Vanderbilt Commodores
Southeastern Conference
On the final day of the regular season, the Vanderbilt Commodores needed to beat a solid ACC opponent in Wake Forest to gain bowl eligibility. After failing the week before to take down a decrepit Tennessee team that would have gotten them their sixth victory, it would instead need to come on the road, against an unfamiliar, out-of-conference foe. And that is exactly where it came. Vandy thumped the Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem, North Carolina 41-7 to roll to victory and their sixth win of the year. Vanderbilt struggled through the loaded SEC but they will be bowling during the holidays.
2011 Record: 6-6 overall, 2-6 in-conference
Last Bowl Appearance: 2008 Music City Bowl vs. Boston College (W 16-14)
Big Wins: 9/10 Connecticut (24-21), 11/26 at Wake Forest (41-7)
Bad Losses: 11/5 at Florida (21-26), 11/19 at Tennessee (21-27 OT)
Coach: James Franklin (6-6 at Vanderbilt, 6-6 overall)
Bowl Record: 0-0 at Vanderbilt, 0-0 overall
Offensive Coordinator: John Donovan
Defensive Coordinator: Bob Shoop
Strengths:
Traversing a schedule that included the likes of South Carolina, Alabama, and Florida on the road, as well as Georgia and Arkansas at home, it was unlikely Vanderbilt would make much noise in the SEC this season. As it played out, they did not, winning only two conference games (none of which came against the aforementioned opponents). It was not all bad though for Vanderbilt in 2011. Winning a couple of intra-conference matchups, the Commodores were able to flex their competent defense. They ranked in the top 25 nationally in total defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency defense, while only allowing a shade over 20 points per game. The leader in the Vandy defensive backfield was DB Casey Hayward. He led the team in interceptions with five, finished second in tackles and fourth in tackles for loss. Vanderbilt also had some effective special teams units, including the punt coverage team which, along with punter Richard Kent, propelled the Commodores to a solid national ranking in net punting.
Weaknesses:
As good a job as Vanderbilt’s defense did in helping them compete in the SEC, their offense did little to help the cause. Against the two toughest defenses Vanderbilt faced, Alabama and South Carolina, they managed just three combined points in the two contests. At the end of the year, their offense barely ranked in the top 100 in passing offense and total offense, finishing 98th and 96th respectively. Quarterback Jordan Rodgers had his problems all season long. Although a useful runner, Rodgers passing ability was a question mark. He ended the year with a 1 to1 touchdown to interceptions ratio, a bellowing shout from the 14 to 1 ratio of Case Keenum that led the nation. Vanderbilt’s rushing offense could do little to overcome the lack of passing. Rodgers finished second on the team in rushing and yardage leader, Zac Stacy, had himself a fine season but it simply was not enough, especially in tough conference losses near the end of the season to Florida and Tennessee where Vandy failed to reach 100 yards on the ground.
Statistical Leaders:
Rushing: Zac Stacy, RB, 1,136 yards
Passing: Jordan Rodgers, QB, 1,498 yards
Receiving: Jordan Matthews, WR, 722 yards
Tackles: Chris Marve, LB, 85
Sacks: Tim Fugger, DE, 6.5
Interceptions: Casey Hayward, CB, 5
2011 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 167.58 (49th in nation, 7th in conference)
Passing Offense: 175.17 (98, 8)
Total Offense: 342.75 (96, 7)
Scoring Offense: 26.92 (61, 6)
Rushing Defense: 123.0 (25, 4)
Pass Defense: 201.58 (34, 11)
Total Defense: 324.58 (19, 6)
Scoring Defense: 20.83 (29, 7)
Turnover Margin: 0.17 (44, 6)
Sacks: 2.0 (50, 5)
Sacks Allowed: 2.17 (74, 8)
