Five Things We Want To See: Vanderbilt Vs Florida

The Commodores pay a visit to The Swamp Saturday to face the Gators with both teams looking to rebound from losses a week ago.

It's been a tough season for the Vanderbilt Commodores, and last week's loss at SOuth Carolina left their bowl hopes hanging by the thinest of threads as they must now run the table and win their final four games to gain eligibility for post season play. 

That run must start tomorrow when the Commodores visit the Florida Gators in The Swamp. 

As illogical as it might seem, Vanderbilt has found ways in the past to play tough against more talented, and better Gator teams. That needs to be the case in this one or sing farwell to those hopes. 

What will it take for Vanderbilt to have a chance tomorrow?

Here are five things we want to see from the Commodores regardless of the final outcome. 

FIVE THINGS WE WANT TO SEE      

1) Deuce Lets Loose: No we're not saying the coaches have held Deuce Wallace back, it's more in my estimation that Wallace has held himself back either because he is feeling pressure or a lack of overall confidence at this point. 

Regardless, Wallace must figure it out, and hopefully having a  full week of practrice as the starter will help him do just that. 

If Wallace can produce even a modest passing offense and not allow the Gators to to stck the box and play man outside, the Commodores could possibly stick around for a while and who knows what could happen from there. 

2) Toothless Gators Are Needed: In the name of total honesty here, the Gators are a far more physically talented football team. They are also coming into this one off the diappointment of seeing their hopes of playing for a conference championship all but stripped away with their loss last week to Georgia.  

Will the Gators be angry, or hungover? The answer to this one is a total unknown and if it is the latter then that too could help the Commodores contend. 

Here's hoping the Florida guys are still seeing visions of Bulldogs dancing in their heads. 

3) Signing Kaw-Liga: In the emortal words of Hank WIlliams, "Poor ol' KAW-LIGA, he don't know what he missed," but the Commodores offense certainly does. 

Whatever the personal issues senior receiver Kalijah Lipscomb has been dealing with over the last two weeks, here's to hoping he has resolved them and is ready for this one because the Commodores, and Deuce Wallace in particular need all hands on deck. That means their best outside threat must show up and ball-out as the saying saying goes. 

4) Pass And Hold The Rush: Florida features one of the best parr rushes in the SEC. The Gators get after quarterbacks and get home at a high rate, which means that the Commodores, who have not exactly been stingy in allowing hits and sacks on their quarterbacks will have their hands full.

The Dores must find a way to protect Wallace on one side of the ball, on the other their defense needs to become more gator-like and put the rush on Florida quarterback Kyle Trask.

If the Commodores can apply their own rush and hold back the Gators, they might just have a chance. 

5) Have Fun And Ball: I'm not one on some of the newer phrases in the world of sports- or life for that matter, I'm old school and English works- but in the interest of entertaining the younger generation of Commodore fans lets see this team go out and have fun playing the game and just ball.

Let the chips fall where they may and not worry about tomorrow, just ball!