#2 Alabama Disposes of Vanderbilt 34-0

by Christian D'Andrea on Oct 8, 2011 10:04 PM EDT in Vanderbilt Commodores Football

Vanderbilt may have outperformed expectations after last week's 21-3 loss to South Carolina, but they still left Tuscaloosa on the losing end of a 34-0 decision Saturday night.

Larry Smith's ankle injury paved the way for a pair of Jordan Rodgers interceptions in the second half as the Vandy offense continued its run of futility in the SEC. After gaining only 77 yards against Alabama, the 'Dores improved to a 185 yard turnout against the Tide in Tuscaloosa. However, it didn't lead to more points, as Carey Spear missed a pair of field goals that could have brought the Alabama lead down to 7-6 as the first half wound down.

Vanderbilt's rushing improved from a four yard performance to post 36 yards - which is still a pretty disappointing performance. The team's top rushers were players that don't play tailback - led by Rodgers, Smith, and wideout Jonathan Krause. Zac Stacy and Jerron Seymour were limited to only 4 yards on eight carries against a very talented Alabama defense.

Rodgers was unable to spark the team's offense after Smith left the game in the first half with an ankle injury. He threw a pair of interceptions that were the result of poorly thrown passes in the second half. However, neither Smith nor Rodgers took a sack on the evening, suggesting that the team's offensive line has grown as the year has progressed.

Vanderbilt's streak of four straight games with an interception ended against A.J. McCarron and the Tide. McCarron finished with 237 yards and four touchdowns through the air, ending some of the mystique behind Vandy's vaunted secondary. The defense will have a week to regroup in order to take down Georgia next week.

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As long as everyone is healthy...

Not too bad.

We gave up fewer points than Florida or Arkansas and our offense was actually way better. The line was better. Moved the ball from time to time.

by The Goche on Oct 8, 2011 10:17 PM EDT reply actions

no sacks = win.

I would have bet the house on that. Mad love to the O line for standing up.

I thought Army was next week. But at least we can’t be worse than .500 for the Black Knights.

Puke and rally. 0-0. Seven days to gameday.

"Well, if that ain't a show, I'll kiss your ass." - Gov. Jim Folsom Sr. (D-AL), 1948-52

by VandyImport on Oct 8, 2011 10:35 PM EDT via iPhone app reply actions

Injury update, please?

I left at halftime to take my boy to see LK3D. (Good decision.)

Saw the Smith and Johnston injuries … any word on their status, or any other injuries?

Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida are all vulnerable, guys. Arkansas and Wake Forest might be the best teams left on our schedule. We need to stay as healthy as possible and keep fighting – a bowl game is in reach!

by BrianSWard on Oct 8, 2011 11:33 PM EDT reply actions

Rodgers and the future

1. Rodgers needs to start. Not only does he throw far better than Larry, he makes faster decisions and he scrambles better. He turned at least five plays that would have been sacks for Larry into three or five yard gains and he didn’t cough up the ball as soon as he got hit. Did he throw two interceptions? Obviously, but only when they were way down and it was time to take risks. When the game was moderately close, he made good reads and did not try to force it. Besides, Larry threw two interceptions against a way, way worse UConn defense, despite getting most of the practice reps and two full years of starting to learn not to be a dumb ass. Also, I’d be willing to bet that Rodgers got a mild concussion from that blatant helmet-to-helmet shot he took in the beginning of the 3rd Quarter. (Unless I really saw that wrong, that not only should have drawn a flag but also should have gotten the kid ejected.) I’m very impressed with Franklin as a whole but his commitment to Larry, the worst QB in IA, is misguided.

2. If we can rebound emotionally from that game, you have to like our chances going forward. Our defense is totally real, and if Rodgers can develop just a bit we should be able to beat Army pretty soundly and win Wake Forest, Kentucky and quite possibly Tennessee. But the rebound is a big if. We’ve just taken two poundings. The coaching staff will have to work hard to convince the kids that these were moral victories and we really should win six and have a real shot at winning seven.

by Andrew D. Smith on Oct 9, 2011 11:42 AM EDT reply actions

Decision-making

Smith seems to just get inside his own head. I feel like he’s trying to be perfect, and ends up with mini-paralysis as a result.

