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After a tough ending to its 2015 season, Vanderbilt will need to improve on both sides of the ball if it plans on becoming bowl eligible in 2016.
The Commodores lost their final two games by 20-plus points, but showed incremental progress during Derek Mason’s second year as Vanderbilt’s head coach, including earning two SEC wins and finishing fourth in the SEC East.
Here’s a look at a few more steps Vanderbilt will need to take during its offseason.
1. The Commodores’ need to improve their passing attack: Vanderbilt ranked last or next-to-last in the SEC in completion percentage, interceptions and completions of 20-plus yards. Sticking with Kyle Shurmur as its starting quarterback will provide some consistency for Vanderbilt’s passing game, and the Commodores’ passing attack will only get better in 2016.
2. Vanderbilt’s wide receivers need to step up: The Commodores’ have a promising group of receivers led by sophomore Trent Sherfield (659 yards, three TDs), but it needs to do a better job of running routes and creating separation. In other words, they need to make some plays for their young quarterback.
3. Vanderbilt’s offensive line needs to do a better job of protecting its quarterback: Commodores quarterbacks were sacked 28 times in 2015. Vanderbilt will struggle to develop a consistent passing attack if Shurmur doesn’t have time to make his reads.
4. Vanderbilt’s defense needs to stop giving up big plays: The Commodores’ defense was stout for most of the 2015 season, but it allowed eight plays of 20-plus yards in its final two games against Texas A&M and Tennessee.
5. The Commodores need to force more turnovers on defense while limiting turnovers on offense: Vanderbilt had a minus-8 turnover margin in 2015, which ranked 109th in the nation. It only gained 17 turnovers and lost 25 of them.
Chase Erickson is a contributing writer for SDS. He covers Tennessee. Follow him on Twitter @ChaseDownField.
