⚡ CFB Dashboard

Vanderbilt dropped its conference opener 21-15 on the road against Auburn on Saturday, dropping to 3-1 on the season.  Defense shows positive signs Vanderbilt showed a considerable amount of improvement with its defensive unit, despite the loss.  After getting off to slow starts in its first three games, Vanderbilt's defense held Auburn to 279 total yards. 4.8 yards per play, 14 points, and forced a turnover.  "I thought it (Vanderbilt's defensive performance) was gutty. I mean, I thought they  set a tone for us in the game," Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said.  "I mean, it just felt like we were playing the way we need to play on that side of the ball. Ultimately, again, the explosive touchdown hurt and then I'd love to see us force three on the second score, but I think there are going to be things that we can build on from that performance." There also seemed to be an improved focus on limiting missed tackles, which had plagued Vanderbilt throughout its first three games.  "I feel like we just got closer, we just got closer," Vanderbilt safety CJ Heard said. "We met more as players. We always hit on that this is a player's game. So we just took it upon ourselves to meet more as players and it showed up for us and we just kept playing hard for each other." Another interesting note is that Vanderbilt, who came into Saturday's game in the top-five nationally in sacks, did not total a single sack against Auburn, who had given up more sacks than any team in the nation.  Whether Vanderbilt toned down its blitz packages to help with pass coverage or are simply improving week-by-week, its defensive performance is one it can build on going into the rest of SEC play. Assessing Jared Curtis' performance Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis made his first SEC start against Auburn and threw 199 yards, completed 67 percent of his passes, ran for a team-high 46 yards, and threw an interception on a hail mary at the end of the first half.  Overall, it was an impactful SEC debut for Curtis in the start, as he showed his ability to make plays with his legs and made another batch of jaw-dropping throws, even while dealing with a collapsing pocket and accuracy issues at times.  "Offensively, we're growing a quarterback up and we have a lot of excitement about him and a lot of belief in where he's headed, and I think there's some real positives in his play," Lea said.  There were times where Curtis was probably too antsy in terms of getting out of the pocket and some procedural issues, as you would see with most true freshman quarterbacks in their first SEC start, but the positives and playmaking ability that gave Vanderbilt an opportunity to win the game outweighed those issues.  "I mean, he's got it, you know, and I think we see it," Lea said. "I feel like the ball he threw to Junior SherrilI, I think that was in the fourth quarter, was big and I really am excited about the chemistry those guys are building. I mean, he's the guy that wants to put it on his shoulders in that critical moment." Special teams disasters Vanderbilt's special teams mishaps were the biggest factor in its loss to Auburn on Saturday.  One of the backbreaking plays of the game for Vanderbilt was a blocked punt by Auburn that was returned for a touchdown in the second quarter, giving Auburn a two-score lead.  "We got work to do there. I think this all starts obviously with me and the way we as a special teams coaching staff deal with what's clearly becoming a cause for issues for our team success," Lea said. "We need to have a team that, in those moments where we're under pressure, that we're executing. And when you get a punt blocked, it's usually a miss in execution. So, we'll look at the film, but I mean, there's work to do there for sure." Vanderbilt also attempted a fake punt on a pass with punter Tyler Ebel, along with allowing a ball to be tipped that forced a miss on Brock Taylor's second of four field goal attempts in the loss.  "We got to strengthen our special teams play. You know, we've had the opportunity to experience explosive play from those units and today, you know, having a a blocked punt for a touchdown for the second time this season and a missed field goal that I believe was tipped, that's not good enough," Lea said. "So we've got to coach it better and we have to create clarity for our players so that they can play with speed and that's a phase that needs to be a strength for us." After scoring nine points off of special teams alone in the season-opening win against Austin Peay, Vanderbilt's special teams unit has struggled in its last two games and special teams is an area that Vanderbilt will need to have the advantage in every single week going forward. Running backs ineffective Vanderbilt's running backs were a non-factor in the running game throughout most of Saturday's loss. MK Young and Sedrick Alexander, two of the more experienced running backs in the SEC, combined for 57 yards on 21 carries, while Vanderbilt as a team ran for an average of 2.7 yards per carry.  "That comes with it. I mean, it's life, it's adversity, and we're figuring things out. We're getting corrected and we're a good team up front, too," Vanderbilt running back MK Young said. "Those guys continue to be confident. They turned it on in the second half and I want them to know that they have what it takes and they are who they are and we still have everything in front of us." With Vanderbilt seemingly finding a more consistent rotation on the offensive line, it may open things up in the running game as that unit continues to gel and mesh.  Berlowitz at wide receiver? Vanderbilt backup quarterback Blaze Berlowitz took snaps at wide receiver in the loss to Auburn and even had a target in the second quarter. According to the television broadcast, Berlowitz practiced at the position throughout the last week.  The question is, what does Vanderbilt gain from having Berlowitz take snaps at wide receiver? "This is a guy that comes in and says, I want to help this team win. I know I can do it. And I just have the utmost respect for that guy," Lea said. "He's got all the respect of his teammates and um you know he's built a great relationship and a lot of trust with Jared and so when you look at his strength measures and his speed measures and power measures, I mean this guy's one of the most explosive athletes we have on our team and so, it makes all the sense in the world that we're going to find a way to use him." While Berlowitz only played a few snaps against Auburn, from Lea's tone, it seems like Vanderbilt may continue to use him in that role going forward. Lyndon Cooper injury Vanderbilt's starting center, Lyndon Cooper, was diagnosed with an AC sprain during the loss to Auburn. The injury caused some shifting along the offensive line, but Cooper was able to play through parts of the rest of the game.  "Lyndon had an AC sprain that he worked through and he was able to return, wasn't able to finish," Lea said. "He's a tough player and I think he'll be okay. We'll have an update on Tuesday with that. But on the whole, it's something he's going to be able to manage. We need to get it evaluated tomorrow and make sure that we're seeing it the right way." Ever thought about starting a business? Feeling burned out in your career, concerned about job security or capped income? Or maybe you're simply looking to diversify your income, build another business, or create something beyond your W-2. 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