Five Things I Want To See From Vanderbilt Vs UNLV
Another week and here I go again, listing things I want to see from the Vanderbilt football team. This week however, I'm going a different direction, sort of anyway.
Perhaps I've been too demanding in things I want to see, so let's take a step back and simplify things and see how that works.
Here goes, the simplified want to see list for UNLV.
1) Let Neal/Wallace throw a pass and not get hit in the teeth when they let it go: Derek Mason said earlier this week that RIley Neal will start, but that Deuce Wallace will play, so this is for both those guys.
Last week in Oxford Neal got blasted almost every time he threw the football. Whether it was a lack of pass protection or Neal misreading coverages and putting himself in that possition, let's see if we can have a few passes today where he doesn't have to pick parts of the turf off himself after the ball is thrown.
2) Jared Pinkney in double figures: I was in the grocery store earlier this week and sure enough, there he was, Jared Pinkney on a milk carton. O.K. so that's not really true, but for the last two weeks he's certainly not been anywhere near productive for the Commodores offense on gameday.
A projected potential first round NFL draft pick next April, Pinkney has two, T-W-O receptions for 8 yards in the last two games. He has just 11 catches in five games for 127 yards and has yet to find the endzone for the season.
Somthing's not right if this guy can't get at leat 10 yards in receptions a game. So that's it for this one, 10 yards, or more for Jared today.
He, and his teammates could use the boost.
3) Tackle: That's it, just tackle. We saw multiple big runs from Ole Miss on missed tackles. Put people on the ground.
4) Vaughn smile: I don't know Ke'Shawn Vaughn, and just this season began covering this team, but in every interaction with him other than after the birth of his son, we don't see him smile enough.
He seems like a very personable young man with his head on straight, so he deserves to be able to smile on a Saturday while playing the game he loves.
5) A good performance: I started to go with a win here, but I don't want this to seem like I'm greedy, so in keeping it simple, a good performance win, lose or draw is the call.
What do I mean by good performance? When it's over regardless of the outcome, the players can walk away from it feeling like the played well and gave their best.
These are college athletes, and while I know without doubt they want to win, they also need to feel better about their efforts. A win would be the best medicine for that, but whatever happens, if it leaves them feeling better about this team and their situations then I'm all for it.
