As a reminder, this is the PFF grading scale.
< 50 = Backup
50-59 = Below average starter
60-69 = Average starter
70-79 = Above average starter
80-89 = Very good
90-99 = Elite
1 — Wanya Morris (71 snaps) — 83.4
2 — Eric Gray (48) — 71.2
3 — Cooper Mays (3) — 68.3
4 — Jarrett Guarantano (43) — 67.2
5 — Jacob Warren (50) — 66.5
6 — Trey Smith (74) — 66.1
7 — Cade Mays (74) — 64.3
8 — Josh Palmer (64) —64.0
9 — Jabari Small (20) — 63.1
10 — Javontez Spraggins (1) — 60.0
11 — Cedric Tillman (6) — 58.5
12 — Ty Chandler (3) — 58.1
13 — Jalin Hyatt (30) — 58.0
14 — Jahmir Johnson (3) — 57.9
15 — Darnell Wright (74) — 56.5
16 — Brandon Kennedy (74) — 56.2
17 — Ramel Keyton (23) — 56.0
18 — Jimmy Holiday (3) — 55.4
19 — Brandon Johnson (43) — 53.8
20 — Princeton Fant (23) — 52.0
21 — Velus Jones (53) — 51.0
22 — Harrison Bailey (17) — 49.7
23 — Brian Maurer (14) — 35.6
The offensive line had a great first half against Arkansas and Wanya Morris exited the game with the highest PFF grade of the season for a Tennessee player. Morris topped the charts with an 80.2 grade in run blocking and was third among O-linemen in his pass blocking grade at 78.2. Cade Mays graded out the highest in pass protection at 80.1 followed by Brandon Kennedy at 79.8.
Tennessee’s backs have really struggled in pass protection at times this season but Eric Gray got a solid 71.1 grade as a pass blocker against Arkansas.
Tennessee’s passing game was virtually non existent against the Razorbacks so it’s no surprise to see an anemic breakdown. The Vols attempted only one pass longer than 20 yards, an incompletion down the left side. The offense had just two completions where the ball traveled more than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage. Tennessee was 2-of-3 on passes between 1-10 yards and completed one screen pass behind the line of scrimmage.
Little wonder that the biggest takeaway from Jeremy Pruitt’s press conference on Monday was that the head coach feels like his team needs to be more aggressive.
PFF’s grades don’t always seem to jive with what the average fan (or reporter) takes from the game but it does in regards to quarterback Brian Maurer. Maurer looked shaky, unsure of himself and unprepared to play in an SEC game when he got the call in the second half and his 35.6 PFF grade reflects that.
I personally didn’t feel like Harrison Bailey was as bad as the 49.6 he got hit with but I imagine that was influenced by the two interceptions he threw in limited action. I didn’t think the one of the deflection (which should have been defensive pass interference) was his fault and the last one was simply a forced throw into the end zone that he had to try and make with the clock winding down.
As for rushing direction Tennessee has typically wanted to run right up the gut this year between either guard and center and that was not a recipe for success on Saturday. The Vols called 15 runs between in the guard and center gaps and netted just 41 yards.
Two called runs directly over Cade Mays at right guard picked up 12 yards. Tennessee had success going wide right with five carries picking up 25 yards.
On a night when Tennessee scored just 13 points and got shut out in the second half it’s not a surprise to see just two players grade out as ‘above average starters.’
DEFENSE
1 — Bryce Thompson (70 snaps) — 80.4
2 — Deandre Johnson (36) — 77.6
3 — Aubrey Solomon (19) — 73.9
4 — Quavaris Crouch (37) — 71.9
5 — Darel Middleton (32) — 71.0
6 — Trevon Flowers (66) — 70.8
7 — Theo Jackson (71) — 69.9
8 — Roman Harrison (5) — 65.6
9 — Tamarion McDonald (9) — 65.3
10 — Tyler Baron (15) — 64.8
11 — Kurot Garland (29) — 63.8
12 — Kivon Bennett (27) — 62.8
13 — Matthew Butler (53) — 61.6
14 — Morven Joseph (2) — 60.5
15 — Henry To’o To’o (71) — 58.8
16 — Warren Burrell (28) — 57.7
17 — John Mincey (16) — 56.5
18 — Greg Emerson (13) — 56.1
19 — Key Lawrence (17) — 55.8
20 — Jeremy Banks (26) — 54.5
21 — Omari Thomas (14) — 54.3
22 — Kenneth George Jr. (52) — 52.7
23 — Ja’Quain Blakely (8) — 52.0
24 — Elijah Simmons (15) — 47.2
25 — Jaylen McCollough (50) — 30.8
It was a very good night for Bryce Thompson per PFF as he graded out at 80.4, the only 80+ guy on defense.
