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Miami to face formidable opponent in Vanderbilt
Commodores coming off upset of South Carolina last week thanks to their strong defense.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
OXFORD — Vanderbilt has an offense in transition. And that, according to Miami University football coach Shane Montgomery, could make the Commodores a formidable opponent today.
That, and the fact that last week the Commodores upset South Carolina (ranked No. 6 at the time) and the week before came within a whisker of doing the same to Georgia (ranked No. 24).
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"We've got a very tough, challenging game at Vanderbilt against a very good football team," Montgomery said, noting that the Commodores did not allow a touchdown against South Carolina.
"They made a quarterback change a couple weeks ago and are running the ball more now," he noted.
The new starting quarterback is sophomore Mackenzie Adams. The previous starter, junior Chris Nickson, had thrown more passes for more yards per game, but also had more interceptions and a lower completion percentage.
In each of the last two games, Vanderbilt has gained the majority of its yards on the ground (an average of 162.5 rushing, 127.0 passing).
Montgomery isn't convinced that will continue today.
Adams, he said, "is a big, strong kid who throws the ball very well, is very athletic. And they've got one of the all-time leading receivers in the (Southeastern Conference) in Earl Bennett. When you've got a guy like that, you always have to be ready for the passing game.
"I feel like they're still feeling out what they're trying to do," he said.
The Commodores have some solid but unspectacular running backs, led by junior Jeff Jennings (3.8 yards per carry), Cassen Jackson-Garrison (3.8) and Adams (4.2).
The key to their 17-6 win over South Carolina last week wasn't so much rushing offense as it was rushing defense. Vanderbilt held South Carolina to just 26 yards on 22 carries.
Miami hopes to get its own ground game back on track. After rushing for 262 yards against Bowling Green on Oct. 13, the RedHawks were held to 56 yards in last week's 24-17 loss at Temple.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com
