Each week I'll dig deeper than the traditional box score, so let’s dive into Tennessee's Week 5 advanced stats, courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
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
With that … the PFF data Tennessee-Georgia advanced stats…
OFFENSIVE GRADES
On the final drive of the game, youngsters like Chris Akporgohene (11 snaps), Ollie Lane (10 snaps), Jackson Lampley (9 snaps) and walk-on receiver Isaiah Montgomery (9 snaps) all saw action.
Maurer went 14 of 28 for 259 yards at 9.3 yards per attempt, two scores and a pick on 33 drop-backs. He was sacked four times and scrambled once.
When Maurer had time, he was quite effective. Under “no pressure,” he was 12 of 16 for 237 yards and both touchdowns. Nine of his passes went for first downs, including five completions over 20 yards.
Conversely, Maurer really struggled when UGA upped its pass rush. Against pressure on 17 drop-backs, the freshman was 2 for 12 for just 22 yards (1.8 ypa) and the interception.
Tennessee’s pass protection was solid early but it cratered in the second half. Morris and Wright struggled the most, especially Wanya. As a unit, Tennessee allowed 20 pressures — far and away the most the season. As a reference, UT allowed nine pressures against UF.
Morris was tagged with 7 hurries, two sacks and two other quarterback hits. Maurer was at fault with a couple pressures, including the sack-fumble.
It was clear from the onset that Tennessee wanted to push the ball vertically with Maurer. According to PFF, he had eight attempts over 20 yards, going 2 for 8 with the 73-yard bomb to Callaway the big shot.
In terms of run blocking, Tennessee had just a single OL (Wanya Morris) with a run grade deemed “average.” Every other OL had a run-grade below 58.7 with Wright having a low RBLK grade of 40.3. The Vols had two runs over 10 yards all game — Ty Chandler’s 16-yard run on the first play and then a Tim Jordan rush on the final drive in the fourth quarter.
Tennessee had two 100-yard receivers in the same game for the first time since 2012. Jennings was excellent after dropping his first target. He caught 7 of 9 passes for 114 yards, including 44 yards after the catch. Jennings was really good against UGA’s safeties and nickel corners. Conversely, Dominick Wood-Anderson’s 2019 breakout game will have to wait another week. The Vols targeted DWA five times but he caught just two passes.
DEFENSIVE GRADES
Others who saw multiple snaps included defensive lineman Aubrey Solomon (16 snaps, 62.0 grade), outside linebacker Deandre Johnson (10 snaps, 51.5 grade) and Kivon Bennett (8 snaps, 49.0 grade).
Lastly, Ja’Quain Blakely (5 snaps) and Savion Williams (1 snap) barely played. Roman Harrison, Jaylen McCollough and John Mincey were among those who have seen time recently but didn’t play at all on defense Saturday night.
Let’s start with tackling, which upon review of the tape wasn’t terrible outside of Deandre Johnson’s whiff in the backfield on one run. PFF stats back that up, too. The Vols missed nine tackles, the same number as against Georgia State and BYU. However, the Vols did allow a ton of yards after contact, as it took multiple defenders to tackle UGA’s tailbacks. Georgia finished with 161 rushing yards after contact.
I thought the raw grades confirmed decent games from Middleton and Garland, while also pointing out the struggles of Tennessee’s inside linebacker duo. To’oto’o made a couple plays in short yardage but he was picked three times in the passing game (3 completions on 3 targets for 65 yards) and struggled to fill the hole in the run game.
Outside of Warrior (1 reception on 3 targets), the Vols really struggled to defend the middle of the field. Jackson, Shamburger and Flowers combined to allow 7 receptions on 7 targets for 83 yards.
The Vols finished with a season-low three pressures Saturday, per PFF. Taylor, Crouch and Blakely had one each. They didn’t register a single QB hit.
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
With that … the PFF data Tennessee-Georgia advanced stats…
OFFENSIVE GRADES
- WR Jauan Jennings (84.7)
- WR Marquez Callaway (73.7)
- RB Tim Jordan (73.1)
- TE Austin Pope (69.1)
- TE Dominick Wood-Anderson (65.4)
- RB Ty Chandler (62.2)
- OL Ryan Johnson (61.8)
- QB Brian Maurer (59.7)
- C Brandon Kennedy (59.7)
- WR Cedric Tillman (58.6)
- RG Riley Locklear (58.3)
- LG Trey Smith (56.0)
- WR Josh Palmer (52.5)
- RT Darnell Wright (44.3)
- LT Wanya Morris (29.9)
On the final drive of the game, youngsters like Chris Akporgohene (11 snaps), Ollie Lane (10 snaps), Jackson Lampley (9 snaps) and walk-on receiver Isaiah Montgomery (9 snaps) all saw action.
