NASHVILLE — Robbie Caldwell promised changes, and Vanderbilt’s first-year head coach has made his first big move.
Caldwell announced Monday he has promoted Des Kitchings to offensive coordinator and moved former coordinator Jimmy Kiser to handling the Commodores’ quarterbacks. The head coach promised changes after a 21-7 loss to then-No. 19 South Carolina on Saturday night.
Vanderbilt (2-5, 1-3 Southeastern Conference) led 7-0 against South Carolina, but couldn’t put any more points on the board. They finished with 250 yards offense and held the ball only 22 minutes, 39 seconds.
“We’re a fragile bunch offensively. We’ve got to do some simple things and make them click so we can stay” on the field, Caldwell said. “We’ve got to string some plays together. We haven’t been able to do that.
“Who knows how big the fire becomes that you ignite. By any means, we’re going to fight harder than ever. I’m excited. Everybody’s excited it appears. We’ll know more by Wednesday and see how we react.”
Caldwell wouldn’t say how long he had been considering the changes to his staff. He took over as head coach July 14 when Bobby Johnson retired about seven weeks before Vanderbilt’s season opener.
The Commodores currently rank 105th out of 120 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision in total offense averaging 305.9 yards per game. They also rank 105th in scoring offense, averaging 18.9 points per game, and in passing offense with 159.6 yards per game.
Since putting up 432 yards in a 23-21 loss to Northwester in the season opener, the Commodores have struggled to move the ball.
Vanderbilt managed 135 yards in 27-3 loss to LSU and 140 in a 43-0 shutout loss at Georgia. The Commodores average time of possession is 25:24 minutes per game, and they are converting only 24 percent on third down this season (21 of 89). Only San Jose State is worse on third down than Vandy nationally.
Caldwell said he thought about promoting offensive line coach Herb Hand, the one hire he had to make to replace himself on the coaching staff. Hand was offensive coordinator at Tulsa. But Caldwell said Hand has his hands full coaching a unit playing a handful of freshmen, redshirt freshmen and sophomores.
“They’re on board with it and excited about it,” Caldwell said of his coaches on the changes.
Johnson had switched up his coaching staff earlier this year before retiring. He moved Ted Cain from offensive coordinator to coaching tight ends and special teams among other changes.
This is Kitchings’ first job as offensive coordinator. The 32-year-old coach doesn’t have much time. Vandy visits No. 19 Arkansas (5-2, 2-2) on Saturday.
“I’m not sure what that does,” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said of the change. “We can’t really worry about that. We just have to practice for what they’ve been doing and go against what their tendencies are right now.”
Kitchings said he will decide later this week whether to call plays from the field or the box.
“I can’t say you’ll see a big difference at this stage in the season,” Kitchings said. That would be unfair to the kids to do an overhaul. Some things we’d like to do different, maybe give us a chance to be more efficient on offense and score some points.”
Vanderbilt has been using a no-huddle, hurry-up type offense the past two years. Asked if this change means the Commodores are moving away from that, Caldwell said he wouldn’t say what they are doing since they have to visit Arkansas.
“We might be going to the wishbone,” Caldwell said.
They will be trying to get the ball more to running backs Warren Norman and Zac Stacy. Caldwell said they are the closest to playmakers they have on offense.
“You’ll notice a different approach a little. There’s some things I want to get going, and coach Kitchings understands that and hopefully we’ll move forward from this point,” Caldwell said.
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Comments » 8
jobrando#216494 writes:
Could we follow this lead and do the same. Please CDD
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
I understand exactly how you feel because I am VERY CONCERNED about Chaney...His play-calling is way too conservative when it's not the right time to be and viseversa..When I was talking with someone about him, this person described it as "blatantly bad that it's so obvious to most people who know anything about football"...I have tried to patient with him and give him the benefit of the doubt..I'm not sure that I can do it any more because the play-calling just gets worse...I definitely think that CDD needs to consider other options when the season is over..I was willing to give the WHOLE COACHING STAFF A CHANCE, but my patience is running out on Chaney.
FWBVol writes:
I assure you I know plenty about football, and what is obvious to me is that Chaney is stuck with a young team that limits his options in play calling.
We have freshmen wide receivers that are still trying to figure out where they need to line up and what routes they should run.
We may have started the same five offensive linemen in two consecutive games, and the freshmen on the offensive line outnumber the seniors five to one.
We have two quarterback, one being a freshman, that are playing SEC football for the first time. And our best running back missed a large part of one game with a thigh injury.
You can't bake a pie without the right ingredients, and at this time Chaney doesn't have what he needs to work with to make a tasty offensive treat fans will enjoy.
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
I know you are very knowledgable about football because I have read and agreed with many of your posts...I appreciate your response.
RoadTrip writes:
You have the analysis dead on for the offense. One thing I saw Saturday night was that our O-line did a reasonably good job on some real stud Bama D-lineman. Simplify and pound the rock and use dump passes until the other defense gets tired. We have got to give our defense some rest. Simms always wants to hit the homerun nearly every throw and holds it too long. He has to learn to check it down to short quick passes and runs that move the chains. I know Chaney is afraid to throw it short over the middle because I have seen a dozen passes this year in the area that could/should have been intercepted. Well, if he can't do it, sit him, and have Bray do controlled drives mixed 50-50% run/pass with Poole running it 25 times a game. That means the fullback needs to be major part of the game plan.
We are too inexperienced at receiver to go 4 wide unless we have to. They can't even line up right, much less go in motion or run a pattern as they should. G-Jones gets it and that is about it.
FWBVol writes:
Thanks for the kind words. I guess those of us who weren't very good players in high school learned to soak up everything we could. On top of that I've spent the last 15 years as a sports writer covering high school football. I've had more than one conversation when I've picked the brian of a high school coach so I could have a better understanding of what schemes they were running and what they were expecting from the other team.
givehim6 writes:
WOW, After reading this article I said to myself now some upset fan will say, Now UT should do this. To my suprise several said, we should do it to. Change your staff around mid-season? Talking about adding confusion to your team. Caldwell said Vandy was a fraggle bunch offensively so what does he do? Change coordinates. Do you see what your saying? You want to patron the Vols after Vandy, yes they do have an SEC win and we do not but this does not mean Vandy knows what there doing. Yes I might be old school but changes should happen in off season.
OTPVol writes:
Sal-lute!
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