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 — JT Shrout (27 snaps) — 74.7
2 — Eric Gray (48) — 69.7
3 — Cade Mays (71) — 67.8
4 — Ty Chandler (33) — 67.1
5 K’Rojhn Calbert (21) — 66.7
6 — Jerome Carvin (46) —65.6
7 — Princeton Fant (50) — 63.7
8 — Wanya Morris (10) — 60.6
9 — Velus Jones Jr. (71) — 58.3
10 — Trey Smith (78) — 58.0
11 — Josh Palmer (71) — 57.0
12 — Harrison Bailey (49) — 56.5
13 — Jalin Hyatt (37) — 54.7
14 — Cooper Mays (32) — 53.8
15 — Jahmir Johnson (62) — 52.8
16 — Cedric Tillman (20) — 52.3
17 — Darnell Wright (71) — 47.4
18 Javontez Spraggins (12) — 46.3
As always the PFF grades don’t always coincide with what the naked eye tells us but at least at the top it seems like a pretty accurate reflection this week. On first watch it appeared that JT Shrout had a very solid performance on Saturday and the PFF grades reflect that. He finished as the highest graded offensive player on the squad in his 27 fourth quarter snaps, grading out as an above average starter after he came in to complete 12-of-14 throws for 121 yards and 1 TD while leading the Vols on a pair of fourth quarter touchdown drives.
PFF wasn’t as enamored with what Harrison Bailey got done in his first start, tagging him with 56.5 grade. As a passer Bailey received a grade of 51.7.
Bailey was 0-for-4 on passes that traveled more than 20 yards downfield where Shrout was 1-for-1, his touchdown toss to Velus Jones.
Seven of Bailey’s 14 completions were either at or behind the line of scrimmage, including his well timed throw to Eric Gray that went for a 15 yard touchdown. Only three of Shrout’s 12 completions were at or behind the line of scrimmage. He was 2-of-3 on throws between 10-20 yards and looked far more comfortable pushing the ball further downfield though to be fair he was also facing some soft coverage.
Bailey didn’t get high marks from the PFF folks in any area but according to their grades he was (understandably) worse when pressured. When not blitzed his passing grade was 61.3. When he faced a blitz that number dropped to 41.4 and he was just 2-of-7.
Shrout on the other hand had his passing grade go up from 74.9 to 87.4 when he faced a blitz. He was blitzed on three of his 14 passing attempts and was 3-for-3 for 37 yards and a touchdown.
As you can see by the numbers, PFF didn’t think much of what the Vol’s receivers got done on Saturday. Tight end Princeton Fant was the highest graded member of the receiving corps at 63.7. No one else was over 60.
Cade Mays was the highest graded offensive linemen at 67.8. Interestingly K’Rojhn Calbert, who many on the board have been wondering why he hasn’t played more, was the second highest graded OL at 66.7, far ahead of the guy he replaced, Darnell Wright, who received a 47.4 and just a 43.7 as a run blocker.
Mays received an 87.0 in pass blocking, which I believe is the highest grade any Tennessee player has received in any category this season.
Three of Tennessee’s starting offensive linemen; Cooper Mays (53.8), Jahmir Johnson (52.8) and Wright (47.4) got dinged pretty hard by the PFF folks.
Cade Mays’ grade is a reflection of where Tennessee had its most rushing success. The Vols ran seven times between center and right guard and picked up 37 yards (5.3 ypc). Tennessee also had success running wide left where four carries resulted in 32 yards.
DEFENSE
1 — Roman Harrison (15 snaps) — 79.0
2 — Kurott Garland (22) — 78.2
3 — Ja’Quain Blakely (15) — 73.2
4 — Tyler Baron (35) —69.6
5 — Aubrey Solomon (26) — 67.3
6 — Theo Jackson (69) — 67.2
7 — John Mincey (16) 66.0
8 — Henry To’o To’o (65.4)
9 — Darel Middleton (38) 60.7
10 — Omari Thomas (9) 58.9
11 — Alontae Taylor (38) 58.1
12 — Matthew Butler (54) 58.0
13 — Deandre Johnson (57.2)
14 — Quavaris Crouch (53.5)
15 — Warren Burrell (50) — 53.5
16 — Jaylen McCollough (60) — 53.2
17 — Trevon Flowers (67) — 52.6
18 — Jeremy Banks (29) — 49.9
19 — Bryce Thompson (64) — 47.9
20 —Tamarion McDonald (8) — 43.2
On a day where Florida threw for 400+ yards it’s not surprising to see the grades for the defensive backs. Theo Jackson received the highest mark at 67.2.
