Each week I'll dig deeper than the traditional box score, so let’s dive into Tennessee's Week 9 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-UAB advanced stats…
OFFENSIVE GRADES
The raw grades above also backup Tennessee’s sluggish offensive performance (just 300 total yards), especially from the OL. The grades for Morris, Carving, Locklear, Tatum and Kennedy are dreadful. The Vols obviously missed Darnell Wright, but the freshman wouldn’t have masked the poor play of multiple individuals — in both pass protection and run blocking.
As for other snaps, Tyler Byrd played 10 snaps, Princeton Fant was on the field for six plays, same for Ryan Johnson. Reserve tight end Andrew Craig caught a pass in seven snaps. On the final drive, Jacob Warren, Ollie Lane and Chris Akporoghene all made an appearance.
Freshman wideout Jerrod Means remains out with an undisclosed injury.
Tennessee allowed 18 pressures on 32 drop backs — that’s simply not going to get it done against UK or Mizzou if the Vols want to get to a bowl game. Morris allowed two sacks, another two quarterback hits and one other hurry — finished with a PBLK grade of 0.0. Not sure I’ve ever seen that before.
In fact, Trey Smith was the only lineman to grade out above a 38.7 in PBLK, finishing with a solid 72.7. Calbert (15.7), Locklear (21.0), Kennedy (27.5), Carvin (28.8) and Tatum (38.7) were all quite bad. In terms of any SEC lineman who played at least 25% percent of his team’s snaps last weekend, the Vols had six of the worst eight graded pass blockers in the league Saturday. Woof.
I mentioned it in my preview piece but the Vols had zero success completing passes down the field Saturday. Guarantano was just 2 of 9 on throws over 10 yards. The Vols did find a way (unsurprisingly with 5-star Darnell Washington and 2021 blue-chippers Jake Brigingstool and Hudson Wolfe in the house) to get the ball to the tight ends. Jim Chaney targeted the tight ends seven times, with six passes going for completions. The tailbacks were also more involved in the passing game compared to recent weeks, as Eric Gray caught a touchdown and Ty Chandler had two receptions on two targets.
Marquez Callaway was targeted just once for a 10-yard completion, while the Vols tried to get Josh Palmer involved for the second straight week but had trouble connecting with the junior wideout (one reception for four yards on five targets).
DEFENSIVE GRADES
Others who saw multiple snaps included defensive lineman Greg Emerson (72.5 grade, 10 snaps), defensive tackle Savion Williams (60.4 grade on 13 snaps) and backup safety Cheyenne Labruzza (62.6 on 11 snaps).
Elsewhere, backup outside linebackers Deandre Johnson (just four snaps) and Roman Harrison (seven snaps) barely played. With Bumphus’ return, John Mincey was relegated to a backup role and played just eight snaps.
As noted in the review piece, McCollough was the only defensive player to be on the field for all 55 snaps.
Thompson was obviously fantastic against UAB, finishing with the No. 1 overall grade in the SEC. Henry To’oto’o was second and Taylor was fourth. In addition to his three interceptions, Thompson also had three tackles, one quarterback hit and a “stop.”
Tennessee was excellent tackling Saturday, missing just two all game — with one coming in garbage time in the fourth quarter.
Pruitt mentioned Monday that Shawn Shamburger has been playing really well lately but that Saturday was not his best game, and the coverage stats indicate as much. The junior nickel-back was targeted five times and allowed four receptions. He did have one PBU. Meanwhile, Kenneth George continued his strong play of late, allowing just one reception on three targets.
In terms of pressures, Crouch was productive sliding back outside as a pure rusher. He had three hurries, including the pressure that resulted in one of Thompson’s picks. Taylor had two pressures, same for Shamburger.
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-UAB advanced stats…
OFFENSIVE GRADES
- WR Jauan Jennings (74.7)
- RB Ty Chandler (74.2)
- TE Dominick Wood-Anderson (64.4)
- RB Tim Jordan (64.1)
- QB Jarrett Guarantano (64.0)
- LG Trey Smith (63.9)
- RB Eric Gray (62.9)
- C Brandon Kennedy (59.5)
- WR Marquez Callaway (58.4)
- WR Cedric Tillman (57.0)
- WR Ramel Keyton (56.3)
- TE Austin Pope (50.8)
- WR Josh Palmer (48.6)
- RG Riley Locklear (44.9)
- RT Marcus Tatum (44.7)
- RG Jerome Carvin (44.6)
- RT K’Rojhn Calbert (44.5)
- QB JT Shrout (40.8)
- RT Wanya Morris (28.6)
The raw grades above also backup Tennessee’s sluggish offensive performance (just 300 total yards), especially from the OL. The grades for Morris, Carving, Locklear, Tatum and Kennedy are dreadful. The Vols obviously missed Darnell Wright, but the freshman wouldn’t have masked the poor play of multiple individuals — in both pass protection and run blocking.
