Day-After Dissection: Vanderbilt

After winning its last three SEC games by an average score of 45-15, Auburn received a stiff test from an upset-minded Vanderbilt team. 

The close contest wasn't the biggest surprise in the world. Auburn was without starting quarterback Sean White for a half and linebacker Tre Williams. Linebacker Deshaun Davis was ejected early in the game for targeting. The Commodores, despite being 4-4, came in with an upset of Georgia, three one-score losses and a defense that was only allowing 15 points per game in SEC play in tow. 

Despite struggling in a classic early-kickoff trap game situation, the Tigers held on to beat Zach Cunningham's Commodores and move one step closer to a winner-take-West Iron Bowl.

How did Auburn's different units grade out in the victory?

Coaching: B-

• Despite the underrated quality of Derek Mason's squad, this was still Auburn's most lackluster performance since the loss to Texas A&M in week three. The team looked sluggish for much of the first half, and the strange kickoff return playcall almost resulted in a turnover that would have given Vanderbilt another shot at points. However, the Tigers made the proper adjustments at halftime and outscored the Commodores 13-3 in the second half. It wasn't the staff's sharpest day, but a win is a win, especially in November,

Quarterback: B-

• People shouldn't overreact to John Franklin III's first-half performance. Franklin led the Tigers to a couple of scoring drives and flashed his speed, running seven times for 59 yards. However, the coaches have always been concerned about his ball security and passing abilities, and both hurt Auburn on Saturday. 
• This game made it abundantly clear, however, that this is Sean White's offense. White came in after halftime and went 10-for-13 for 106 yards and the touchdown that gave Auburn the lead for good. It wasn't as if White came in and the offense suddenly started gashing the 'Dores at every turn, but he definitely made the difference.

Running Backs: A

• Kamryn Pettway became the 10th Auburn Tiger to rush for 1,000 yards in a season in the last eight years. He carried the ball 25 times for 175 yards, including a 60-yard run late in the game that gave Auburn an opportunity to put the game away. Pettway's averaging more than 190 yards in Auburn's last four games, the best for a Tiger back in a four-game stretch since Bo Jackson in 1985.
• Kerryon Johnson continues to get more involved in the offense as he becomes healthier. He ran it nine times for 41 yards and yet another touchdown out of the wildcat formation.
• All in all, Auburn rushed for 271 yards on the day. It wasn't as flashy as the 543-yard outburst against Arkansas, but it was certainly effective.

Wide Receivers: B

• It was a pretty average day for this unit. The only significant mistake on the day was Marcus Davis' dropped pass from Franklin in the first half, but that pass was high and wobbling. Five different players shared the team lead with two catches. Darius Slayton's third-quarter touchdown, the first score of his career, would ultimately make the difference in the game.

Offensive Line: B

• Auburn ran for 271 yards against a strong Vanderbilt front seven, but what holds this grade back is its mistakes. This unit is used to not committing penalties, so the number of drive-killing holding calls that negated good plays came as a surprise. It wasn't a bad game for this group, but it'll need much cleaner, crisper performances in Athens and Tuscaloosa.

Defensive Line: B

• For much of the afternoon, Auburn's fearsome defensive line didn't make the impact it expected to. The defense against the run was inconsistent, especially in the first half. However, this group made some big plays when it needed to. Carl Lawson's sack on Vanderbilt's last drive sent Jordan-Hare Stadium into a frenzy. Lawson has nine sacks this season, which is tied for the SEC lead with Tennessee's Derek Barnett.

Linebackers: B+

• It wasn't the best of performance's by Auburn's linebacker corps, but a major factor in that was who wasn't on the field for Auburn, rather than who was. As I mentioned earlier, Williams missed the entire game with an injury and Davis was booted early in the afternoon.
• The guys who did play did a good job of keeping the defense composed. Darrell Williams led the team with 11 tackles, while Illinois transfer TJ Neal was second with nine. Montavious Atkinson added five tackles of his own. 

Defensive Backs: B

• Vanderbilt quarterback Kyle Shurmur gave the Tigers fits at times. He went 24-for-36 for 221 yards and a second-quarter touchdown. Auburn's secondary got burned on numerous third-and-long situations. However, some outstanding individual efforts helped negate the coverage issues. Tray Matthews made some fantastic tackles to stop the Commodores on some crucial plays, while Joshua Holsey once again saved the day with a pick.

Special Teams: A

• Daniel Carlson was perfect again. He made all three of his actual field goal tries. I'm not penalizing him or this unit for Cunningham's blocked kick late in the game because that was simply a phenomenal individual play by a guy who will be playing on Sundays soon. There was nothing Auburn could have done to stop him from blocking that kick.
• Kerryon Johnson had some nice returns to offset the nearly disastrous trick return earlier in the game.

Overall: B

• Again, it should be stressed that Vanderbilt isn't a bad team, despite its 4-5 record. Its only loss by more than a touchdown is a 38-7 loss at Georgia Tech early in the season. It was a dangerous letdown situation for Auburn. Not much went right for the home team on Saturday. It was just one of those days. But the Tigers showed their mettle and didn't let the pressure get to them. Auburn got its third SEC home win of the season and is a win at Georgia away from playing in the most important Iron Bowl since the Kick Six. Gus Malzahn will take it.