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Vanderbilt report card: Repeat pathetic offensive showing for Commodores
Published:
OFFENSE: D-
Vanderbilt has yet to score an offensive touchdown this season and after Saturday’s 41-3 loss to Ole Miss, major changes could be in order. LSU transfer Stephen Rivers made his first start at quarterback, but he was ineffective after stumbling to a 60-yard effort with 18 incompletions in 25 attempts. He lone interception was returned for a touchdown by Cliff Coleman in the third quarter.
Handcuffed in the pocket and on third down, the Commodores never sustained possession and held the football just 22 minutes. Their only scoring drive went for negative yardage. Ralph Webb’s 95 yards on the ground is the only outlier keeping this offensive grade from being a second consecutive F.
DEFENSE: D+
Pass coverage was putrid and the Rebels had their way on third down against Vanderbilt’s soft 3-4, moving the chains 10 times in 15 tries. Ole Miss’ first three scoring drives each spanned more than 10 plays and the Commodores had trouble tackling in space. The Rebels ran 88 plays to Vanderbilt’s 50.
SPECIAL TEAMS: B
Colby Cooke averaged 47.6 yards per punt on seven attempts and Tommy Openshaw split the uprights from 26 yards out on his only field goal try that gave Vanderbilt its only points.
COACHING: D
The talent discrepancy may have been obvious, but the Commodores didn’t appear ready to play for the second consecutive game. The quarterback situation’s a mess, but you have to give credit to Derek Mason for sticking with one guy through the contest’s entirety. His first-year offensive coordinator, former UCLA coach Karl Dorrell, hasn’t earned his paycheck in two weeks.
OVERALL: D-
After two games, Vanderbilt looks the part as the SEC’s worst team. Webb’s the only impact player on offense and season-long issues will persist on defense due to how long the Commodores are having to stay on the field. Coming off consecutive nine-win seasons, it’s surprising how quickly the wheels have come off in Nashville.
