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 — Malachi Wideman — 80.9 (6 snaps)
2 — Darnell Wright — 74.4 (50)
3 — Trey Smith — 72.8 (68)
4 — Javontez Spraggins — 72.7 (25)
5 — Brandon Johnson — 70.8 (41)
6 — Cade Mays — 70.5 (68)
7 — Eric Gray — 69.1 (39)
8 — Brandon Kennedy — 67.1 (68)
9 — Jacob Warren — 66.4 (36)
10 — Ty Chandler — 61.7 (24)
11 — Jerome Carvin — 60.6 (7)
12 — Cooper Mays — 60.0 (2)
12 — Latrell Bumphus — 60.0 (1)
12 — K’Rojhn Calbert — 60.0 (2)
15 — Velus Jones Jr. — 58.9 (23)
16 — Cedric Tillman — 58.8 (11)
17 — Josh Palmer — 58.4 (47)
18 — Wanya Morris — 57.2 (53)
19 — Ramel Keyton — 56.2 (39)
20 — Jimmy Calloway — 55.5 (3)
21 — Jimmy Holiday — 55.1
22 — Jalin Hyatt — 54.0 (11)
23 — Harrison Bailey — 53.4 (10)
24 — Princeton Fant — 50.9 (37)
25 — Jabari Small — 49.8 (5)
26 — Jarrett Guarantano — 29.8 (55)
27 — J.T. Shrout — 27.3 (3)
Whelp, sometimes the PFF grades don’t exactly line up with what we all saw on Saturday but at least in this case they reflect what fans saw from the quarterback position. I don’t know that I’ve seen many (if any) grades below 30 from any position but Guarantano’s play against Kentucky seems to be accurately reflected in his 29.8 score.
His weekly grades line up with what we’ve seen on the field and it’s a downward trajectory; 85.4 against Missouri, 45.4 against Georgia and the 29.8 against Kentucky.
Kentucky was determined to take away the big play against the Vols and Guarantano didn’t attempt a pass of more than 20 yards against the Wildcats. He was just 1-of-3 of passes more than 10 yards and had one pass intercepted.
Both of the interceptions Guarantano threw came when he was not blitzed and was not under pressure.
The only semi-bright spot of the day was the ground game which produced 175 yards on 41 carries. That’s reflected in the grades with Darnell Wright (74.4), Trey Smith (72.8), Javontez Spraggins (72.7) and Cade Mays (70.5) all coming in at 70+ and Brandon Kennedy (67.1) just missing that mark.
It didn’t look like Kentucky really dialed up a lot of pressure, Guarantano was blitzed just four times per PFF, but the Vols graded out really well in pass protection. Kennedy got topped the list at 83.5, Smith was next at 79.6 followed by Spraggins at 78.5 and Mays at 76.5. Morris really struggled according to PFF receiving a grade of 23.9 and was the guy that got beat on one sack that resulted in a fumble.
Blocking from the backs has been an issue in the passing game and that was the case again this week. Ty Chandler was kept in the backfield on four passing attempts last week and received a grade of 1.1 in pass protection.
Tennessee was consistent on the ground regardless of where they ran the ball against Kentucky and they were diversified in where they went with an emphasis on going between the guards. The only spot where they didn’t average at least 4.0 per attempt was over right tackle where three runs went for 9 yards.
The Vols went around left end four times for 19 yards, over left tackle three times for 30 yards, over left guard six times for 31 yards, between center and left guard six times for 30 yards, between center and right guard six times for 27 yards, over right guard four times for 21 yards and around right end six times for 24 yards.
