Vanderbilt looks to speed up slow starts at South Carolina

When Vanderbilt tight end Steven Scheu saw offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig on the ground in push-up position, he knew the offense’s slow starts had become a major concern.

“We didn’t even know (Ludwig) could do 25 push-ups,” Scheu said. “I didn’t even know he worked out.”

The Commodores (2-3, 0-2 SEC) play at South Carolina (2-4, 0-4) on Saturday (3 p.m./SEC Network), and they still have not scored a touchdown in the first half against an FBS opponent this season.

Vanderbilt offense to 'shift emphasis' after off week

To put the team into a fast-starting mode, coach Derek Mason held a competition between the offense and defense to start each practice this week. After two series of scrimmaging, the losing side had to do push-ups — players and coaches.

“The coaches do them right there with us because we all know we’ve got to get a faster start,” running back Ralph Webb said. “We’ve showed that we won’t quit because we’ve played well in games when we’re down, but our time is going to come when we get those points early.”

In 27 first-half possessions versus FBS foes, Vanderbilt has scored no TDs and five field goals. Also in 27 possessions in the second half versus FBS foes, it has scored five TDs and three field goals.

The early struggles have caused the Commodores to play catch-up in most games. In those four games against FBS opponents, Vanderbilt has led for only 18 minutes, 6 seconds of game clock — including a mere 3-0 lead for nearly 16 minutes against Western Kentucky.

“It would make a lot of difference if we could just play with the lead more, especially in the first half,” Webb said.

In all five games combined, Vanderbilt has outscored its opponents in the second, third and fourth quarters, but it has been outscored 17-9 in the first quarter. And those early deficits have been difficult to overcome.

What’s Vanderbilt’s best shot for an SEC win?

Not all first-half drives have been failures. The Commodores have attempted twice as many field goals in the first half (eight) as in the second half (four). And they have committed fewer turnovers in the first half (four) than in the second half (five).

“We have to get the ball into the end zone and stop settling for field goals,” Scheu said. “We’ve had red-zone opportunities, but we have to capitalize on them.”

Vanderbilt ranks 126th among 127 FBS teams in red-zone offense, scoring in only 60 percent of its trips inside the 20-yard line. That includes eight TDs and four made field goals in 20 red-zone tries.

Coming off a bye week, Ludwig said the remedy to poor starts is twofold: “Call better plays and execute them better.”

Vanderbilt looks past Steve Spurrier resignation

Center Spencer Pulley said he believes South Carolina will start the game with immense emotion and the Commodores must weather that early storm. The Gamecocks are returning home after moving their game to LSU last week because of flooding in the Columbia, S.C., area. And earlier this week, head coach Steve Spurrier resigned, leaving his team to play on under interim coach Shawn Elliott and the remaining staff.

“There’s going to be a big crowd with a lot of emotion,” Pulley said. “We have been really focused on starting fast and finishing strong, and that’s what we’re going to do on Saturday.”

Reach Adam Sparks at 615-259-8010 and on Twitter @AdamSparks.

NEXT GAME

VANDERBILT (2-3, 0-2) at SOUTH CAROLINA (2-4, 0-4)

When: 3 p.m. Saturday

TV/radio: SEC Network/1510-AM, 95.9 FM