Vanderbilt football: Derek Mason attempting to break slump in 2020
Plenty of defensive starters return
The Commodores have a lot of work to do on the defensive side of the ball. Despite that Vanderbilt returns 11 different starters on the defensive side of the ball, the Commodores know they must utilize these players more efficiently.
Last season, the Commodores were ranked 95th in the nation (13th in the SEC) in points allowed per game (31.8) and 101st in the nation (13th in the SEC) in total yards allowed per game (436.6).
Long-time defensive Ted Roof was brought on to lead a defense full of talent and potential to bring the Commodores out of mediocrity. He and coach Mason should be able to collaborate to form of well-established communication throughout the defense. With most of the front seven for the Commodores being seniors, there is immediate pressure to create a dynamic and highly productive defense.
The defensive line for the Commodores returns all of their starters from last season as seniors. Overall, the Commodores defense accounted for 20 total sacks last season. The pass rush will need to be more aggressive. They will also need to be more efficient in stopping the run and closing running holes for an opposing offense as they ranked 115th in the nation (13th in the SEC) in rushing yards per game (208.8).
Senior Dayo Odeyingbo accumulated 45 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, seven quarterback hurries and 1.5 sacks. He will be the leading defensive lineman once again for the Commodores as he has played all 36 games in his career with 22 starts.
The Commodores have two huge interior defensive linemen in seniors Drew Birchmeier and Cameron Tidd. The former has started in 23 of the last 24 games for the Commodores. Last season, Tidd accounted for 32 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. The Commodores can this season to utilize former four-star strong-side defensive end and Florida Gator transfer in sophomore Malik Langham. The Commodores can utilize Langham in pass-rush packages and small-ball 3-4 fronts if he does not get the start at the other defensive end position.
Four starting linebackers are back for the Commodores. Where to place these experienced backers will be crucial to their overall success and efficiency on this side of the ball.
Their leading pass rusher in senior Andre Mintze returns as last season he accounted for 39 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks as an outside linebacker. Junior Dimitri Moore led the team in total tackles (99) and solo tackles (48) last season as the main middle linebacker.
The tricky part for the other starting linebacker positions is to figure where to put senior Kenny Hebert and junior Feleti Afemui. Hebert started seven games at outside linebacker where he accounted for seven tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries and two sacks last season.
Vanderbilt was one of the most inefficient and unreliable pass defense last season in the SEC. The Commodores ranked 66th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game (227.8) as they allowed a 62 percent completion rate.
Sophomore BJ Anderson and junior Allan George are returning as starters. They will be more efficient as they have more experience. The Commodores have three experienced starters at the safety position with seniors Frank Coppet and Tae Daley and sophomore Dashaun Jerkins. Coppet looks to return after starting two games last season after suffering re-aggravating a significant injury that cost him 10 games.