Vanderbilt Three Keys: South Carolina

Three keys Vanderbilt

The Vanderbilt Commodores host South Carolina on Saturday in Nashville. Here are your three keys to a Vandy win over the Gamecocks.

By Don Yates

1. More chunk plays

Vanderbilt is much improved in third down conversion rate this season. However, there’s not much to show for that improvement in points scored. The reason? Vandy is getting first downs but is lacking in chunk plays (over 20-yard gains). Drives are bogging down after a couple of first downs are made. Against LSU, Vandy had only two plays go for more than 20 yards, a Ja’Veon Marlow 22-yard run and a 40-yard reception by Cam Johnson. Against South Carolina, the Commodores need more big gain plays.

2. Protect Seals

Ken Seals has done a good job for Vandy since taking over as starting quarterback. However, he’s still young and inexperienced at the college level. He has been sacked a combined five times in the first two games. That is five too many. Part of that is on Seals too. Sacks are drive killers. He needs to get rid the ball earlier and take the incompletion instead of a big loss. Will Muschamp is one of the better defensive coaches in the league. He’s going to have his guys going hard after Seals. Vandy’s blockers need to do their jobs.

3. Odeyingbo dominates

Dayo Odeyingbo is one of the top defensive linemen in the SEC. He’s a 6-foot-6, 280 pound preseason 2nd team All-SEC pick for 2020. He currently leads the SEC in quarterback hurries with three. So far this season he has a sack to go along with two tackles for losses. Hopefully, he will have about that on Saturday. The Commodores need for him to have a career, marquee game against the Gamecocks.

Saturday‘s game kicks off at 11:00 AM CT (12:00 PM ET). Watch on the SEC Network.

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