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Vanderbilt is coming off of a 37-14 loss to South Carolina at home, and the Commodores will look to get back into the win column this Saturday when they face Tennessee State.
The Vanderbilt defense struggled to stop Jake Bentley and crew all game last week, and they will look to correct those issues against the Tigers before they jump back into SEC play the following week at No. 2 Georgia.
On Wednesday, Derek Mason joined the SEC Coaches Teleconference to preview the Tennessee State game, here’s what he said:
On playing at Northern Arizona, did playing for a small school help you in your coaching career:
- I went to a school that produced some good coaches, Andy Reid, Marty Mornhinweg … I jumped into this at the junior college level the high school level, were I went to school isn’t that big of a deal…I think it was more about being passionate and working hard.
On the number of older players taking advantage of the redshirt rule, is that something you saw coming?
- I think it is a surprise, to be honest… It’s a coincidence of what you see in the rule but at the end of the day, the rule was made and now what we are doing is giving young people a chance to figure out where they belong, even if all the guys transfer… It’s all about best fit.
Do you check on older players and what they are thinking there?
- I think it’s everyday. It’s about investment, it’s about communication. If you communicate you know, otherwise you look up and guys are asking for their release.
What impressed you with South Carolina?
- Speed, they looked fresh, they played hard. The speed of the game was impressive… They may have been fresh, they played hard, they ran all over the place, they competed.
On the SEC East this year, is it improved?
- Really, I truly believe it has improved. Kentucky is playing lights out right now, I just believe we have scholarships too, on the East. At the end of the day, we have good coaches… we know the West has been a powerhouse but the East is catching up, too.
Arkansas’ struggles on special teams, what value does SPT coordinator bring to you?
- I head to make a choice on either a TEs coach or a special teams coach and I wanted someone that could get players to buy in on special teams… I wanted someone from the NFL, to help the players understand how important that is at the next level… most guys want to play in the NFL but what they don’t realize is they will be playing special teams if they get there.
Jordan Dajani covers SEC football for Saturday Down South and is a University of Tennessee graduate. He also has experience working in the NBA and with ESPN.