As for other snaps, Tyler Byrd played 10 snaps, Princeton Fant was on the field for six plays, same for Ryan Johnson. Reserve tight end Andrew Craig caught a pass in seven snaps. On the final drive, Jacob Warren, Ollie Lane and Chris Akporoghene all made an appearance.
Freshman wideout Jerrod Means remains out with an undisclosed injury.
Tennessee allowed 18 pressures on 32 drop backs — that’s simply not going to get it done against UK or Mizzou if the Vols want to get to a bowl game. Morris allowed two sacks, another two quarterback hits and one other hurry — finished with a PBLK grade of 0.0. Not sure I’ve ever seen that before.
In fact, Trey Smith was the only lineman to grade out above a 38.7 in PBLK, finishing with a solid 72.7. Calbert (15.7), Locklear (21.0), Kennedy (27.5), Carvin (28.8) and Tatum (38.7) were all quite bad. In terms of any SEC lineman who played at least 25% percent of his team’s snaps last weekend, the Vols had six of the worst eight graded pass blockers in the league Saturday. Woof.
I mentioned it in my preview piece but the Vols had zero success completing passes down the field Saturday. Guarantano was just 2 of 9 on throws over 10 yards. The Vols did find a way (unsurprisingly with 5-star Darnell Washington and 2021 blue-chippers Jake Brigingstool and Hudson Wolfe in the house) to get the ball to the tight ends. Jim Chaney targeted the tight ends seven times, with six passes going for completions. The tailbacks were also more involved in the passing game compared to recent weeks, as Eric Gray caught a touchdown and Ty Chandler had two receptions on two targets.
Marquez Callaway was targeted just once for a 10-yard completion, while the Vols tried to get Josh Palmer involved for the second straight week but had trouble connecting with the junior wideout (one reception for four yards on five targets).
DEFENSIVE GRADES
- CB Bryce Thompson (94.3)
- DE Darel Middleton (92.6)
- OLB Darrell Taylor (89.3)
- MLB Henry To’oto’o (84.1)
- FS Jaylen McCollough (75.0)
- DT Aubrey Solomon (74.5)
- FS Shawn Shamburger (71.1)
- ILB JJ Peterson (70.2)
- DT Ja’Quain Blakely (69.9)
- DE Latrell Bumphus (68.1)
- OLB Quavaris Crouch (67.5)
- CB Kenneth George (66.0)
- ILB Solon Page III (63.8)
- OLB Kivon Bennett (63.8)
- DT Kurott Garland (63.8)
- FS Nigel Warrior (63.0)
- DE Matthew Butler (58.4)
- CB Warren Burrell (58.2)
- CB Alontae Taylor (56.6)
- MLB Daniel Bituli (53.4)
Others who saw multiple snaps included defensive lineman Greg Emerson (72.5 grade, 10 snaps), defensive tackle Savion Williams (60.4 grade on 13 snaps) and backup safety Cheyenne Labruzza (62.6 on 11 snaps).
Elsewhere, backup outside linebackers Deandre Johnson (just four snaps) and Roman Harrison (seven snaps) barely played. With Bumphus’ return, John Mincey was relegated to a backup role and played just eight snaps.
As noted in the review piece, McCollough was the only defensive player to be on the field for all 55 snaps.
Thompson was obviously fantastic against UAB, finishing with the No. 1 overall grade in the SEC. Henry To’oto’o was second and Taylor was fourth. In addition to his three interceptions, Thompson also had three tackles, one quarterback hit and a “stop.”
Tennessee was excellent tackling Saturday, missing just two all game — with one coming in garbage time in the fourth quarter.
Pruitt mentioned Monday that Shawn Shamburger has been playing really well lately but that Saturday was not his best game, and the coverage stats indicate as much. The junior nickel-back was targeted five times and allowed four receptions. He did have one PBU. Meanwhile, Kenneth George continued his strong play of late, allowing just one reception on three targets.
In terms of pressures, Crouch was productive sliding back outside as a pure rusher. He had three hurries, including the pressure that resulted in one of Thompson’s picks. Taylor had two pressures, same for Shamburger.
