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GAME 8 II VHNmiLT Vanderbilt at USC Saturday, Oct. 25 Columbia, S.C. BY BEN SINCLAIR THE GAMECOCK The Vanderbilt Commodores head into this season hoping to break out of the SEC cellar. Despite the job head coach Bobby Johnson is doing, this might not be that season. Vanderbilt has shown it is more competitive under Coach Johnson, and last season, Vanderbilt was within a touch down of defeating Ole Miss, South Carolina and Florida. The offense and defense return six starters each, including freshman All-SEC quarterback Jay Cutler and run ning back Kwame Doster. On the other hand, Vanderbilt rallied to beat Connecticut and lost to Middle Tennessee State last season, while finishing 95th or worse nationally in total offense, passing offense, scoring offense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense and turnover margin. “It sure helps having been through a year," Johnson said. “When we looked back through the season and evaluated what we did, we felt like we left some games out there. Hopefully, a year's experience of our team be mg with this Stan win neip us do better in those situations.” Vanderbilt is extremely young, with the first-string defense con sisting entirely of sophomores — a sure recipe for disaster in the SEC. Only one senior has a realistic shot of starting for Vanderbilt this fall and that is tight end Nick Getter. Vanderbilt hopes to be more ef fective moving the ball this sea son. Sophomore Jay Cutler threw for over 1,400 yards and 10 touch downs his freshman season. “Jay Cutler makes us tick—he can run the football, he can pass it,” Johnson said. “I think some of Jay's good plays this year will be when receivers aren't open and just pulling it down and running sometimes.” If Vanderbilt has any depth, it is at running back. SEC Freshman of the Year Kwame Doster, who may be the most talented Vanderbilt player, returns for the Commodores. Vanderbilt also has no return ing starters at wide receiver. Vandy’s most experienced receiv er, Brandon Smith, caught 19 pass es ana aia not score iasi season. Vanderbilt is known for develop ing great linebackers like current NFL stars Jamie Duncan and Jamie Winbom. The linebackers will an chor this defense as well. Sophomore Moses Osemwegie is likely to lead the team in tackles again, while Otis Washington, who was redshirted two years ago and benched for aca demic reasons last fall, has played well over the summer. There are plenty of concerns de fensively with one starter on the defensive line and one on the sec ondary, both of whom are sopho mores. Special teams could also be an adventure with freshmen taking over the placekicking and punting duties. “We will not try field goals at the dis tance we tried last year because we don't have Greg (Johnson), even though our guys have been extremely accu rate from 40 yards and in during pre-season practice,” Johnson said. “We may consid er going for it on fourth down in those situations.” Look for Doster to re turn kickoffs, while sel dom-used receiver Erik Davis will get the first shot at returning punts. Vanderbilt could be fa vored to Win two games this season at home against Chattanooga and Navy, but currently sport a 17-game SEC losing streak. PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK Vanderbilt’s Jay Cutler, who was named to last season’s Freshman All-SEC team, had a total of 19 total touchdowns, rushing and passing. Don't fight parking^ J|f|>§ FOR FREBl ©Free High Speed Ethernet ©Washer and Dryer ©24 hr. Fitness Center ©Resort Style Pool ©Game Room © 24 hr. Computer Lab ©Jacuzzi — Individual Leasing CALL TODAY fj ; .. I-<* STERLING UNIVERSITY ^uve^vyicl^ 1.~l 215 Spencer Place Cayce, SC 29033 739-0899 www.5fer7fnghousfng.com