Ranking the Opponents: No. 10 Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt’s star quarterback considered forgoing his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft. Cutler is one of the best signal callers in the SEC. He has started for three years utilizing a balanced attack of passing and running to keep opposing defenses off balance.

Coaches have said the senior brings a confident attitude to Vandy’s offense. That’s not easy to do in Nashville. Cutler and his offensive friends gave Tennessee fits in 2004.

UT won 38-33 but the Commodores had the ball late in the fourth quarter with a chance to win. The problem for UT was at one position: left cornerback. Vanderbilt’s big day underlined this fact, "If Cutler can find a weak spot, he’ll exploit it."

Tennessee should be better at cornerback this season.

It’s impossible to say what emotional impact the tragic shooting death of running back Kwane Doster will have on Vanderbilt’s football players.

On the field, Vanderbilt loses its most talented young player. Doster was named the SEC Freshman of the Year after averaging 4.9 yards per carry and gaining 502 total yards from scrimmage.

Jeff Jennings and Cassen Jackson-Garrison will try to fill the role. Both are considered power backs. Running the ball outside the tackles could be a challenge.

Jackson-Garrison is from Knoxville Central High School. He has enough speed if he gets an open lane. He has power to break tackles but he was more of a straight-ahead runner who played some fullback in high school. Jennings is from Jefferson County.

Zach Logan and David Whittington will compete for the starting fullback position. Both are inexperienced.

Vanderbilt’s coaches said they are pleased with the improvement of an inexperienced offensive line during spring practice. The Commodores must replace two departed starters: Justin Geisinger and Brian Kovolisky.

Sophomores Hamilton Holliday and Chris Williams and seniors Ryan King and Nigel Seaman were some of the more impressive offensive linemen. Center should be a strength with Trey Holloway returning for a second year as a starter.

Still, this running game should struggle against UT’s defensive tackles and speedy linebackers.

Erik Davis is a solid wide receiver. Marlon White will start opposite him. Vanderbilt coaches tried to find depth at the position by working Jason Caldwell, Jason Burns, Bryant Anderson and Sean Walker extensively during spring practice.

Weakside linebacker Moses Osemwegie appears to be on the verge of a big year. After an All-SEC season in 2004, the senior was impressive in spring practice.

Kevin Joyce is a likely starter at strongside linebacker. Sophomore Jonathan Goff and senior Otis Washington competed for the starting middle linebacker position throughout spring practice.

Andrew Pace moved from safety to cornerback, where Vanderbilt lost two starters. Sean Dixon and Cheron Thompson are also competing for one of the starting cornerback roles. Reshard Langford and Funtaine Hunter are competing for the safety spot left open by Pace.

If UT’s receivers are as good as advertised, the Vols should be able to exploit Vanderbilt’s secondary.

Vanderbilt’s defensive line is an interesting mix. Herdley Harrison was moved from linebacker to be a speed rusher. The player to watch is Lamar Divens who has plenty of talent.

Vanderbilt will give the Vols all they can, but will it be much? If Vanderbilt is still playing for nothing as they often are in November, can Cutler’s confidence endure and carry this team?