Rodgers is the opposite – he has no trouble trusting his instincts and training, and just goes out there and plays.

If we had a great offensive line, I might be in favor of playing Smith … but, given the way we have to structure our offense in order to hide our shallow offensive line, I think Rodgers is the way to go.

by BrianSWard on Oct 9, 2011 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Unless Larry's ankle improves in a hurry...

…it’s not going to be much of a discussion.

Mad respect to the O-line for giving up no sacks to a seriously Book-of-Revelations-type defense. God, if we could have kept the Cocks at bay like that…

"Well, if that ain't a show, I'll kiss your ass." - Gov. Jim Folsom Sr. (D-AL), 1948-52

by VandyImport on Oct 9, 2011 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions

So much depends on next week

Army is utterly beatable, but coming in on a 3-game skid would have to take some starch out of our guys. I think if we somehow beat Georgia, Army is in the bag, but if we lose (and badly) to the Dawgs, the Army game is a tossup – and if we lose that, we’re at risk for the air going out of the bubble in a big way, given how we’re basically counting Army and UK as a relatively sure thing en route to the mythical six wins.

Now we find out of CJF can really coach ‘em up. After seven years on the west coast with a head coach who couldn’t get Aggies pumped up to go to the Chicken Ranch, I need a guy who can light the fire under ONE of my teams…

"Well, if that ain't a show, I'll kiss your ass." - Gov. Jim Folsom Sr. (D-AL), 1948-52

by VandyImport on Oct 9, 2011 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Rodgers looked good today at times

But he also threw some awful balls. Larry looked better behind the improved line too.

If Jordan Rodgers was an only child, people wouldn’t be quite so convinced he’s some kind of savior. Of course, that is combined with the fact that the mediocre QB you don’t know is more exciting than the mediocre QB you know.

What we really need is a 2 QB system. Larry throws the long balls, scrambles and runs the option. Jordan avoids pressure in the pocket and throws short balls. We just need to find a way to switch QBs mid play.

by The Goche on Oct 9, 2011 4:43 PM EDT reply actions

Double-wing-T formation?

Direct snap to Larry, who either fires out short or laterals to Jordan in the slot for the pass. Let’s be honest, it’s not the most ridiculous formation you’ve seen in college football this year. (Who was running that Emory and Henry bullshit last week, Boise?)

"Well, if that ain't a show, I'll kiss your ass." - Gov. Jim Folsom Sr. (D-AL), 1948-52

by VandyImport on Oct 9, 2011 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions

No, you snap to Rodgers who either makes the short pass or eludes the rush long enough to get someone open deep or to realize he can’t escape long enough, at both points he then dumps to Larry. Larry then either goes deep if open, or scrambles.

I’ll put together a decision tree later [won’t really do this].

by The Goche on Oct 10, 2011 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Totally OT: just realized

There is about a 95% chance when we go to Tennessee, they’ll be 4-6 and 0-6 in the SEC.

There is also a fair chance we could be 5-5 headed into that game.

Even though I still think UT is better than us, my expectations (or maybe just hopes) would be so ridiculously high if we have a chance to put away UT and get bowl eligible.

But I honestly think we have a chance to be bowl eligible even before then, depending on next week. We can beat UGa. I’m excited for this week because it’s our first game that is winnable, but is one we should lose.

I honestly don’t think of us as a “6 win” kind of team just yet. Even with the Army and UK games left, it’s not exactly a good bet, but I do think that CJF might just be able win 6 games with a 4 or 5 win team. (And TBH, we’ve got a great schedule this season).

P.S. I’m just throwing this out there early. If we don’t beat Army and UK, I may need to be put into some sort of medically induced coma to chill out for a while.

by The Goche on Oct 9, 2011 5:04 PM EDT reply actions

Try being an FSU Fan

Oh, I forgot you are!!

Vandy is all I’ve got!

by Nolegrad89 on Oct 9, 2011 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Vandy has a better record–yikes FSU

And why does Mario Edwards have to decommit from FSU… clearly Mario should stay there, and Dante Fowler should decommit from FSU… and come to Vandy.

Seriously though, how stupid was it for the ACC to schedule what might have been the biggest regular season matchup Clemson-FSU a week after both played huge non-conference games.

by The Goche on Oct 9, 2011 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions