For most SEC teams this past season, it was the defense that held them back for any shortcomings they had. But for Vanderbilt, it was much of the opposite.
While the Commodores (6-7) had some drop off on defense from a year earlier, it was their offense that proved to be more detrimental to their success in a season that saw them reach a bowl game for the first time since 2013. Ranking 110th nationally, only South Carolina and Florida were worse on that side of the ball in the SEC than Vanderbilt.
And it wasn’t much better a scoring offense (113th nationally) and passing offense (100th), either.