Three Key Matchups For Vanderbilt-LSU Saturday

The Top Three Matchups To Watch Saturday As #4 LSU Visits Vanderbilt Stadium

There are many potential key matchups in any football game, but the three biggest for Vanderbilt this week are easy to find, but will be a challenge for the Commodres.

Let's dive in and see which three matchups we will be paying closest attention to when the Commodores and Tigers kick off Satruday morning at 11 am inside Vanderbilt Stadium.

1) LSU QB Joe Burrow vs Vandy DC Jason Tarver:  I know that Tarver will not be on the field chasing Burrow, but the defensive coordinator will be responsible for trying to find ways to put pressure on Burrow, who through three games has been nothing short of spectacular, completing 83.3 % of his passes for 1,122 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Whether it be blitzes, disguising coverages or moving people around to try to confuse his presnap reads, Tarver must find a way to at least slow down the Tigers senior signal-caller and keep his defense fresh into the fourth quarter for Vanderbilt to have a chance to pull the upset. Of course the players must do their part, but Tarver's plan will have to go a long way toward helping the be efficient and affective. 

2) Vandy TE Jared Pinkney vs LSU S Grant Delpit:  Delpit is a consensus All-American and an almost certain first round NFL Draft selection, but then some people believe that Pinkney could be a first round selection himself. 

While a lot of what Pinkney does depends on how well the offensive line can protect Riley Neal and how well Neal will perform under the expected relentless pressure of the Tigers front seven, Pinkney can ave a major impact on this game. 

Vanderbilt needs to be able to run the football successfully versus the Tigers, and part of being able to do that will depend on how well Pinkney can produce down the middle of the field. Having the tight end making plays will force defensive coordinator Dave Aranda to keep Delpit at depth and not allow him to become a presence closer to the line of scrimmage. 

If the Commodores, and Pinkney in particular can't find  some success down the middle of the field and the Tigers can crowd the box and come downhill, look out. 

3) Riley Neal vs Riley Neal:  Neal will have his hands full Saturday against a fast, physical and aggressive defense, but for the Commodores signal caller his challenge is to play within himself, make quick decisions, take what the defense gives him and not force throws into danger against a ball hawking secondary. 

It's ok for a quarterback to take the check downs when there is no other options. We saw Neal do a good job of this against Georgia and there will be times when that will be what he will have to do in this one, but then he most make the post of the limited chances he as to take some deeper shots with sideline outs, comebacks and back shoulder throws.

He doesn't have to pass for 400 yards, though that would go a long way toward a positive outcome, but he does have to combine some of the check from game one with some of the longer distance plays of game two. 

Being efficient and not putting the ball in harms way will also be key.

It's a tough ask for for the Commodores in these three matchups, but to win they will have to be successful or at least play the Tigers to a draw to have a chance at their first win of the season.