How we graded Mississippi State’s win over Vandy
NASHVILLE — It wasn't always pretty.
At one point in the second quarter, Mississippi State football's scoring drive included an interception overturned by review, an incomplete pass thrown by wide receiver Jaden Walley to a wide-open Austin Williams and a first down via a roughing the punter penalty.
Still, that drive ended with quarterback Will Rogers' finest throw of the day, lofting a 31-yard pass for wideout Makai Polk to bring down in the back of the end zone, part of a 45-6 win against Vanderbilt on Saturday.
After losing 49-9 to Alabama last week, the Bulldogs (4-3, 2-2 SEC) spoke during the week of making a statement against the Commodores (2-6, 0-4).
They did so, scoring over 30 points for the fourth time under coach Mike Leach.
Here's how we graded Mississippi State for its win against Vanderbilt.
Offense
Mississippi State scored its most points this season, but the display wasn't flawless. Rogers still threw two interceptions, bringing his two-game total to five after throwing two in the first five games. And the offensive line allowed Rogers to face too many pressures against a team with a tame pass rush.
Still, the Bulldogs did what they had to do to put the game well out of reach. Rogers threw four touchdowns and Mississippi State's offense moved the ball well in a strong bounce-back effort.
Grade: B
Defense
One play accounted for 80.2% of Vanderbilt's offensive yards, a 61-yard completion from backup quarterback Mike Wright to Devin Boddie. The Commodores couldn't do much against Mississippi State's defense. They finished with under 200 yards, and the Bulldogs sacked Wright three times and picked him off once.
Grade: A
Special teams
The special teams unit didn't do much to garner attention, and that can sometimes be a good thing. Punter Tucker Day took a large hit that resulted in a first down and kicker Brandon Ruiz knocked in a 36-yard field goal, making him 4-for-4 since his return from injury.
Grade: A
Coaching
Vanderbilt doesn't have much lateral speed on defense, and Leach's offense exploited that through quick screen passing and running back flare routes out of the backfield. That resulted in a big offensive performance. And defensive coordinator Zach Arnett kept Wright in check, ensuring his mobility didn't cause issues for Mississippi State.
Grade: A
Overall
Mississippi State needed a game like this to wash away the bad taste left after losing to Alabama. It's Vanderbilt, but the Bulldogs still took care of business the way they needed to.
Grade: A