DEFENSE
1 — Bryce Thompson — 83.7 (49 snaps)
2 — Aubrey Solomon — 75.3 (21)
3 — Shawn Shamburger — 69.7 (35)
4 — Tamarion McDonald — 66.0 (12)
5 — Jeremy Banks — 65.7 (9)
6 — Cheyenne Labruzza — 63.7 (3)
7 — Key Lawrence — 62.7 (14)
8 — Quavaris Crouch — 62.3 (45)
9 — Deandre Johnson — 61.7 (32)
10 — Romello Edwards — 61.1 (4)
11 — Doneiko Slaughter — 60..0 (6)
12 — Roman Harrison — 59.7 (1)
13 — Jaylen McCollough — 58.3 (47)
14 — Kivon Bennett — 57.9 (23)
15 — Theo Jackson — 57.2 (15)
16 — Kenneth George — 56.7 (47)
17 — Aaron Beasley — 55.9 (12)
18 — Bryson Eason — 55.6 (9)
19 — Darel Middleton — 55.5 (19)
20 — Matthew Butler — 54.4 (39)
21 — Tyler Baron — 54.1 (17)
22 — Omari Thomas — 52.3 (13)
23 — John Mincey — 50.9 (10)
24 — Trevon Flowers — 49.1 (49)
25 — Warren Burrell — 48.8 (10)
26 — Henry To’o To’o — 45.6 (51)
27 — Ja’Quain Blakely — 44.1 (8)
28 — Latrell Bumphus — 41.9 (38)
29 — Solon Page — 40.9 (6)
30 — Kurott Garland — 33.5 (26)
31 — Elijah Simmons — 26.9 (16)
32 — Savion Williams — 24.6 (7)
It was a tough day for the defense, especially in the second half and that’s reflected in the PFF grades. They don’t always jive with what I think I’ve seen on the field and on rewatch but not much to quibble with this week.
Kentucky simply controlled the game in the second half, scoring on the first three possessions coming out of the locker room to ice the Vols and the defense put up little resistance.
Aubrey Solomon (75.3) was the only defensive lineman in the regular rotation to get a passing grade. The next highest grade was Darel Middleton at 55.5.
The best tackling grades of the day went to defensive backs; Jaylen McCollough (82.6) and Shawn Shamburger (81.5).
Tennessee didn’t have a single player that PFF graded out at 70+ as a pass rusher. To’o To’o got the highest mark at 68.6.
Kentucky isn’t the most polished passing attack the Vols will see but PFF loved what Bryce Thompson did, giving him an 87.7 in pass coverage. Conversely Trevon Flowers received a 34.6, suggesting that perhaps the PFF guys saw him as having a heavy hand in the success Kentucky had throwing the ball in the middle of the field.
Kentucky completed just 13-of-16 passes for 107 yards on the day, but the Wildcats knew exactly where they wanted to go when they did throw it. They were 8-of-10 for 79 yards between the hash marks.
Kentucky attempted just four throws beyond the line of scrimmage to either side of the field.
< 50 = Backup
50-59 = Below average starter
60-69 = Average starter
70-79 = Above average starter
80-89 = Very good
90-99 = Elite
1 — Malachi Wideman — 80.9 (6 snaps)
2 — Darnell Wright — 74.4 (50)
3 — Trey Smith — 72.8 (68)
4 — Javontez Spraggins — 72.7 (25)
5 — Brandon Johnson — 70.8 (41)
6 — Cade Mays — 70.5 (68)
7 — Eric Gray — 69.1 (39)
8 — Brandon Kennedy — 67.1 (68)
9 — Jacob Warren — 66.4 (36)
10 — Ty Chandler — 61.7 (24)
11 — Jerome Carvin — 60.6 (7)
12 — Cooper Mays — 60.0 (2)
12 — Latrell Bumphus — 60.0 (1)
12 — K’Rojhn Calbert — 60.0 (2)
15 — Velus Jones Jr. — 58.9 (23)
16 — Cedric Tillman — 58.8 (11)
17 — Josh Palmer — 58.4 (47)
18 — Wanya Morris — 57.2 (53)
19 — Ramel Keyton — 56.2 (39)
20 — Jimmy Calloway — 55.5 (3)
21 — Jimmy Holiday — 55.1
22 — Jalin Hyatt — 54.0 (11)
23 — Harrison Bailey — 53.4 (10)
24 — Princeton Fant — 50.9 (37)
25 — Jabari Small — 49.8 (5)
26 — Jarrett Guarantano — 29.8 (55)
27 — J.T. Shrout — 27.3 (3)
Whelp, sometimes the PFF grades don’t exactly line up with what we all saw on Saturday but at least in this case they reflect what fans saw from the quarterback position. I don’t know that I’ve seen many (if any) grades below 30 from any position but Guarantano’s play against Kentucky seems to be accurately reflected in his 29.8 score.
His weekly grades line up with what we’ve seen on the field and it’s a downward trajectory; 85.4 against Missouri, 45.4 against Georgia and the 29.8 against Kentucky.
Kentucky was determined to take away the big play against the Vols and Guarantano didn’t attempt a pass of more than 20 yards against the Wildcats. He was just 1-of-3 of passes more than 10 yards and had one pass intercepted.
