Three Key Matchups: Vanderbilt Vs UNLV
The Vanderbilt Commodores are in a must win situation, and will be for the remainder of the season if they want to find an invitation to a bowl game in their future. The visiting UNLV Rebels should be exactly what the doctor ordered later today at Vanderbilt Stadium.
However, as we all know, not much is simple or easy when it comes to the Commodores this football season.
When disecting this matchup the Rebels are struggling as much, if not more than the Commodores. Like Vanderbilt, with just one win on their record, UNLV needs a win and are likely looking at the Commodores and thinking this is a resume building game that they can win.
Here are the three key matchups to watch in this battle of 1-4 teams, both desperate for a win.
1) Commodores lines vs UNLV lines: It starts upfront where football game are won and lost in the trenches. This seems simple, but it's the biggest key in this one.
We've seen the Commodores dominated up front by stronger, or more physical teams. That can't be the case in this one.
UNLV has been beaten by stronger, more physical teams this season and if the Commodores are going to win, then they must carry the fight to the Rebels on both lines.
It's really that simple I think. The team who is most physical up front wins this one.
1) Jared Pinkney Vs UNLV Defense: The Rebels defense allows 238.6 yards per game passing this season and have struggled to stop the passing game against everyone they've played, including in their only win over Southern Utah.
Pinkney is a mismatch of epic proportions, or at least should be and the Commodores need to get him involved early and often.
With just 2 receptions for 8 yards in the last two games combined, Pinkney should be ready to go and the Commodores should look to him to get this one rolling. From the limitred amount of film I was able to see, the Vegas defense has no one who can match him and with the other skill players the Commodores have, I think the Rebels will play lots of man coverage, meaning Pinkney should be able to beat whomever has him,
3) Riley Neal Vs Himself: Derek Mason said earlier this week that Neal will start, but that Deuce Wallace will play.
Right now it seems that Neal is battling himself as much as he is opponents defenses. This is a game to fix that.
What do I mean? Watching Neal both in games and on film and you see that he has been hit and harrassed repeatedly and it seems he is spending more time presnap looking for where the pressure will come from than where he needs to go with the football.
Neal is never going to be Tom Brady- thought I wish him the best and wouldn't mind if he proved me wrong here- but he can certainly be Brady-like if he can better determine where he needs to go with the ball before he has blitzers in his face and is forced to chuck it anywhere as a means of survival.
Part of this is in his own head. He's thinking too much and needs to be able to settle down and just play the game, and have fun doing it.
These are three very simple key matchups, some might even say too simple and without much in the way of actual analysis of UNLV, but this week is more about Vanderbilt and their problems as opposed to what UNLV presents, at least on film and paper anyway.
There's a reason they play the games and any team is capable of beating any other team on a given day so I'm no discounting the Rebels here, but if the Commodores can oversome themselves and win these things then it will be a happy postgame this evening on West End.
