AUBURN, AL ― When coach Clark Lea began his news conference after Vanderbilt football's loss to Auburn, he had one issue top of mind.
"We've got to strengthen our special teams play," he said.
The Commodores (3-1, 0-1 SEC) have been known for strong special teams play under current coordinator Jeff LePak and previous coordinator Justin Lustig. But that unit is off to an alarming start this season, with things coming to a head in Vanderbilt's 21-15 loss to Auburn on Sept. 26 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Among the issues were a punt that got blocked, a failed fake punt and a missed field goal.
"Today, having a blocked punt for a touchdown for the second time this season, and a missed field goal that I believe was tipped, it's just not good enough," Lea
said. "So we've got to coach it better, and we have to create clarity for our players so that they can play to speed. And that's a phase that needs to be a strength for us. So disappointed in that."
The previous blocked punt was against Delaware in Week 2; both blocked punts resulted in touchdowns.
Lea said the special teams coaching staff plans to address the issues going forward.
"Two different situations," he said. "One (blocked punt) was a max rush, meaning they put the returner up, and today was just a missed execution and technique. We've got work to do there. I think this all starts, obviously, with me and the way we as a special teams coaching staff address what's clearly becoming a cause for issues for our team . . .
"We need to have a team that, in those moments where we're under pressure, that we're executing. And when you get a punt blocked, it's usually a miss in execution."
Despite another strong performance from Jared Curtis at quarterback, the Commodores haven't been good enough this season to give up so much on the margins. Against NC State, before they eventually won on a last-second fumble recovery touchdown, they gave up more than 100 yards on penalties.
Penalties were once again an issue against Auburn. Although the eight flags for 43 yards constituted less than half the yardage of the NC State penalties, many of the penalties came at inopportune times and killed drives. The blocked punt itself came on a fourth-and-6 after a false start had negated Vanderbilt's attempt to go for a fourth down.
During a fourth-quarter drive, the Commodores were called for having 12 men on the field and ultimately ended up kicking a field goal.
"We've just got to control what we can control, man," safety CJ Heard said. " . . . SEC play, man, it's the smallest margins that really hurt you, and you can't let that happen."
The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Commodores, who face No. 2 Georgia on the road Oct. 3 and have six additional ranked opponents on their schedule.
"You talk about winning in three phases, special teams is critical," Lea said. "We can't give up the points we gave up, and we're not going to be able to overcome that this year."
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why Vanderbilt football's special teams play is concern after losing to Auburn
