[Tuck4Bama]

Vanderbilt Coach Bobby Johnson doesn't share the opinion held by many football observers — that playing a team under a new coach early in the season may be better than playing that same team later.

The concept came up this week as the Commodores prepare for their Southeastern Conference opener Saturday against visiting Alabama and first-year Crimson Tide Coach Nick Saban.
"He was in spring practice," Johnson said. "They had their whole spring practice to install (their system).

"It may be a little of a disadvantage. We don't know how they're going to line up. I'm sure they didn't show everything against Western Carolina."

Alabama didn't have to go very deep into its playbook to grab a 52-6 win over the Catamounts, thus retaining a bit of the element of surprise for this weekend.

On the other hand, Saban has faced Johnson's Commodores only once — winning a 24-7 decision in 2004, his last season at LSU.

By Johnson's estimation, who knows what about whom is of little significance once the game starts.

Vandy doesn't expect to catch Saban napping