Maurer went 14 of 28 for 259 yards at 9.3 yards per attempt, two scores and a pick on 33 drop-backs. He was sacked four times and scrambled once.
When Maurer had time, he was quite effective. Under “no pressure,” he was 12 of 16 for 237 yards and both touchdowns. Nine of his passes went for first downs, including five completions over 20 yards.
Conversely, Maurer really struggled when UGA upped its pass rush. Against pressure on 17 drop-backs, the freshman was 2 for 12 for just 22 yards (1.8 ypa) and the interception.
Tennessee’s pass protection was solid early but it cratered in the second half. Morris and Wright struggled the most, especially Wanya. As a unit, Tennessee allowed 20 pressures — far and away the most the season. As a reference, UT allowed nine pressures against UF.
Morris was tagged with 7 hurries, two sacks and two other quarterback hits. Maurer was at fault with a couple pressures, including the sack-fumble.
It was clear from the onset that Tennessee wanted to push the ball vertically with Maurer. According to PFF, he had eight attempts over 20 yards, going 2 for 8 with the 73-yard bomb to Callaway the big shot.
In terms of run blocking, Tennessee had just a single OL (Wanya Morris) with a run grade deemed “average.” Every other OL had a run-grade below 58.7 with Wright having a low RBLK grade of 40.3. The Vols had two runs over 10 yards all game — Ty Chandler’s 16-yard run on the first play and then a Tim Jordan rush on the final drive in the fourth quarter.
Tennessee had two 100-yard receivers in the same game for the first time since 2012. Jennings was excellent after dropping his first target. He caught 7 of 9 passes for 114 yards, including 44 yards after the catch. Jennings was really good against UGA’s safeties and nickel corners. Conversely, Dominick Wood-Anderson’s 2019 breakout game will have to wait another week. The Vols targeted DWA five times but he caught just two passes.
DEFENSIVE GRADES
- DT Kurott Garland (71.0)
- FS Nigel Warrior (69.4)
- FS Trevon Flowers (68.6)
- OLB Quavaris Crouch (67.8)
- DT Matthew Butler (65.6)
- DL Darel Middleton (64.2)
- CB Alontae Taylor (64.2)
- OLB Darrell Taylor (64.0)
- CB Kenneth George (62.0)
- DE Latrell Bumphus (61.9)
- S Theo Jackson (58.6)
- CB Bryce Thompson (55.4)
- DL Greg Emerson (48.0)
- MLB Henry To’oto’o (38.8)
- MLB Daniel Bituli (34.8)
Others who saw multiple snaps included defensive lineman Aubrey Solomon (16 snaps, 62.0 grade), outside linebacker Deandre Johnson (10 snaps, 51.5 grade) and Kivon Bennett (8 snaps, 49.0 grade).
Lastly, Ja’Quain Blakely (5 snaps) and Savion Williams (1 snap) barely played. Roman Harrison, Jaylen McCollough and John Mincey were among those who have seen time recently but didn’t play at all on defense Saturday night.
Let’s start with tackling, which upon review of the tape wasn’t terrible outside of Deandre Johnson’s whiff in the backfield on one run. PFF stats back that up, too. The Vols missed nine tackles, the same number as against Georgia State and BYU. However, the Vols did allow a ton of yards after contact, as it took multiple defenders to tackle UGA’s tailbacks. Georgia finished with 161 rushing yards after contact.
I thought the raw grades confirmed decent games from Middleton and Garland, while also pointing out the struggles of Tennessee’s inside linebacker duo. To’oto’o made a couple plays in short yardage but he was picked three times in the passing game (3 completions on 3 targets for 65 yards) and struggled to fill the hole in the run game.
Outside of Warrior (1 reception on 3 targets), the Vols really struggled to defend the middle of the field. Jackson, Shamburger and Flowers combined to allow 7 receptions on 7 targets for 83 yards.
The Vols finished with a season-low three pressures Saturday, per PFF. Taylor, Crouch and Blakely had one each. They didn’t register a single QB hit.
