Senior QB Cutler gives Commodores’ hope

Despite six victories in three years as starting quarterback, he announced in January that he would ignore the NFL and return for his final season.

“I made a decision. There’s no turning back,” said Cutler, who was voted as the top Southeastern Conference quarterback this preseason by league coaches. “This team has a lot of potential.”

Tapping that potential hasn’t been easy for a program whose last winning season was 1982.

Coach Bobby Johnson is 6-29 in his first three seasons, but he has worked to build enough depth to allow the Commodores to be competitive in the SEC. Having Cutler back will be a big boost with his maturity and experience to a team that lost five games by five or fewer points in 2004.

“Jay had a lot of the same talents he has now back when he was a freshman,” Johnson said. “He still struggled a bit. It’s good to have done it and know what to expect. He knows what he’s going to see about every week now. … That is a big plus.”

Cutler is one of six returning starters on offense, which ranked ninth in the SEC with 334.8 yards per game last season. Any improvement will depend on how they handle the loss of running back Kwane Doster.

The junior was shot to death last December while in Florida for the holidays. The Commodores have sealed his locker and dedicated this season to Doster. They will wear a patch on their helmets and will have a ceremony in his honor at the home opener Sept. 17 against Mississippi.

“They have it in perspective,” Johnson said. “Kwane’s still with them all the time. They think about him. They don’t dwell on it in a negative way. They’re remembering all the positive things about having Kwane here.”

Linebacker Moses Osemwegie, Vandy’s leading tackler, agrees.

“He’s going to be dearly missed, and we’re not going to forget him. … It’s not hard. It’s like he’s still here with us as a team member,” Osemwegie said.

The loss of Doster and Norval McKenzie’s graduation leave Johnson trying to fill the tailback slot with a pair of sophomores: Jeff Jennings and Cassen Jackson-Garrison. They rushed for a combined 202 yards with five touchdowns.

Steven Bright converted from quarterback to fullback and has the most rushing experience with 41 carries for 116 net yards. That leaves redshirt freshman Chris Nickson as Cutler’s backup.

Cutler will be the key. He ranked fifth in total offense in the SEC with 199.4 yards per game and completed 61 percent of his passes with 10 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He will have experienced receivers in Erik Davis and Marlon White and tight end Dustin Dunning, but Johnson is still looking for two more receivers.

For a change, the offensive line features some depth and experience in center Trey Holloway, right tackle Brian Stamper and former starting guard Mac Pyle. But kicker Patrick Johnson will have to win his job back after completing only half of his 14 field goal attempts.

Some positives include being the least penalized team in the SEC.

Defense is where they face their biggest challenge after end Jovan Haye left early for the NFL and the Carolina Panthers. Vandy gave up 402.5 yards per game last season as the SEC’s 11th-ranked defense.

Johnson switched players around to put more speed on the field. Herdley Harrison has moved from linebacker to defensive end; two-year starting safety Andrew Pace is now at cornerback, with Marcus Buggs moved from safety to linebacker; and backup Kevin Joyce replaced Harrison at outside linebacker.

The Commodores insist they learned a big lesson last season when they stumbled to a 2-9 record after starting the season with high expectations.

This year will be tougher starting at Wake Forest on Sept. 1 with a trip to Arkansas on Sept. 10. Their easiest game is against Division I-AA Richmond on Sept. 24, but they host LSU on Oct. 8 and Georgia on Oct. 15 before wrapping up on the road at Tennessee on Nov. 19.

Osemwegie said the Commodores won’t get ahead of themselves.

“We still feel we have the athletes to make it as far as a bowl. We’re just going to take it one game at a time, and that’s Wake Forest,” he said.

A quick look at the 2005 Vanderbilt Commodores
Coach: Bobby Johnson, fourth season, 6-29 record, 66-65 career.

Home stadium: Vanderbilt Stadium.

2004 record: 2-9, 1-7 SEC

Returning starters: six offense, six defense.

Key players: Offense —QB Jay Cutler, WR Erik Davis, WR Marlon White, C Trey Holloway, RT Brian Stamper. Defense — LB Moses Osemwegie, LB Kelechi Ohanaja, CB Andrew Pace, DE Herdley Harrison.

Best bets: An 0-2 start is likely unless Cutler is able to help carry this team. The first victory might not come until Sept. 24 against Division I-AA Richmond.

Questions: Finding a running back with the death of Kwane Doster and graduation of Norval McKenzie with sophomores Jeff Jennings and Cassen Jackson-Garrison the top candidates.

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SCHEDULE:

Sept. 1—at Wake Forest

Sept. 10—at Arkansas

Sept. 17—Ole Miss

Sept. 24—Richmond

Oct. 1—Middle Tennessee

Oct. 8—LSU

Oct. 15—Georgia

Oct. 22—at South Carolina

Nov. 5—at Florida

Nov. 12—Kentucky

Nov. 19—at Tennessee

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On the Net:

Vanderbilt: http://www.vucommodores.com