The Good, Bad And Ugly From Week One

A Mixed Bag For Commodores in Season Opening Loss To Georgia

The Georgia Bulldogs showed us all Saturday exactly why they are considered one of the potential favorites to end the season in the college football playoffs. Their season opening 30-6 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores featured a strong running game, efficient passing and a styfulling defense. 

For Vanderbilt, the night might best be described as a mixed bag. There are definitely areas that must be improved, but there were some positives to take into week two that should be as encouraging to the Commodore faithfull. 

Let's take a look at the good, bad and ugly from week one.

THE GOOD

Quarterback Riley Neal: Starting his first game for the Commodores as a grad transfer was not exactly great, but he wasn't bad either. 

That might sound confusing or contradictory, but follow the thought here. His numbers were pedestrian, but then so were the rushing stats and offense as a whole, but what Neal did and did well was take care of the football. He did not throw an interception and took the check downs and did not force the football. That's encouraging, and not many teams left on the schedule- LSU- have a defense as good as the Dogs. 

Defense:  The defense was shakey in the first quarter, giving up two touchdowns, got somewhat better in the second quarter and then settled in and held Georgia to just 9 second half points. Yes the 21 first half points doomed Vandy for the game, but looking for psoitives, the defense did get better as the game went along. 

The old football addage is that teams improve the most from week one to week two, and if the defense does that this coming Saturday against Purdue, this team will have a chance to grab a road win against a Power 5 opponent. 

The Bad 

Tight End Jared Pinkney: Many project him as a potential first round NFL draft selection, but he suffered through a night you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. The Commodores tight end was held to just two receptions for 11 yards, with the longest of those being 9 yards.

Pinkney was also called for being illegally down field as a reciever and for holding on the same drive. That penalty yardage negated his 11 recieving yards for the game. Wihtout question he has got to produce more for this offense the rest of the way. He's more than capable and should have a nice bounce-back against the Boilermakers. 

The Passing Game:  While Neal was careful and took care of the football, the passing game as a whole was not good. Neal finished 14 of 25 for 85 yards and Deuce Wallace 2of 6 for 24 yards. Reciever Cam Johnson had the other attempot, which was negated by the ineligible reciever penalty on Pinkney. 

Those numbers would make it hard to win most games, but against elite teams, that's impossible. 

The Ugly

Offensive Line: I never want to bash players at the college level, but to be honest to our readers I have to tell the truth as I see it. There wasn't one lineman who stood out as terrible individually, but collectively this young group stuggled against Georgia. 

Yes the offense managed to rush for 109 yards, but much of that was Ke'Shawn Vaughn breaking some tackles and getting tough yards after contact. They also strugled in pass protection much of the game. 

Again, this is ann area that should improve this week. Playing top level competition can only help this group grow and improve, at least that's the hope. 

There's no denying the Dores struggled against UGA, but we should find out more about this team this week against a team not in the running for the college football playoffs.