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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Bobby Johnson (5th season, 11-35) 2005 record: 5-6 SEC finish: 3-5 (t-4th East) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 94th (115.1 ypg) Passing: 19th (280.6 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 82nd (169.9 ypg) Passing: 69th (223.8 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 2 at Michigan Sept. 9 at Alabama Sept. 16 Arkansas Sept. 23 Tennessee State Sept. 30 Kent State Oct. 7 at Ole Miss Oct. 14 at Georgia Oct. 21 South Carolina Oct. 28 at Duke Nov. 4 Florida Nov. 11 at Kentucky Nov. 18 Tennessee Depth Chart: Offense 6 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 10 Earl Bennett So. 26 Alex Washington Fr. WR 82 Marlon White Sr. 88 George Smith So. LT 74 Chris Williams Jr. 66 Eric Hensley Fr. LG 78 Josh Eames Jr. 70 Drew Gardner Fr. C 53 Hamilton Holliday Jr. 70 Bradley Vierling Fr. RG 65 Mac Pyle Sr. 64 Merritt Kirchoffer Jr. RT 72 Brian Stamper Sr. 55 Elliot Hood Jr. TE 83 Brad Allen So. 86 Thomas Welch Fr. QB 3 Chris Nickson So. - Richard Kovalcheck Sr. FB 17 Steven Bright Sr. 11 Darnell Martemus Jr. TB 22 Cassen Jackson-Garrison Jr. 31 Jared Hawkins Fr. Depth Chart: Defense 6 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 43 David Carter Jr. 96 Steven Stone Fr. DT 94 Ray Brown Sr. 56 Gabe Hall Jr. DT 54 Theo Horrocks Jr. 92 Brandon Holmes So. DE 46 Chris Booker Sr. 48 Curtis Gatewood Jr. SLB 24 Marcus Buggs Jr. 35 Brandon Bryant Fr. MLB 47 Jonathan Goff Jr. 15 Chris Johnson Fr. WLB 40 Kevin Joyce Sr. 51 Quavian Lewis Fr. CB 26 Jared Fagan So. 29 Joel Caldwell Fr. CB 14 Josh Allen So. 6 Darlron Spead Fr. SS 33 Reshard Langford So. 23 Funtaine Hunter Sr. FS 35 Ryan Hamilton Fr. 25 Ben Koger Sr. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 75 Bryant Hahnfeldt So. P 75 Bryant Hahnfeldt So. KR 10 Earl Bennett So. PR 10 Earl Bennett So.

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Winning five games is hardly a cause for celebration at most Division I-A programs. But when you have suffered through 23 straight losing seasons and have won a total of six games in the previous three years, a 5-6 record and win over Tennessee can do wonders for morale.

"There is a different feeling [this offseason]," says Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson. "There is a sort of a realization that if you work hard you can get rewarded. Our guys have higher expectations now. They expect to win - if they do the right things."

The players might have increased expectations, but very few outside the program will be surprised if the Commodores sink back to the bottom of the SEC East. The reason? Jay Cutler, arguably the greatest player in school history, will no longer be taking snaps.

"We'll miss Jay, no doubt," Johnson says. "But that is college football. You have to replace good players. You think, Oh my gosh, what are we going to do? But guys step up."

With Cutler gone to the NFL, Johnson will turn to either sophomore Chris Nickson, redshirt freshman Mackenzi Adams, or late transfer Richard Kovalcheck, who started 11 games over the past two seasons at Arizona. Whether or not they can "step up" will go a long way in determining if Vanderbilt can remain competitive in the nation's most difficult conference.

OFFENSE

Vanderbilt enjoyed a banner season in 2005, leading the SEC in passing offense and ranking second in total offense. But now the Commodores must forge ahead without Cutler. The favorite to take over for the 2005 SEC Offensive Player of the Year is Nickson, a superb athlete who was also recruited as a wide receiver. But Kovalcheck, a senior who landed in Nashville from Arizona thanks to a new NCAA transfer rule, could step in and start immediately for the 'Dores. He's easily the most seasoned QB of the bunch, which also includes dual-threat Mackenzi Adams, a redshirt freshman.

Johnson maintains that the Commodores' offense will have the same look in 2006, regardless of who starts. The top priority will be to get the ball in the hands of sophomore receiver Earl Bennett, one of the SEC's most dynamic playmakers. Over the last four games of the 2005 season, he caught 49 passes for 545 yards and nine touchdowns.

Cassen Jackson-Garrison and Jeff Jennings shared the carries a year ago and combined to rush for 987 yards and 15 touchdowns - decent production considering the Dores attempted the second-fewest carries in the SEC. With Jennings, a starter in 10 games last year, out indefinitely while rehabbing a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee, Jackson-Garrison will receive a majority of the workload.

Vanderbilt must replace two starters on the offensive line, but Johnson believes this unit will be stronger and deeper in 2006.

DEFENSE

Vanderbilt ranked 11th in the SEC in total defense last season, due in large part to a defensive line that struggled to stop the run and failed to get enough pressure on the quarterback. New position coach Ricky Logo is charged with developing some capable bodies to play along with the two known quantities on the line - junior tackle Theo Horrocks and senior end Chris Booker.

Johnson gushes when he talks about his starting linebackers - Jonathan Goff in the middle, Kevin Joyce on the weak side and Marcus Buggs on the strong side. His tone changes, however, when the topic switches to the backups, a trio of redshirt freshmen who have never played a down of college football.

Go ahead and pencil in sophomore Reshard Langford and redshirt freshman Ryan Hamilton as the starters at safety. What about the corners? Who knows? There are five players competing for two spots, and Johnson says the competition will carry on well into preseason camp.

SPECIALISTS

The placekicking duties will once again be handled by Bryant Hahnfeldt, who is expected to be ready after suffering a torn ACL in the season-finale. Hahnfeldt (5-of-7 from 40 yards and beyond) performed double duty last year, but highly touted freshman Brett Upson will be given every opportunity to take over punting chores in the fall.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Vanderbilt made significant strides in Johnson's fourth season, but it'll be hard-pressed to duplicate that success without Cutler taking the snaps. With an offense that figures to take a step back, Vanderbilt must make significant improvements defensively. Special teams also must be addressed; Vanderbilt ranked last in the league in net punting (30.2 yards) and had four field goals blocked. That is unacceptable, especially for a team with such a small margin for error.