Vanderbilt is starving for an artist. A big- play artist that is.

The Commodores got a close-up look last Saturday at how priceless a playmaker can be when Carnell ''Cadillac'' Williams helped Auburn blow past them with a couple of big touchdown runs.

They will see something similar this week when Eli Manning works his magic for Ole Miss.

Whether it's a running back like Williams or a quarterback like Manning, every coach cherishes having a player capable of breaking games wide open.

But not every team has an athlete who can single-handily deal a deathblow to the competition. Count the Commodores among those teams.

And with that vital element missing, first- year Coach Bobby Johnson says his team is hamstrung when it has the ball.

''We almost have to be perfect in everything we do because of that,'' Johnson said. ''As coaches we've got to put them in the right place and hopefully they can make the play. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.''

At least some players have been identified as being the type who might be capable of developing into playmakers.

Quarterback Jay Cutler, wide receivers Dan Stricker and Brandon Smith, and the offense's fastest player, running back Kwane Doster, have shown flashes in the first three games.

It has been awhile since Vandy had a big-time, big-play, specialist. Running back Lew Thomas was on his way last year before breaking his foot.

Before Thomas, there was Ray Perkins, another running back who provided plenty of excitement in 2000 but was kicked out of school before his sophomore season. There also was Jimmy Williams, who started out as a running back, but moved to defense, and receiver Anthony Jones, who showed promise as a freshman in 1998, but quickly faded after that.

You have to go all the way back to 1995, when Jermaine Johnson used his world- class sprinter speed to keep opposing defenses on their heels. He was Vandy's last 1,000-yard rusher and the last player capable of providing the kind of plays worthy of a highlight clip.

''It really helps to have a big-play guy who can break a few tackles and make something happen out there on their own,'' Bobby Johnson said.

In his debut against Georgia Tech, Cutler was more concerned with survival than providing a spark. But two weeks later he showed promise at Auburn and appeared capable of punishing defenses, especially when he ran the option.

''I think Jay is slowly becoming a playmaker,'' center Jamie Byrum said. ''It takes awhile just because of his lack of experience and being a freshman quarterback. But in every game he has played he's made some big improvements, and I think one of these days he will definitely turn into a pretty big playmaker for us.''

It's a goal Cutler has his sights set squarely on. He already has provided Vandy with its biggest play this season, a 61-yard touchdown run off the option against Furman.

''A lot of plays are on the quarterback in this offense,'' Cutler said. ''We run a lot of option and the quarterback gets to do a lot, so I think they really do count on us to make quite a few plays.''

Smith has done nothing but pull off big plays since he arrived as a freshman last year.

The problem, however, is that he hasn't been consistent. He shows up big one week and then isn't heard from for several games.

Smith has been more visible this season and believes he's on the brink of becoming more dependable.

''I think I am capable of being a big playmaker,'' said Smith, who had the biggest gain vs. Auburn, a 28-yard catch to set up a field goal. ''I've got good hands and good concentration, and I think that's important.''

Stricker said in the preseason that one of his primary goals was to develop into a big-play receiver. He regretted missing on several opportunities during his previous three years and said that with Cutler throwing his way he believed it would happen this year.

Stricker and Cutler hooked up for the two longest pass plays this season in the first quarter against Furman