PFF graded the rest of the defensive backs who played the majority of the snaps harshly Alontae Taylor (58.1), Warren Burrell (53.5), Bryce Thompson (47.9), Jaylen McCollough (53.2) and Trevon Flowers (52.6) were all graded as below average starters or back ups. That seems pretty accurate just based off of Saturday’s play.
Thompson was targeted nine times and gave up five receptions for 68 yards. Burrell was targeted seven times giving up six catches for 76 yards. Flowers was targeted six times, giving up four receptions for 37 yards. McCollough was targeted six times giving up four catches for 36 yards. Jackson was targeted six times giving up three catches for 33 yards. Taylor gave up just one reception in four targets but it resulted in a 28 yard completion to Kyle Pitts (who incidentally graded out at 82.0 for the Gators.
Tennessee did a solid job of keeping Florida from hitting the deep shot, the Gators were just 2-of-6 on throws of 20+ yards. Where they feasted though was the same old story. Kyle Trask was 5-of-6 on throws between 10-20 yards between the hashmarks for 106 yards.
This always seems to be the case with PFF and it’s one reason why I don’t love their grading system, the defensive backs seem to always come out as the best tacklers, or at least in Tennessee’s case. I’m not saying that the Vols’ DBs don’t do a good job in this area, but it seems skewed. That was the case again this week.
Flowers (85.6), Burrell (83.6), Jackson (80.3) and Taylor (79.9) were the highest graded tacklers.
Among non-defensive backs Quavaris Crouch (77.6), Tyler Baron (75.9), John Mincey (73.0) ,Aubrey Solomon (72.4) and Roman Harrison (71.1) all graded out well.
Harrison’s 79.0 grade is the third highest that a defensive player has received this season and the highest for a member of the front seven.
Matthew Butler continues to play a ton of snaps for a defensive lineman as he has all season, 59 is a big number for that position.
< 50 = Backup
50-59 = Below average starter
60-69 = Average starter
70-79 = Above average starter
80-89 = Very good
90-99 = Elite
1 — JT Shrout (27 snaps) — 74.7
2 — Eric Gray (48) — 69.7
3 — Cade Mays (71) — 67.8
4 — Ty Chandler (33) — 67.1
5 K’Rojhn Calbert (21) — 66.7
6 — Jerome Carvin (46) —65.6
7 — Princeton Fant (50) — 63.7
8 — Wanya Morris (10) — 60.6
9 — Velus Jones Jr. (71) — 58.3
10 — Trey Smith (78) — 58.0
11 — Josh Palmer (71) — 57.0
12 — Harrison Bailey (49) — 56.5
13 — Jalin Hyatt (37) — 54.7
14 — Cooper Mays (32) — 53.8
15 — Jahmir Johnson (62) — 52.8
16 — Cedric Tillman (20) — 52.3
17 — Darnell Wright (71) — 47.4
18 Javontez Spraggins (12) — 46.3
As always the PFF grades don’t always coincide with what the naked eye tells us but at least at the top it seems like a pretty accurate reflection this week. On first watch it appeared that JT Shrout had a very solid performance on Saturday and the PFF grades reflect that. He finished as the highest graded offensive player on the squad in his 27 fourth quarter snaps, grading out as an above average starter after he came in to complete 12-of-14 throws for 121 yards and 1 TD while leading the Vols on a pair of fourth quarter touchdown drives.
PFF wasn’t as enamored with what Harrison Bailey got done in his first start, tagging him with 56.5 grade. As a passer Bailey received a grade of 51.7.
Bailey was 0-for-4 on passes that traveled more than 20 yards downfield where Shrout was 1-for-1, his touchdown toss to Velus Jones.
Seven of Bailey’s 14 completions were either at or behind the line of scrimmage, including his well timed throw to Eric Gray that went for a 15 yard touchdown. Only three of Shrout’s 12 completions were at or behind the line of scrimmage. He was 2-of-3 on throws between 10-20 yards and looked far more comfortable pushing the ball further downfield though to be fair he was also facing some soft coverage.