After really struggling in tackling against Alabama Tennessee looked much improved in that area coming off a bye week and the PFF grades agreed. According to PFF 19 defensive players graded out at 70+ for the game.
Ironically, in a grade that I think most would disagree with from their own perspective, Henry To’o To’o received the lowest tackling grade at 47.3. That doesn’t align with what I saw personally either initially for on rewatch.
Theo Jackson (85.6), Trevon Flowers and (83.8) and Thompson (81.7) all graded out at 80+ in tackling.
Arkansas ate Tennessee up in the third quarter with some chunk plays in the passing game. Not surprisingly Jaylen McCollough received the lowest defensive grade at 30.8 and was graded at 28.6 in pass coverage specifically. Kenneth George, who appeared to get hit a couple of times down the field received a 54.9 in pass coverage.
Jackson got high marks for tackling but was targeted six times in the passing game and gave up six completions, but those went for just 22 yards.
Conversely, McCollough was targeted three times and gave up three completions that gained 73 yards while George was targeted three times and gave up two completions that netted 57 yards.
Three targets against Thompson resulted in two completions for just 16 yards.
The linebackers have struggled in pass coverage all year and according to PFF To’o To’o was targeted four times, and gave up four completions for 37 yards.
Quavaris Crouch (71.4) had his best game of the season according to PFF.
Deandre Johnson (75.3) and Aubrey Solomon (73.4) graded out the best among the front seven in run defense.
< 50 = Backup
50-59 = Below average starter
60-69 = Average starter
70-79 = Above average starter
80-89 = Very good
90-99 = Elite
1 — Wanya Morris (71 snaps) — 83.4
2 — Eric Gray (48) — 71.2
3 — Cooper Mays (3) — 68.3
4 — Jarrett Guarantano (43) — 67.2
5 — Jacob Warren (50) — 66.5
6 — Trey Smith (74) — 66.1
7 — Cade Mays (74) — 64.3
8 — Josh Palmer (64) —64.0
9 — Jabari Small (20) — 63.1
10 — Javontez Spraggins (1) — 60.0
11 — Cedric Tillman (6) — 58.5
12 — Ty Chandler (3) — 58.1
13 — Jalin Hyatt (30) — 58.0
14 — Jahmir Johnson (3) — 57.9
15 — Darnell Wright (74) — 56.5
16 — Brandon Kennedy (74) — 56.2
17 — Ramel Keyton (23) — 56.0
18 — Jimmy Holiday (3) — 55.4
19 — Brandon Johnson (43) — 53.8
20 — Princeton Fant (23) — 52.0
21 — Velus Jones (53) — 51.0
22 — Harrison Bailey (17) — 49.7
23 — Brian Maurer (14) — 35.6
The offensive line had a great first half against Arkansas and Wanya Morris exited the game with the highest PFF grade of the season for a Tennessee player. Morris topped the charts with an 80.2 grade in run blocking and was third among O-linemen in his pass blocking grade at 78.2. Cade Mays graded out the highest in pass protection at 80.1 followed by Brandon Kennedy at 79.8.
Tennessee’s backs have really struggled in pass protection at times this season but Eric Gray got a solid 71.1 grade as a pass blocker against Arkansas.
Tennessee’s passing game was virtually non existent against the Razorbacks so it’s no surprise to see an anemic breakdown. The Vols attempted only one pass longer than 20 yards, an incompletion down the left side. The offense had just two completions where the ball traveled more than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage. Tennessee was 2-of-3 on passes between 1-10 yards and completed one screen pass behind the line of scrimmage.
