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Starting with a new head coach is a nice talking point for the Vanderbilt Commodores. The bigger problem for Robbie Caldwell is improving the offense and finding the end zone so he can keep his new job.
The Commodores slumped from winning the Music City Bowl to 2-10 in 2009 with injuries and inexperience hurting the offense most of all. Not only did Vanderbilt rank last in the Southeastern Conference in several categories, but also near the bottom among all 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
Time of possession? Vanderbilt ranked 119th, ahead of only Cincinnati with 26 minutes, 11 seconds. Passing offense? At 114th with a mere 146.33 yards per game, and 113th in scoring an average 16.33 points per game.
The Commodores scored only six touchdowns against SEC opponents, and that includes a 99-yard kickoff return by Warren Norman.
''Our team is young, and we had a lot of injuries last year,'' Norman said. ''We're young and having that extra year under our belt helps, and I expect us to have a much better offense this year.
It's also why Bobby Johnson moved Ted Cain from offensive coordinator to special teams and tight ends coach and named Jimmy Kiser his new coordinator. Johnson retired unexpectedly July 14, and Caldwell took over seven weeks before the season opener Sept. 4 against Northwestern.
Caldwell said fixing the offense was a big focus this offseason on a team that has 29 sophomores.
''A play here, a play there, the season could've been entirely different. That's the way we're looking at it. We see the glass half-full, not half-empty. We're extremely excited,'' Caldwell said.
The Commodores have six starters back on offense and five on defense. Depth at quarterback and running back are behind Caldwell's excitement.
Junior Larry Smith is recovered from the hamstring injury that limited him to nine games, but he must hold off senior Jared Funk and Jordan Rodgers, Vanderbilt's first junior college signee in years and Aaron Rodgers' brother. Smith completed only 46.7 percent of his passes and had more interceptions (7) than touchdowns (4).
Caldwell defended Smith, noting injuries at receivers forcing some young players onto the field along with protection breakdowns. Smith had played in parts of two games as a redshirt freshmen, then Vanderbilt switched in 2009 to a no-huddle offense.
''It was coupled to everyone, not just Larry,'' Caldwell said.
Norman was the SEC Freshman of the Year, setting the league record with 1,941 all-purpose yards including 783 yards rushing. Vanderbilt also has Zac Stacy, healthy after injuries limited him to 478 yards rushing, and Kennard Reeves. Wesley Tate, whose older brother Golden is playing in the NFL with Seattle, is expected to play as well after redshirting to add muscle.
''We're trying to find a way where we can get several of them on the field at the same time,'' Caldwell said.
Vanderbilt returns only one starter on the offensive line in guard Kyle Fischer. But fifth-year senior Joey Bailey will be at center and has started in the past.
The defense needs tackle Adam Smotherman to recover quickly from the leg injury suffered in spring practice because tackle T.J. Greenstone is the other lineman with the most experience returning to a unit that ranked 56th overall and 105th against the run, giving up 197.83 yards on the ground.
Linebacker Chris Marve is back for a defense that ranked ninth nationally against the pass, intercepting almost as many balls (12) as touchdowns allowed (13). Nate Campbell is back after missing last season.
Cornerback Myron Lewis was a third-round NFL draft pick, but safety Sean Richardson returns with Casey Hayward.
The schedule is never easy. This year is tougher with the opener against Northwestern before diving into the SEC against LSU. Also on tap this year are trips to Connecticut, Georgia, Arkansas and Kentucky. Florida, Tennessee and Wake Forest also visit.
''That's what you sign up for playing in the SEC,'' linebacker John Stokes said. ''There are no easy wins or going to bowls because of easy wins, and we're not interested in that here at Vanderbilt.''
