Scouting Vanderbilt: Freshman QB Jared Curtis, Defensive Question Marks & Auburn’s SEC Stakes

Ike Jones (0:00)

What do the Tigers need to look out for as they approach the game here with Vanderbilt? Welcome on in to The Auburn Express TV powered by The War Rapport. Turn us on, turn us up. We will definitely turn it out. I am your guy, Ike Jones, and joined today by the founder of The Dore Report here with The War Rapport, Billy Derrick. Billy, man, I appreciate you taking a little time today to come in here and educate our fans about the Vanderbilt Commodores today.

Billy Derrick (0:42)

It's always a blast. I had fun with you guys last year, Ike, and yeah, really respect what you guys have done with The War Rapport.

I love how you guys have added that part of it. But yeah, looking forward to this game. I feel like this rivalry, I say, dare I say rivalry, I mean, that's almost what it's become a little bit here.

Ike Jones (0:59)

It's got to be now. If they're going to keep this rotating three, we're going to see each other every year, so it's got to be there.

Billy Derrick (1:06)

Well, what happened was, and I'm sure you guys know this, the SEC had reset their schedules.

It just so happened that Vanderbilt and Auburn towards the end of that, the last couple of years, that was the home and home, whatever you want to call it. Then when they reset them, they're playing each other again. That's rare for it to happen, but I've always liked when these two teams get together. I know Vanderbilt people do because it's typically been a game that somehow Vanderbilt's been able to keep close and even win sometimes. But yeah, I love, especially recently, obviously, with Pavia, but now we really get to see what this series becomes post-Pavia.

Ike Jones (1:45)

Yeah, it's gonna be interesting to see what it's like there.

You've got, of course, the dynamic true freshman in there. So let's start talking a little bit about the offense this year because still have, you know, Tim Beck there calling the plays, but now you've got this rotating quarterback situation that they've been going through these first three weeks. Talk to me about the Vanderbilt offense post Diego Pavia.

Billy Derrick (2:10)

Well, there's no longer the rotating quarterbacks, which I think Vanderbilt fans love.

To start the season, the thought was that Jared Curtis is gonna get the reins.

Vanderbilt paid up for him. You had Nate Bargatze and all kinds of celebrities endorse him and he was in a movie and all kinds of different stuff. And so the thoughts in our minds was, okay, this guy has to start the season. There's no way he's gonna start the season on the bench. At least that was my thought. And obviously, Blaise Berlewitz gets the nod, the veteran quarterback who's played. He's been Pavia's backup for three years, last three seasons has been in the offense. And so Vanderbilt went with the safe route to start the season. But lo and behold, Jared Curtis got the reins last weekend's NC State and took control. I thought he really took control in the Delaware game, the second half of that one, where it played a lot better than Berlewitz. I think they wanted to see both guys and they wanted Jared to earn the job. And that's what he's done. Now, it hasn't been perfect, you know, three turnovers last week against NC State is not going to get it done against most SEC teams. We were joking, maybe Arkansas before we recorded, but not very many other SEC teams. And so when you look at Curtis, obviously a ton of talent, a five-star kid, Vandy pulls him from Georgia. And you know, you know, mistakes are coming. You know, you guys, Auburn have, y'all have experienced young quarterbacks, whether it was Bo Nicks or whoever it is over the years, you know that that's going to come with it, but you're interested in seeing how he develops within the offense and he's done, he's done fine. And honestly, the, the NC State game for Auburn fans that go back and watch some of that, some of the throws he made were ridiculously good, perfectly on target, but the brutal interception, you know, that should have ended the game. I mean, you know, we talked about it before. That was one of the most probable endings in the history of football, like the sport of football, the way NC State lost that. And so I think it's a good thing, obviously, that Curtis doesn't have to think about that all week and say, man, I cost our team the game. So I think that helps a lot. They've got some momentum, but boy, do they have some things to clean up because it, like I said, this is not the Pavia type offense, especially of last year, you know, where Bandy's putting up 30, 40 points a game. They're lighting it up, they no longer have Eli Stowers or Trey Richardson, who's now at Louisville.