Vanderbilt’s offense has spent the first two weeks searching for rhythm, and the reshaped offensive line sits right in the middle of that process.
The Commodores know they have not played to their standard on either side of the ball, and the offense has looked uneven through wins over Austin Peay and Delaware. The early sluggishness, followed by a better stretch in the middle of last week’s game, has left Vanderbilt with a clear label for what it’s been so far: inconsistent.
Some of that comes from the departures of Diego Pavia and Eli Stowers. Some of it comes from an offensive line that is still learning how to work together.
That group is starting to settle in, though. One of the new pieces, center Lyndon Cooper, said he likes the direction the line is heading even if the details still need work.
“I feel like we’ve been playing pretty good ball. We’ve got to clean up some communication with each other and get all on the same page. But overall, I feel like we’ve been playing good ball, getting a vertical movement in a game and trying to keep our quarterback protected,” Cooper said on his assessment of the offensive line’s performance.
For Cooper, the line’s pass protection and run blocking are not living in totally different worlds right now. He sees both as solid, if unfinished, with the biggest emphasis on keeping Vanderbilt’s quarterback clean. That quarterback is now officially five-star freshman Jared Curtis, which gives the offense a much clearer direction heading into Saturday’s game against NC State.
“We can clean up our communication in the pass pro world to just make sure all the looks are cleaner and make sure nobody touches our quarterback,” Cooper said.
The ground game has been steady, if not where Vanderbilt wants it yet. The Commodores have 286 rushing yards, and the staff wants more from Sedrick Alexander and MK Young. Cooper said the line’s ability to sustain drives will be a big part of unlocking more push in the run game as possessions wear on.
The bigger picture is simple enough: chemistry and consistency have to come faster now, because the schedule is about to stiffen. Saturday’s matchup should tell Vanderbilt a lot about where this season is headed, especially with the trench battle expected to be the most physical test the Commodores have faced so far.
There is also real value in having the quarterback situation settled. Curtis is now the starter, and there are no more plans to alternate him with Blaze Berlowitz. Cooper said that back-and-forth created a challenge for the line, even if it was one the group could manage.
“Dealing with two different quarterbacks, that’s two different people. So, sometimes there’s different flows to the game.
So, we have to adjust to that. I feel like the second game we got more adjusted with playing two different quarterbacks and I got in the flow,” Cooper said.
“I won’t say it’s difficult, but it’s two different humans and two different people with two different styles.”
Vanderbilt is hoping that a steady quarterback situation helps the offensive line settle in, communicate better, and start looking more like the unit it expects to be.
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Vanderbilt has put itself in the mix for one of the more intriguing recruiting battles on its board, with five-star basketball prospect Bentley Lusakueno already making the rounds to several high-profile programs. He has visited Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Georgia and Georgia Tech, and still has trips planned to Illinois and Iowa as he weighs his options.
What stood out from the Commodores pitch was the overall impression they made during his visit, from the coaching staff to the facilities to the style of play. Lusakueno remains undecided, with a wide-open process still unfolding, but Vanderbilt has done enough to stay firmly in the conversation as the race continues. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Faces A Defining Test As Offensive Pressure Builds
Vanderbilt heads into its matchup with NC State carrying more than just the usual nonconference stakes. The Commodores have spent the early part of the season trying to find consistency on offense, and the running game remains the clearest place where production has lagged. For a team still trying to establish its identity, this is the kind of game that can say a lot about where things are headed.
Ken Seals Curtis will be central to that effort, because Vanderbilt needs its quarterback to manage the game cleanly while the ground attack searches for traction. The challenge is sharpened by NC State quarterback Bailey, a dual-threat threat who can stress a defense in multiple ways and force Vanderbilt to stay disciplined snap after snap. For a program looking for evidence of progress, this matchup feels like an early measuring stick with plenty riding on the details. [Read more 🡒]