The Vandy Five

Much has been made of the Tigers lack of a running game against Alabama last Saturday. We've heard all the reasons/excuses. 4 new starters. No starting experience. Tough SEC opponent.

So I watched with rapt interest on Thursday as Vanderbilt, with 5 new starters on the offensive line, ran for 135 yards against a South Carolina defense that had pitched a shut out the week before and was being touted as one of the best in the nation.

135 yards isn't great. In fact, Vandy only averaged 3.3 yards per carry and the game turned on special teams play by Vandy. But, Vandy was able to run out the clock while keeping the ball on the ground during the final drive that began at their 5 yard line with a little more than two minutes to play with the Gamecocks having two timeouts and while everyone in the stadium knew they were going to run the ball.

I've been a big defender of the Clemson coaching staff. But the evidence is mounting, slowly (some would say not so slowly) that this team is lacking in the coaching department, especially on the offensive line.

It's early in the season and to soon to definitively say that the South Carolina defense is better than the Alabama defense or vice versa. But, when you see a Clemson team with James Davis and C.J. Spiller in the backfield rush for 20 yards between them and 0 as a team, followed by Vanderbilt running for 135 against a South Carolina defense with 10 starters returning while breaking in 5 new starters, you have to shake your head in wonder and asked why?