Let’s dive into the Week 8 advanced stats, courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
As a reminder, this is the PFF grading scale.
< 50 = Bad
50-60 = Average
70-80 = Above Average
80-84 = Good
85 and up = Very, very good.
With that … the Tennessee-Alabama advanced stats…
OFFENSIVE GRADES
Chryst graded out very well Saturday, largely because five of his nine completions went for more than 20 yards. He also converted seven first downs in the air.
It’s clear that Tennessee wanted to attack Alabama’s linebackers and safeties in coverage, as the two quarterbacks combined for 15 of 25 overall attempts between the hashes.
Guarantano had 13 drop-backs against Alabama and faced pressure seven times, leading to three sacks and a batted pass. Conversely, Chryst saw pressure on just three of 15 drop-backs and was never sacked. Amazingly — seriously, I had to double-check the number — Tennessee actually allowed fewer total pressures against Alabama than it did in its previous three SEC games. The difference between UF, UGA and Auburn were hits on the QBs, though.
Against Alabama, the Vols surrendered three sacks and five other QB hits. Those numbers in the other SEC games: UF (1 sack, 3 hits), UGA (2 sacks, 2 hits), AU (3 sacks, 3 hits).
Chance Hall graded out as Tennessee’s top pass (81.0) and run (75.9) blocker, but he was also dinged for stepping on Keller’s foot and causing a safety.
Carvin had a pass blocking grade of 17.7, while Johnson, who played every snap at center, was barely better at 22.3, allowing three pressures and a sack. Niehaus also allowed three pressures.
Based on the way PFF grades, Guarantano was to blame for two of the three sacks on Saturday. Again, we don’t know the protections (and to be clear, neither does PFF) but it seems notable that’s how those grades shook out.
The rushing data is so appalling I’m not going to spend too much time on it. Tennessee finished with 61 rushing yards — 54 came after contact. That’s all you need to know about the run blocking. Tennessee had a single run over 10 yards — Tim Jordan going 11 yards. A week ago at Auburn, Tennessee had 19 of 32 designed runs go for 1 yard or less. Saturday against Alabama, the Vols had 12 of 25 designed runs go for 1 yard or less. So in the last two weeks, 54 percent of Tennessee’s runs have gone for a yard or less. Pitiful.
As for the wideouts, Callaway saw three targets but didn’t catch a pass, and was credited with a drop on the very first play of the game. That seems a bit harsh, IMO, but he was mainly a non-factor Saturday. Conversely, Jennings hauled in six of seven targets, including three 1st down receptions.
Tennessee had success going after both Saivion Smith and Xavier McKinney (5 of 6 receptions for 99 yards). [Insert 10 Things I Think I Think post].
DEFENESIVE GRADES
Defensive backs Alontae Taylor (57.2), Shawn Shamburger (49.0) and Todd Kelly Jr. (52.0) played 11, 19 and 15 snaps respectively. Paul Bain (53.3) played 23 snaps.
Ignont (47), Jackson (44), Gooden (28), Henderson (28), Butler (30) and Johnson (35) all saw career-highs in snaps vs. Alabama.
The Vols didn’t sack Tua on Saturday, but they did hurry the Alabama quarterback eight times. However, he was totally undeterred by the blitz, going 3 of 6 for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Buchanan and Taylor both recorded two pressures each, with Johnson and Bituli recording the two hits on the quarterback.
Tennessee missed 10 tackles Saturday — six in the first quarter.
In my Upon Further Review piece, I noted how Gooden had three solo tackles and Tennessee’s starting DL combined for zero. The advanced stats look worse: Gooden was credited with four “stops,” while Tuttle, Phillips, Johnson, Butler and Bain combined for one. Total.
Bituli played just 25 snaps, obviously all after halftime, and had three stops.
On the podcast, we lamented the linebacker play, and Kirkland Jr. had the lowest run stopping grade (30.9) on the team.
Warrior gave great effort Saturday, but the junior was certainly picked on in coverage. He was beat in zone on Jaylen Waddle’s long touchdown and he also lost tight in Irv Smith twice. In all, he finished with the lowest defensive grade on the team because he allowed 4 catches on 9 targets for 134 yards, one touchdown and three first downs. Also, two of the non-catches were credited as drops and he was penalized himself for dropping a would-be interception in the end zone on a pass targeted for Jerry Jeudy.
Irv Smith gave the Vols secondary fits, hauling in 5 of 6 targets for 50 yards, one touchdown and three first downs. The lone incompletion did come on a deep pass that Warrior dislodged for a PBU.
According to PFF, TK Jr., Thompson, Osborne and Warrior were each responsible for the four different TD passes on Saturday.
As a reminder, this is the PFF grading scale.
< 50 = Bad
50-60 = Average
70-80 = Above Average
80-84 = Good
85 and up = Very, very good.
With that … the Tennessee-Alabama advanced stats…
OFFENSIVE GRADES
- QB Keller Chryst (90.7)
- WR Jauan Jennings (74.5)
- RB Ty Chandler (73.3)
- LG Chance Hall (68.9)
- RT Drew Richmond (68.4)
- WR Brandon Johnson (66.8)
- RB Tim Jordan (65.8)
- LB Riley Locklear (58.6)
- TE Eli Wolf (58.6)
- LT Trey Smith (54.7)
- QB Jarrett Guarantano (54.0)
- LG Nathan Niehaus (52.7)
- WR Marquez Callaway (47.7)
- C Ryan Johnson (44.0)
Chryst graded out very well Saturday, largely because five of his nine completions went for more than 20 yards. He also converted seven first downs in the air.
