Commodores focused on the basics in open week
NASHVILLE — Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason believes his Commodores took advantage of an open date to “detox” after the most grueling fourgame stretch in the program’s history.
To make sure they finish like Vanderbilt started this season, Mason returned to basics of tackling, running and catching.
“We just had to get back to being us,” Mason said Tuesday. “Peeling back the layers in terms of defensively understanding that we only needed a couple calls to go out and play defense … and stripped it all the way back to just fundamental football. And it was fun. Guys got back to having fun — running to the ball, hitting, tackling.”
The Commodores (3-4, 0-4 SEC) won their first three games with a defense that was among the nation’s stingiest, capped by an upset of then-No. 18 Kansas State. Then they ran into a buzz saw of four straight losses.
The skid started with a 59-0 loss to top-ranked Alabama, 38-24 at then-No. 21 Florida and a 45-14 loss to then-No. 5 Georgia. That was the first time Vanderbilt had played ranked teams in four consecutive weeks. Then they finished with a 57-35 loss at Mississippi for a fourth straight loss.
That’s prompted Mason to get back to the basic steps like making a form tackle and looking a ball all the way in for a catch. He wanted his Commodores to remember how they felt when they liked how they were playing in September.
“For a minute, we sort of looked glossy-eyed a little bit just trying to figure it out,” Mason said. “Slowly but surely, you’re starting to see the gleam. You’re starting to see that confidence, that swagger, that walk, that talk, that joking. It’s something that doesn’t come overnight.”
Haley sparks PSU defense
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — It’ll likely go down as the most memorable play of his collegiate career, but Grant Haley has no desire to rewatch his game-sealing touchdown against Ohio State from a year ago.
Although Haley’s fourth-quarter, 60-yard return of a blocked field goal sparked Penn State’s national rise, the soft-spoken Atlanta native believes he’s earned a reputation as more than “that Ohio State kid,” as he’s been called by fans he runs into.
Coach James Franklin has seen him make plenty of plays since, and his characterization of the 5-foot-9, 190-pound Haley is more fitting.
“He’s Mr. Dependable,” Franklin said. “You know what you’re getting with Grant every day. You know what you’re getting with Grant every play.”
Penn State players and coaches have known for a long time what to expect of Haley.
The three-year starter, who also played 13 games as a true freshman, has emerged as one of the most effective cover cornerbacks in the country. His shutdown abilities have fueled PSU’s aggressive secondary heading into a showdown with No. 6 Ohio State’s 12th-ranked passing offense and rejuvenated quarterback J.T. Barrett.
TCU can solidify spot
FORT WORTH, Texas — When TCU last played Iowa State before the release of the College Football Playoff rankings, the Horned Frogs won by 52 points in the 2014 regular-season finale. They then dropped out of the top four and were left out of the playoff.
A win of any margin over the surprising No. 25 Cyclones this time almost certainly would solidify the fourth-ranked Horned Frogs being in the top four of the initial playoff rankings this season.
TCU (7-0) is the Big 12’s only undefeated team and headed to Iowa State (5-2) on Saturday. It is the last game before the CFP selection committee releases the first of its six weekly rankings for the season Tuesday night.
“We’re worried about going up to Ames and coming back 1-0, because if you don’t do that, none of that stuff matters next week,” running back Kyle Hicks said.
“If we don’t handle business and take care of what we have now, it’s not going to really matter next week,” cornerback Ranthony Texada said. “Day by day, the little things, it will take care of itself if we’re doing that.”
Hicks and Texada, both fifth-year seniors, are clearly immersed in coached Gary Patterson’s longstanding message.
“I have to win a ballgame for it to matter to us,” Patterson said. “Maybe I’ll think about that on Sunday. … We need to make sure that we take care of our business, and we’ll see what everybody has to say after that.”
TCU plays three of its next four games on the road, including at 10th-ranked Oklahoma, the two-time defending Big 12 champion and only league team with a playoff appearance.