Bailey didn’t get high marks from the PFF folks in any area but according to their grades he was (understandably) worse when pressured. When not blitzed his passing grade was 61.3. When he faced a blitz that number dropped to 41.4 and he was just 2-of-7.
Shrout on the other hand had his passing grade go up from 74.9 to 87.4 when he faced a blitz. He was blitzed on three of his 14 passing attempts and was 3-for-3 for 37 yards and a touchdown.
As you can see by the numbers, PFF didn’t think much of what the Vol’s receivers got done on Saturday. Tight end Princeton Fant was the highest graded member of the receiving corps at 63.7. No one else was over 60.
Cade Mays was the highest graded offensive linemen at 67.8. Interestingly K’Rojhn Calbert, who many on the board have been wondering why he hasn’t played more, was the second highest graded OL at 66.7, far ahead of the guy he replaced, Darnell Wright, who received a 47.4 and just a 43.7 as a run blocker.
Mays received an 87.0 in pass blocking, which I believe is the highest grade any Tennessee player has received in any category this season.
Three of Tennessee’s starting offensive linemen; Cooper Mays (53.8), Jahmir Johnson (52.8) and Wright (47.4) got dinged pretty hard by the PFF folks.
Cade Mays’ grade is a reflection of where Tennessee had its most rushing success. The Vols ran seven times between center and right guard and picked up 37 yards (5.3 ypc). Tennessee also had success running wide left where four carries resulted in 32 yards.
DEFENSE
1 — Roman Harrison (15 snaps) — 79.0
2 — Kurott Garland (22) — 78.2
3 — Ja’Quain Blakely (15) — 73.2
4 — Tyler Baron (35) —69.6
5 — Aubrey Solomon (26) — 67.3
6 — Theo Jackson (69) — 67.2
7 — John Mincey (16) 66.0
8 — Henry To’o To’o (65.4)
9 — Darel Middleton (38) 60.7
10 — Omari Thomas (9) 58.9
11 — Alontae Taylor (38) 58.1
12 — Matthew Butler (54) 58.0
13 — Deandre Johnson (57.2)
14 — Quavaris Crouch (53.5)
15 — Warren Burrell (50) — 53.5
16 — Jaylen McCollough (60) — 53.2
17 — Trevon Flowers (67) — 52.6
18 — Jeremy Banks (29) — 49.9
19 — Bryce Thompson (64) — 47.9
20 —Tamarion McDonald (8) — 43.2
On a day where Florida threw for 400+ yards it’s not surprising to see the grades for the defensive backs. Theo Jackson received the highest mark at 67.2.
PFF graded the rest of the defensive backs who played the majority of the snaps harshly Alontae Taylor (58.1), Warren Burrell (53.5), Bryce Thompson (47.9), Jaylen McCollough (53.2) and Trevon Flowers (52.6) were all graded as below average starters or back ups. That seems pretty accurate just based off of Saturday’s play.
Thompson was targeted nine times and gave up five receptions for 68 yards. Burrell was targeted seven times giving up six catches for 76 yards. Flowers was targeted six times, giving up four receptions for 37 yards. McCollough was targeted six times giving up four catches for 36 yards. Jackson was targeted six times giving up three catches for 33 yards. Taylor gave up just one reception in four targets but it resulted in a 28 yard completion to Kyle Pitts (who incidentally graded out at 82.0 for the Gators.
Tennessee did a solid job of keeping Florida from hitting the deep shot, the Gators were just 2-of-6 on throws of 20+ yards. Where they feasted though was the same old story. Kyle Trask was 5-of-6 on throws between 10-20 yards between the hashmarks for 106 yards.
This always seems to be the case with PFF and it’s one reason why I don’t love their grading system, the defensive backs seem to always come out as the best tacklers, or at least in Tennessee’s case. I’m not saying that the Vols’ DBs don’t do a good job in this area, but it seems skewed. That was the case again this week.
Flowers (85.6), Burrell (83.6), Jackson (80.3) and Taylor (79.9) were the highest graded tacklers.
Among non-defensive backs Quavaris Crouch (77.6), Tyler Baron (75.9), John Mincey (73.0) ,Aubrey Solomon (72.4) and Roman Harrison (71.1) all graded out well.
Harrison’s 79.0 grade is the third highest that a defensive player has received this season and the highest for a member of the front seven.
Matthew Butler continues to play a ton of snaps for a defensive lineman as he has all season, 59 is a big number for that position.