It’s clear that Tennessee wanted to attack Alabama’s linebackers and safeties in coverage, as the two quarterbacks combined for 15 of 25 overall attempts between the hashes.
Guarantano had 13 drop-backs against Alabama and faced pressure seven times, leading to three sacks and a batted pass. Conversely, Chryst saw pressure on just three of 15 drop-backs and was never sacked. Amazingly — seriously, I had to double-check the number — Tennessee actually allowed fewer total pressures against Alabama than it did in its previous three SEC games. The difference between UF, UGA and Auburn were hits on the QBs, though.
Against Alabama, the Vols surrendered three sacks and five other QB hits. Those numbers in the other SEC games: UF (1 sack, 3 hits), UGA (2 sacks, 2 hits), AU (3 sacks, 3 hits).
Chance Hall graded out as Tennessee’s top pass (81.0) and run (75.9) blocker, but he was also dinged for stepping on Keller’s foot and causing a safety.
Carvin had a pass blocking grade of 17.7, while Johnson, who played every snap at center, was barely better at 22.3, allowing three pressures and a sack. Niehaus also allowed three pressures.
Based on the way PFF grades, Guarantano was to blame for two of the three sacks on Saturday. Again, we don’t know the protections (and to be clear, neither does PFF) but it seems notable that’s how those grades shook out.
The rushing data is so appalling I’m not going to spend too much time on it. Tennessee finished with 61 rushing yards — 54 came after contact. That’s all you need to know about the run blocking. Tennessee had a single run over 10 yards — Tim Jordan going 11 yards. A week ago at Auburn, Tennessee had 19 of 32 designed runs go for 1 yard or less. Saturday against Alabama, the Vols had 12 of 25 designed runs go for 1 yard or less. So in the last two weeks, 54 percent of Tennessee’s runs have gone for a yard or less. Pitiful.
As for the wideouts, Callaway saw three targets but didn’t catch a pass, and was credited with a drop on the very first play of the game. That seems a bit harsh, IMO, but he was mainly a non-factor Saturday. Conversely, Jennings hauled in six of seven targets, including three 1st down receptions.
Tennessee had success going after both Saivion Smith and Xavier McKinney (5 of 6 receptions for 99 yards). [Insert 10 Things I Think I Think post].
DEFENESIVE GRADES
- CB Baylen Buchanan (76.9)
- DE Kyle Phillips (70.0)
- NT Emmit Gooden (69.8)
- DB Theo Jackson (67.6)
- MLB Daniel Bituli (66.6)
- CB DJ Henderson (66.5)
- DT Shy Tuttle (65.8)
- OLB Darrell Taylor (65.8)
- MLB Will Ignont (65.6)
- CB Bryce Thompson (62.5)
- DT Alexis Johnson (60.9)
- MLB Darrin Kirkland Jr. (54.0)
- Quart’e Sapp (53.9)
- Matthew Butler (51.6)
- OLB Deandre Johnson (51.6)
- Marquill Osborne (50.0)
- LS Nigel Warrior (46.9)
- CB Baylen Buchanan (76.9)
Defensive backs Alontae Taylor (57.2), Shawn Shamburger (49.0) and Todd Kelly Jr. (52.0) played 11, 19 and 15 snaps respectively. Paul Bain (53.3) played 23 snaps.
Ignont (47), Jackson (44), Gooden (28), Henderson (28), Butler (30) and Johnson (35) all saw career-highs in snaps vs. Alabama.
The Vols didn’t sack Tua on Saturday, but they did hurry the Alabama quarterback eight times. However, he was totally undeterred by the blitz, going 3 of 6 for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Buchanan and Taylor both recorded two pressures each, with Johnson and Bituli recording the two hits on the quarterback.
Tennessee missed 10 tackles Saturday — six in the first quarter.
In my Upon Further Review piece, I noted how Gooden had three solo tackles and Tennessee’s starting DL combined for zero. The advanced stats look worse: Gooden was credited with four “stops,” while Tuttle, Phillips, Johnson, Butler and Bain combined for one. Total.
Bituli played just 25 snaps, obviously all after halftime, and had three stops.
On the podcast, we lamented the linebacker play, and Kirkland Jr. had the lowest run stopping grade (30.9) on the team.
Warrior gave great effort Saturday, but the junior was certainly picked on in coverage. He was beat in zone on Jaylen Waddle’s long touchdown and he also lost tight in Irv Smith twice. In all, he finished with the lowest defensive grade on the team because he allowed 4 catches on 9 targets for 134 yards, one touchdown and three first downs. Also, two of the non-catches were credited as drops and he was penalized himself for dropping a would-be interception in the end zone on a pass targeted for Jerry Jeudy.
Irv Smith gave the Vols secondary fits, hauling in 5 of 6 targets for 50 yards, one touchdown and three first downs. The lone incompletion did come on a deep pass that Warrior dislodged for a PBU.
According to PFF, TK Jr., Thompson, Osborne and Warrior were each responsible for the four different TD passes on Saturday.
