Ailing Commodores paying price for not having open date

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Vanderbilt Commodores are starting to pay the price for not having an open date in their schedule.<br> <br> The Commodores haven&#39;t had time to heal up. They played through injuries and fatigue in beating Duke 45-28 last weekend, but the schedule means they won&#39;t rest until they finish the season a stretch of 12 games in 12 consecutive weeks.<br> <br> ``At times during the Duke game, we were searching the sideline for people to put in there,&#39;&#39; coach Bobby Johnson said Monday.<br> <br> ``It all adds up. But we can&#39;t do anything about it.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Now the Commodores (4-5, 1-4 Southeastern Conference) must prepare to play No. 7 Florida (7-1, 5-1) looking to avenge last year&#39;s 49-42 double-overtime loss in Gainesville with even more injuries. Johnson had to play third-stringers Thomas Welch and Josh Allen at right guard and nickel back.<br> <br> Welch was a tight end just two weeks ago. Allen, a cornerback, volunteered to play his first snaps at nickel when Darlron Spead and Sean Dixon left with injuries.<br> <br> Elliot Hood, whose injuries forced Welch onto the field, is questionable for Saturday, as is defensive end Curtis Gatewood and a number of special teams players including Dixon, Chris Johnson, Brandon Bryant and Funtaine Hunter.<br> <br> At least Vandy has Chris Nickson coming off his best game yet since taking over at quarterback. He led the defense to a season-high 512 yards, even though the Commodores were playing without several key offensive linemen.<br> <br> Nickson threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 150 and three more scores. The performance earned him the Southeastern Conference&#39;s offensive player of the week Monday.<br> <br> ``It was the focus of my mind, as well as the team&#39;s, to make sure that I came out and performed to the best of my ability,&#39;&#39; Nickson said. ``It was a sweet victory.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Even with a rested and healthy team, the seventh-ranked Gators would be enough of a challenge. A big, fast, physical defensive line anchors a unit that ranks sixth in the NCAA in scoring and against the run.<br> <br> Johnson said Florida coach Urban Meyer&#39;s complicated offense has him most concerned.<br> <br> ``They&#39;ve got running backs catching the ball, receivers running the ball. You can drive yourself crazy trying to say you&#39;re going to defend everything that they do. If you try to defend every play or every set, you&#39;re going to be way above your head,&#39;&#39; Johnson said.<br> <br> The Commodores had a chance at victory in Gainesville last year. They had pulled within a point of the Gators at the end of regulation but were denied a shot at a 2-point conversion after Earl Bennett was penalized for celebration in a controversial foul.<br> <br> The flag drew national attention. The Commodores say they&#39;re over it.<br> <br> ``You can&#39;t even look at that kind of stuff ...,&#39;&#39; offensive lineman Mac Pyle said. ``It stings. We think we should have had that shot to win it right there at the end, but we&#39;ve got to look past it this year and get ready to play them, because it&#39;s a whole different team.&#39;&#39;