Three Key Matchups Vanderbilt- Northern Illinois
When Vanderbilt quarterback Riley Neal spoke with Nashville media on Wednesday he was quick to point out he is 0-3 lifetime against Northern Illinois, but that was during his time at Ball State where his Cardinals were a yearly opponent as MAC Conference rivals.
Neal gets a final chance to improve that record this Saturday when Northern Illinois visits Vanderbilt Stadium. With all due respect to Ball State, Neal will have a much better supporting cast this time around.
The senior transfer quarterback is one of our key matchups to watch this week.
1) Neal Needs This One Vs The NIU Defense: As stated, Neal is 0 for 3 versus the Huskies, and he and his Commodores teammates need this one in a big way. This however is a different coaching staff for the Huskies than the ones that Neal struggled with previously.
The Huskies defense has had their own issues so far this season, struggling to a 1-2 start, though like the Commodores, their two losses were to Power 5 opponents, one with a storied history in college football (Nebraska) while Utah is currently ranked in the top 25 nationally. NIU will enter Saturday's contest without linebacker Kyle Pugh, who is lost for the season with a shoulder injury.
They will also be down to one of their original starters at linebacker as only Antonio Jones-Davis remains from their planned starters to begin the season. The Huskies defense has produced just one sack through their first three games, but they have collected 20 TFL along with six QB Hurries.
Neal's ability to stand in the pocket and deliver the football when needed will be key. His weapons in tight end Jared Pinkney and Kalijah Lipscomb are better individually than the defenders that will cover them, but it falls on Neal to recognize coverage and get the football out quickly to not allow pressure to develope.
2) Cliche But Vaughn Vs The Huskies Front Seven: Ke'Shawn Vaughn is a difference maker and Vanderbilt fans hope that his 130 yard performance versus LSU last week is the catalyst to jump start his, and the Commodores season.
Through three games, the Huskies defense has struggled to stop the run and with the Dores offensive line getting healthy and likely gaining confidence after last week, Having Vaughn eating up yards and clock will be huge if the Commodores are to find win number one of the season.
3) Kenny Hebert, Dimitri Moore and Dayo Odeyingbo vs Huskies O-line: The Commodores pass rush has managed just two sacks this season, but have found ways to put some pressure on the oppnenets passer with seven through three games.
Hebert and Moore have been all over the field so far and Odeyingbo has shown flashes fo the ability to get after the quaterback. Doing so and making Huskies QB Ross Bowers uncomfortable and harrased will be a key.
The Huskies run game is very average, so they rely heavily on the passing attack. To quote the late Oakland Raiders owner, Al Davis, "The quarterback must go down, and he must go down hard." Making this happen to Bowers is perhaps the biggest ke and liekly would mean a Vanderbilt win Saturday.
