Starter Nickson is questionable
Vanderbilt quarterback Chris Nickson has not been ruled out for Saturday's
6 p.m. Southeastern Conference game with visiting Ole Miss, but the redshirt junior is still less than full-speed after suffering a pulled hamstring in the loss to Alabama.
At this point, Nickson is considered questionable for this weekend.
"We didn't let him do anything (Sunday)," Commodores Coach Bobby Johnson said during his weekly press conference Monday. "It's going to be an evaluation period the next couple of days, just to find out how he's going to be. It's too early to tell. But he's not 'out.'
"If he can't go, we've got a lot of confidence in Mackenzi Adams, and Richard Kovalcheck will be ready to go."
Adams has played in each of Vanderbilt's first two games, seeing extensive action Saturday after Nickson ran just one play in the second half. On the season, the redshirt sophomore has completed 13-of-24 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown.
"If Mackenzi gets the reps in practice (that) your starting quarterback is going to get, he'll be much sharper," Johnson said.
"He's got talent. He's a ballplayer. He's a tough guy, loves to compete."
Kovalcheck, who transferred from the University of Arizona prior to the 2006 season, completed 10-of-14 passes for 63 yards in limited action last fall.
After reviewing the film from Saturday's 24-10 loss, the coaching staff concluded that Nickson was injured on the second snap of the game, immediately following the
60-yard pass play to Earl Bennett that was negated by an offensive pass interference call.
On the replayed first down (Alabama was called for a face mask infraction, resulting in offsetting penalties), Nickson scrambled to the right side for a 2-yard gain and was hurt when tackled.
"I think it hurt him then, but it got worse as it went along," Johnson said.
Vanderbilt quarterback Chris Nickson has not been ruled out for Saturday's
6 p.m. Southeastern Conference game with visiting Ole Miss, but the redshirt junior is still less than full-speed after suffering a pulled hamstring in the loss to Alabama.
At this point, Nickson is considered questionable for this weekend.
"We didn't let him do anything (Sunday)," Commodores Coach Bobby Johnson said during his weekly press conference Monday. "It's going to be an evaluation period the next couple of days, just to find out how he's going to be. It's too early to tell. But he's not 'out.'
"If he can't go, we've got a lot of confidence in Mackenzi Adams, and Richard Kovalcheck will be ready to go."
Adams has played in each of Vanderbilt's first two games, seeing extensive action Saturday after Nickson ran just one play in the second half. On the season, the redshirt sophomore has completed 13-of-24 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown.
"If Mackenzi gets the reps in practice (that) your starting quarterback is going to get, he'll be much sharper," Johnson said.
"He's got talent. He's a ballplayer. He's a tough guy, loves to compete."
Kovalcheck, who transferred from the University of Arizona prior to the 2006 season, completed 10-of-14 passes for 63 yards in limited action last fall.
After reviewing the film from Saturday's 24-10 loss, the coaching staff concluded that Nickson was injured on the second snap of the game, immediately following the
60-yard pass play to Earl Bennett that was negated by an offensive pass interference call.
On the replayed first down (Alabama was called for a face mask infraction, resulting in offsetting penalties), Nickson scrambled to the right side for a 2-yard gain and was hurt when tackled.
"I think it hurt him then, but it got worse as it went along," Johnson said.
