Vanderbilt’s offense looks nothing like the group that had college football buzzing a season ago. The Commodores went from eighth in the nation in scoring to 103rd, putting up just 23 points per game, and the drop-off has been hard to miss.
Tim Beck is back as offensive coordinator, and his system still carries the same fingerprints it has for years: a power-spread look that leans heavily on the pistol and builds around the quarterback run game. Beck’s coaching path is unusual, too.
He got his start at Pittsburg State right after college under Dennis Franchione, then stayed there for three decades, including 15 years as offensive coordinator and 10 as head coach. Chuck Broyles was the only head coach he worked under for most of that stretch, which left Beck developing his offense largely on his own.
That scheme paid off in a big way during Beck’s first two seasons at Vanderbilt, but this year the pieces around it have changed. Running back Sedrick Alexander and wide receiver Junior Sherrill are back, but much of the rest of the offense has been turned over, and the new quarterback and offensive line have kept the unit from finding its footing.
Jared Curtis is the centerpiece now. The former No. 2 overall recruit in last year’s class chose Vanderbilt over Georgia, and at 230 pounds with a big arm and real rushing power, the ceiling is obvious.
The problem is that he has played like a true freshman in the SEC. Curtis has shown progress as a passer and is averaging more than 11 yards per completion, but he has also thrown 8 interceptions on just 224 attempts.
The passing game has become almost entirely about Junior Sherrill. He has 56 catches for 747 yards, while the next closest target is Alexander, who has 17 receptions. Sherrill is a legitimate weapon, but when one receiver takes that much of the load, the offense becomes easy to key on.
The run game has slipped, too. Alexander was a high-volume back averaging more than 5 yards per carry a year ago, but he’s down to 333 yards and a 3.9 average this season.
Makhilyn Young has not provided the explosive change-of-pace production Vanderbilt needs, and Curtis’ own running has not given the offense the spark Diego Pavia once did. Curtis has 76 carries for only 172 yards, and that lack of efficiency has left the entire attack stuck in place.
That matters because Beck’s offense is built around the quarterback power run. If that part of the system isn’t threatening defenses, the rest of it doesn’t open up the way it should.
At this point, it’s difficult to see Vanderbilt suddenly finding that rhythm before the season ends. Curtis and Sherrill can still make plays together, but the Commodores do not have enough behind them to feel dangerous for long stretches.
Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack already handled Beck and Vanderbilt at their lowest point in scoring a year ago, and the 24 loss clearly stuck with him from a schematic standpoint. That should matter again here, especially with this version of the Commodores looking far less threatening.
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It is the kind of late-season test that can reshape the conversation around a contender in a hurry, especially when other top teams like Georgia, Utah and UCLA are also navigating their own dangerous stretches. Alabamas margin for error remains thin, and this one opponent stands out as the most obvious threat to turning a strong season into a messy race for positioning. [Read more 🡒]