp the offense last season, the playbook expanded.
The ‘Dores return three quality wide receivers in seniors in Trent Sherfield — coach Derek Mason called him the offense’s most improved player in August — Caleb Scott and C.J. Duncan. Also watch for talented sophomore Kalija Lipscomb, probably the most explosive of the bunch.
Vanderbilt also has capable down-field threats in Sam Dobbs and Jared Pinkney.
As for the ground game, senior running back Ralph Webb amassed 1,449 yards from scrimmage last year despite battling injuries, and may wind up as the Southeastern Conference’s No. 2 all-time rusher.
Behind him, Khari Blasingame scored 10 touchdowns, and the coaches and players rave about the potential of redshirt freshman Jamauri Wakefield.
The Commodores’ offensive line improved markedly under first-year offensive line coach Cameron Norcross in 2016 and now has good depth. A fierce battle has ensued in camp, with seven linemen battling for five starting spots. Norcross and Mason aim to play the best five, and sort out the positions along the way.
No, this group isn’t vintage Southern California or Ohio State. But for SEC fans used to seeing an impotent Vandy offense, this year could be an eye-opener.
With the offense seemingly ahead of the defense, there seem to be more key questions on that side of the ball.
Among them, who can create a pass rush? The most obvious answer seems to be outside linebacker Charles Wright, but the junior has just one career sack.
Creating sacks and interceptions have been a deficiency throughout Mason’s tenure. Vanderbilt had just 15 sacks and five interceptions last season.
MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER: QB Kyle Shurmur — He may not be Vandy’s best player — that would be running back Ralph Webb — but an injury to Shurmur would send the Commodores scrambling to Deuce Wallace or Sean Stankavage, neither of whom has taken a college snap. Shurmur’s numbers — a 53.3 percent completion percentage, 2,486 yards and nine touchdowns to 11 interceptions — weren’t great last year, but he was a different quarterback in the second half once he had command of the playbook and offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig loosened the reins. Shurmur has been sharp in practice, which is a big reason why coach Derek Mason recently assigned the passing game a grade of “A-minus to B-plus” for what it had done in fall camp.
BREAKOUT STAR: CB JoeJuan Williams — The Nashville native played more often as a true freshman as last season progressed; toward the end of the year, he seemed to play as many snaps as the starter (graduated Torren McGaster) ahead of him. Williams was a top 100 recruit until he was ruled ineligible for his senior year after transferring high schools, although programs such as LSU and Alabama pursued him right up until Signing Day in 2016. Williams, a physical corner who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds, had 19 stops and two breakups last year. He has the physical attributes to be an NFL player.
NEWCOMER TO WATCH: OT Devin Cochran — The 6-foot-7, 315-pound Cochran drew late recruiting interest from big schools before signing with VU in 2016, and he looked the part of an SEC offensive tackle the minute he reported to campus. He was listed as the backup left tackle all last year, but wasn’t quite ready mentally and the ‘Dores were able to preserve his redshirt year. Cochran entered fall camp as a backup but seems to have played his way into the conversation as a starter at right tackle.
–FB Bailey McElwain, a projected starter, has missed fall camp with a boot on his right foot. McElwain is a devastating blocker who started to see more use (six catches, two TDs) in the passing game at the end of 2016.
–DL Drew Birchmaier, who projected as a second-team end exiting spring practice, has missed all of fall camp with an undisclosed injury.
–LB Kenny Hebert, a potential second-teamer at outside linebacker, hasn’t participated in the scrimmage portion of fall camp.
–WR Donaven Tennyson, a third-string receiver, is the team’s fastest player and could be used in the return game. However, Tennyson had missed much of fall camp as of mid-August.
–OL Bruno Reagan, a starter at right guard last year, is getting an audition at center in fall camp.