Both of the interceptions Guarantano threw came when he was not blitzed and was not under pressure.
The only semi-bright spot of the day was the ground game which produced 175 yards on 41 carries. That’s reflected in the grades with Darnell Wright (74.4), Trey Smith (72.8), Javontez Spraggins (72.7) and Cade Mays (70.5) all coming in at 70+ and Brandon Kennedy (67.1) just missing that mark.
It didn’t look like Kentucky really dialed up a lot of pressure, Guarantano was blitzed just four times per PFF, but the Vols graded out really well in pass protection. Kennedy got topped the list at 83.5, Smith was next at 79.6 followed by Spraggins at 78.5 and Mays at 76.5. Morris really struggled according to PFF receiving a grade of 23.9 and was the guy that got beat on one sack that resulted in a fumble.
Blocking from the backs has been an issue in the passing game and that was the case again this week. Ty Chandler was kept in the backfield on four passing attempts last week and received a grade of 1.1 in pass protection.
Tennessee was consistent on the ground regardless of where they ran the ball against Kentucky and they were diversified in where they went with an emphasis on going between the guards. The only spot where they didn’t average at least 4.0 per attempt was over right tackle where three runs went for 9 yards.
The Vols went around left end four times for 19 yards, over left tackle three times for 30 yards, over left guard six times for 31 yards, between center and left guard six times for 30 yards, between center and right guard six times for 27 yards, over right guard four times for 21 yards and around right end six times for 24 yards.
DEFENSE
1 — Bryce Thompson — 83.7 (49 snaps)
2 — Aubrey Solomon — 75.3 (21)
3 — Shawn Shamburger — 69.7 (35)
4 — Tamarion McDonald — 66.0 (12)
5 — Jeremy Banks — 65.7 (9)
6 — Cheyenne Labruzza — 63.7 (3)
7 — Key Lawrence — 62.7 (14)
8 — Quavaris Crouch — 62.3 (45)
9 — Deandre Johnson — 61.7 (32)
10 — Romello Edwards — 61.1 (4)
11 — Doneiko Slaughter — 60..0 (6)
12 — Roman Harrison — 59.7 (1)
13 — Jaylen McCollough — 58.3 (47)
14 — Kivon Bennett — 57.9 (23)
15 — Theo Jackson — 57.2 (15)
16 — Kenneth George — 56.7 (47)
17 — Aaron Beasley — 55.9 (12)
18 — Bryson Eason — 55.6 (9)
19 — Darel Middleton — 55.5 (19)
20 — Matthew Butler — 54.4 (39)
21 — Tyler Baron — 54.1 (17)
22 — Omari Thomas — 52.3 (13)
23 — John Mincey — 50.9 (10)
24 — Trevon Flowers — 49.1 (49)
25 — Warren Burrell — 48.8 (10)
26 — Henry To’o To’o — 45.6 (51)
27 — Ja’Quain Blakely — 44.1 (8)
28 — Latrell Bumphus — 41.9 (38)
29 — Solon Page — 40.9 (6)
30 — Kurott Garland — 33.5 (26)
31 — Elijah Simmons — 26.9 (16)
32 — Savion Williams — 24.6 (7)
It was a tough day for the defense, especially in the second half and that’s reflected in the PFF grades. They don’t always jive with what I think I’ve seen on the field and on rewatch but not much to quibble with this week.
Kentucky simply controlled the game in the second half, scoring on the first three possessions coming out of the locker room to ice the Vols and the defense put up little resistance.
Aubrey Solomon (75.3) was the only defensive lineman in the regular rotation to get a passing grade. The next highest grade was Darel Middleton at 55.5.
The best tackling grades of the day went to defensive backs; Jaylen McCollough (82.6) and Shawn Shamburger (81.5).
Tennessee didn’t have a single player that PFF graded out at 70+ as a pass rusher. To’o To’o got the highest mark at 68.6.
Kentucky isn’t the most polished passing attack the Vols will see but PFF loved what Bryce Thompson did, giving him an 87.7 in pass coverage. Conversely Trevon Flowers received a 34.6, suggesting that perhaps the PFF guys saw him as having a heavy hand in the success Kentucky had throwing the ball in the middle of the field.
Kentucky completed just 13-of-16 passes for 107 yards on the day, but the Wildcats knew exactly where they wanted to go when they did throw it. They were 8-of-10 for 79 yards between the hash marks.
Kentucky attempted just four throws beyond the line of scrimmage to either side of the field.
