Five Things I Want To See From Vanderbilt Versus The LSU Tigers

Finding Five Things I'd Like To See Vanderbilt Do Against LSU On Saturday Is Easy

It can be hard sometimes to find things in a football game that are not cookie cutter traits of any football game, but when it comes to the winless Vanderbilt Commodores hosting the undefeated, and #3 ranked LSU Tigers this Saturday, the cookie cutter things are the best option. 

Here are the five things I want to see from the Commodores this week.

1) MENTALLY READY: Hopefully the off week will help the Commodores shake off the unexplainable occurances that took place against Purdue. Metal mistakes so simple as lining up offsides on defense cost them big time. Making those same mistakes nd not being mentally ready, and tough against LSU will not be a good thing. 

2) BE PHYSICAL: LSU is known as, and plays a physical brand of football. The teams who are able to defeat them are able to either match, or exceed them in physicality. It's a tough challenge for anyone, but to get their attention and respect the Commodores need to bring their big boy clothes and lay the lumber to the Tigers early and often. 

3) RUN, RUN, RUN: Keeping the high powered Tiger offense in check all day is nearly impossible, but Vanderbilt can help themselves here if they can possess the football and control the clock. The easiest way to do that is to run the football efficiently, then run it some more. It doesn't matter if it's Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Riley Neal or other backs and receivers, as long as they are gaining yards, keeping the Tigers defense on the field and eating up minutes on the clock. 

4) MOVE BURROW: LSU quarterback Joe Burrow is completing 83% of his passes through the first three games, he will hurt you if he has time to stand and survey the field. A pass rush is a must. Getting him moving, whether it's in the pocket or forcing him to scramble left or right. He is mobile and and can hurt you with his legs, but he is more dangerous left alone in the pocket to chuck it all over the yard. Obviously getting hits on him would be big but that might be a tall order, so if the Commodores defense can make him uncomfortable in the pocket and get him moving where he doesn't want to go, then you might be in to something. 

5) THE BIG THREE GO OFF: Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Jared Pinkney and Kalija Lipscomb need to go off to the tune of 300 combined yards. It doesn't matter who, or how but if the three biggest offensive weapons for the Commodores are held in check then there is little chance Vanderbilt can pull the upset. 

Vaughn has just 32 attempts for 130 yards in two games. Totals like that for this game will be needed for Vanderbilt to win. Likewise, Pinkney has just 5 receptions for 72 yards while Lipscomb leads the Commodores in receptions with for 106 yards through two games. 

Only Vaughn has found the endzone, once while the others are both looking to find paydirt for the first time this season.      

The number was 300 yards combined, which is almost exactly what the three have combined for during the first two games. It's time for them to break out. 

We'll find out if the Commodores can fulfill any of these Saturday.