Clark Lea seeks to balance Diego Pavia's health, aggressive decision-making

Amidst Vanderbilt’s 2-0 start to the 2024 season, head coach Clark Lea does have one concern cropping up: How to keep Diego Pavia healthy, without watering down the quarterback’s aggressive play.

Lea knows that keeping the identity of the Vanderbilt offense — one where Pavia has been a willing and punishing runner — is critical. But that identity will also be lost just as easily if Pavia can’t play due to injury.

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“I am concerned. I also want to be careful not to change the way he plays his game,” Lea said during his weekly press conference. “I think there are things we can do to help that, just design plays where he’s handing the ball off or design plays where he’s throwing the ball. Obviously once it becomes a pass, he’s gotta make the choices based off what he sees. But I want to be careful, because we also have to form an identity and play to our identity.”

Already this season, Pavia has 10 more rushing attempts than passing attempts. He’s gone 22-of-29 passing for 273 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions while carrying the ball 39 times for 155 yards and two more touchdowns.

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And that rushing volume has already taken a toll on Pavia with some bumps and bruises, but Lea reassured that the quarterback is fine in the short term.

“He’s fine. That was bumps and bruises and kind of stuff,” Lea said. “Nothing that’s held him back at all, so he’ll be fine.”

And Lea, knowing that, to some extent, it will be impossible to fully take the aggression and willingness to run out of Pavia’s game, spoke to the need of backups like Utah transfer Nate Johnson being ready to play.

Even in a limited sample, Lea’s been encouraged by what he’s seen.

“Diego needs to be the competitor he’s going to be and we have to prepare the other guys in the room, too,” Lea said. “I thought Nate came in, obviously, and only had a couple snaps but was able to show dynamic playmaking with his legs. I thought he had a nice throw to Quincy [Skinner] that got called back. He just needs to keep progressing. He’ll be ready when called upon, we need to be conscious of Diego’s exposures but also play the game to our identity.”