Little wonder that the biggest takeaway from Jeremy Pruitt’s press conference on Monday was that the head coach feels like his team needs to be more aggressive.
PFF’s grades don’t always seem to jive with what the average fan (or reporter) takes from the game but it does in regards to quarterback Brian Maurer. Maurer looked shaky, unsure of himself and unprepared to play in an SEC game when he got the call in the second half and his 35.6 PFF grade reflects that.
I personally didn’t feel like Harrison Bailey was as bad as the 49.6 he got hit with but I imagine that was influenced by the two interceptions he threw in limited action. I didn’t think the one of the deflection (which should have been defensive pass interference) was his fault and the last one was simply a forced throw into the end zone that he had to try and make with the clock winding down.
As for rushing direction Tennessee has typically wanted to run right up the gut this year between either guard and center and that was not a recipe for success on Saturday. The Vols called 15 runs between in the guard and center gaps and netted just 41 yards.
Two called runs directly over Cade Mays at right guard picked up 12 yards. Tennessee had success going wide right with five carries picking up 25 yards.
On a night when Tennessee scored just 13 points and got shut out in the second half it’s not a surprise to see just two players grade out as ‘above average starters.’
DEFENSE
1 — Bryce Thompson (70 snaps) — 80.4
2 — Deandre Johnson (36) — 77.6
3 — Aubrey Solomon (19) — 73.9
4 — Quavaris Crouch (37) — 71.9
5 — Darel Middleton (32) — 71.0
6 — Trevon Flowers (66) — 70.8
7 — Theo Jackson (71) — 69.9
8 — Roman Harrison (5) — 65.6
9 — Tamarion McDonald (9) — 65.3
10 — Tyler Baron (15) — 64.8
11 — Kurot Garland (29) — 63.8
12 — Kivon Bennett (27) — 62.8
13 — Matthew Butler (53) — 61.6
14 — Morven Joseph (2) — 60.5
15 — Henry To’o To’o (71) — 58.8
16 — Warren Burrell (28) — 57.7
17 — John Mincey (16) — 56.5
18 — Greg Emerson (13) — 56.1
19 — Key Lawrence (17) — 55.8
20 — Jeremy Banks (26) — 54.5
21 — Omari Thomas (14) — 54.3
22 — Kenneth George Jr. (52) — 52.7
23 — Ja’Quain Blakely (8) — 52.0
24 — Elijah Simmons (15) — 47.2
25 — Jaylen McCollough (50) — 30.8
It was a very good night for Bryce Thompson per PFF as he graded out at 80.4, the only 80+ guy on defense.
After really struggling in tackling against Alabama Tennessee looked much improved in that area coming off a bye week and the PFF grades agreed. According to PFF 19 defensive players graded out at 70+ for the game.
Ironically, in a grade that I think most would disagree with from their own perspective, Henry To’o To’o received the lowest tackling grade at 47.3. That doesn’t align with what I saw personally either initially for on rewatch.
Theo Jackson (85.6), Trevon Flowers and (83.8) and Thompson (81.7) all graded out at 80+ in tackling.
Arkansas ate Tennessee up in the third quarter with some chunk plays in the passing game. Not surprisingly Jaylen McCollough received the lowest defensive grade at 30.8 and was graded at 28.6 in pass coverage specifically. Kenneth George, who appeared to get hit a couple of times down the field received a 54.9 in pass coverage.
Jackson got high marks for tackling but was targeted six times in the passing game and gave up six completions, but those went for just 22 yards.
Conversely, McCollough was targeted three times and gave up three completions that gained 73 yards while George was targeted three times and gave up two completions that netted 57 yards.
Three targets against Thompson resulted in two completions for just 16 yards.
The linebackers have struggled in pass coverage all year and according to PFF To’o To’o was targeted four times, and gave up four completions for 37 yards.
Quavaris Crouch (71.4) had his best game of the season according to PFF.
Deandre Johnson (75.3) and Aubrey Solomon (73.4) graded out the best among the front seven in run defense.
