Each week I'll dig deeper than the traditional box score, so with it being the second bye week, let’s take a look at Tennessee’s advanced stats through 10 games … comparing them to how individuals had performed following the first idle date.
Who is standing out? Where do the Vols need work? How do certain individuals compare to their SEC counterparts?
With that … the PFF data on Tennessee’s stats through 10 games…
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
Grades through 10 games — second number is difference (+ or -) compared to grades after first four weeks.
OFFENSIVE GRADES
Running through some others who play some but not a lot …
WR Cedric Tillman (68.9, -5.7)
WR Tyler Byrd (notably just 69 total snaps, 65.1)
QB JT Shrout (59.7)
Of the team’s 648 offensive snaps, Kennedy has naturally logged the most playing time, seeing 94% of the team’s snaps this season. Interestingly, among a veteran wideout unit, Palmer (493) has played more than Callaway (429) and Jennings (393).
Ryan Johnson has graded out as the team’s second-best OL through 10 weeks, but it’s noteworthy to point out that Johnson played 104 snaps the first month of the season, and has only seen garbage time since — 60 snaps in six games.
Morris’ grade is alarmingly low, but I’ve voiced some of my quarrels with the OL grading before. When comparing the early season to now, his two worst games were against Georgia and UAB, where he allowed multiple sacks and pressures each week. As for Wright, he’s missed the last few weeks and his grade seems to be a combination of a slow start to begin with and one really poor performance at Alabama (3 penalties, sack).
Overall, Tennessee’s pass blocking efficiency (as a unit) remains much better than a year ago. Through four games, the Vols had allowed nine sacks. But over the next six weeks, the OL has been responsible for just seven sacks. They’ve also considerably cut down on the times they allowed the quarterback to get hit — (aside from sacks, 13 times through 10 games). At this point of the season in 2018, the Vols had allowed 23 QB hits, per PFF. There’s still progress to be had though, as the team’s 78 allowed pressures is fifth-most in the conference right now.
Morris has surrerended the most pressures (20), sacks (5) and QB hits (5). Tatum, who was benched earlier this season, has yielded the second-most pressures on the team (12).
Among lineman who have played 50% of his team’s snaps, Smith has graded out as the SEC’s No. 6 overall lineman — No. 2 guard behind Alabama’s Lane Dickerson.
Tennessee does not have another lineman ranked inside the Top 45 in the SEC. Morris has graded out as the least efficient starting tackle in the conference.
In terms of passing, Guarantano ranked as the league’s No. 14 quarterback following his disastrous start to the 2019 season. His improvement as the team’s sixth-man backup has clearly worked though, as the redshirt junior now ranks as the No. 6 quarterback in the league — behind only Joe Burrow, Jake Fromm, Tua Tagovailoa, Tommy Stevens and Kellen Mond.
Couple noteworthy areas of improvement: Through four games, Guarantano had five batted passes. He has just one since. He tossed four interceptions. He has just once since. He was completing 64% of his passes between the numbers through four weeks, but that percentage has climbed to 72%.
One stat that Guarantano continues to excel at is his deep pass percentage, per PFF. He has the third-highest QB rating in the SEC on throws over 20 yards — only behind Burrow and Tagovailoa. He has 12 such completions, tied for No. 4 in the conference with Fromm and Kyle Trask.
An area where the redshirt junior continues to see little improvement is on his play action passes. A strength in 2018, Guarantano is completing just 58% of his passes on play-action drop-backs. That’s an uptick from the 53.1% through four weeks, but still underwhelming compared to last season. His yards per attempt have shot up though with Jim Chaney dialing up more explosive plays, as JG’s 9.4 ypa on play action throws ranks No. 4 in the SEC. Where as many of the league’s quarterbacks do their most damage on play action (in terms of touchdowns), Guarantano’s three touchdowns off play action is tied for third-fewest in the league among QBs with at least 25% of his team’s drop backs. However, Guarantano’s 10 touchdowns on standard passes ranks fourth in the league behind Burrow, Tagovailoa and Mond.
As for Maurer, his 47.7% completion percentage would rank ahead of only Kentucky’s Sawyer Smith and Vandy’s Deuce Wallace among SEC quarterbacks. The freshman has been hurt by drops (six) compared to Guarantano (nine all season), but he’s also thrown an interception every 14 throws (5 on 72 attempts), which would rank last in the SEC if he qualified. Maurer has not been an efficient drop-back quarterback. As the eye test confirms, he’s much more comfortable in play action or on RPOs. On just standard drop-backs, he’s thrown four interceptions, zero touchdowns and has a completion percentage south of 44.
Tennessee has struggled to consistently run the ball all season, but Chandler has seen an uptick in his yards per carry compared to the first four games of the season. After averaging right at 4.3 ypc before the first idle date, Chandler’s ypc has climbed to 5.1 through 10 weeks. The junior’s 14 runs over 10 yards are nearly more than Jordan (six), Gray (4), Guarantano (3) and Maurer (3) combined. In terms of SEC ‘backs, Chandler ranks No. 9 overall in the conference.
Pruitt has previously lamented Tennessee’s inability to make defenders miss sometimes, and the stats bear that out. On the season, Chandler has 22 “avoided tackles,” while Jordan has 18. Other SEC tailbacks like Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kylin Hill, D’Andrew Swift, Najee Harris, JaTarvious Whitlow and Ke’Shawn Vaughn all have more than 30 such AVTs.
At receiver, Jennings’ season is truly special, as the senior checks in as the No. 3 overall wideout in the SEC — behind only LSU’s duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. Despite not being a burner, Jennings has the fourth-most YAC in the conference, averaging 7.3 yards after the catch. Why? Because he’s impossible to tackle. His 21 “AVTs” is easily the most in the SEC, five more than Kalija Lipscomb at Vandy. Jennings’ seven touchdowns from the slot ranks No. 2 in the SEC.
Overall, Callaway checks in as the league’s No. 21 overall wideout, while Palmer is just inside the Top 40 at 38.
A couple final interesting receiver stats: The Vols have thrown 10 INTs this season — three each in the direction of Jennings and Wood-Anderson, two to Palmer and one apiece between Callaway and Tyler Byrd.
The Vols have been a bit more susceptible to drops compared to earlier the season. They have 17 through 10 games, with Jennings leading the team with four.
Finally, Tennessee’s tailbacks have largely been MIA in the passing game this season. As a unit, the group has accounted for just four first downs all season. After 23 targets through four games, the unit has just 11 over the next six games combined.
Who is standing out? Where do the Vols need work? How do certain individuals compare to their SEC counterparts?
With that … the PFF data on Tennessee’s stats through 10 games…
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
Grades through 10 games — second number is difference (+ or -) compared to grades after first four weeks.
OFFENSIVE GRADES
- WR Jauan Jennings (84.4) +6.3
- LG Trey Smith (76.0) +8.6
- RB Ty Chandler (74.2) +7.3
- RB Tim Jordan (72.9) +0.3
- WR Marquez Callaway (69.9) +3.3
- OL Ryan Johnson (69.4) +0.8
- QB Jarrett Guarantano (66.2) +7.6
- RB Eric Gray (65.1) -3.0
- LT Jahmir Johnson (62.7) +0.9
- WR Josh Palmer (61.4) -1.4
- RG Riley Locklear (61.0) -8.3
- TE Austin Pope (70.3) — 123 snaps
- TE Dominick Wood-Anderson (60.4) +0.2
- C Brandon Kennedy (60.) -2.4
- WR Ramel Keyton (56.2)
- OL Marcus Tatum (52.1) -3.5
- QB Brian Maurer (51.7)
- TE Austin Pope (51.0) -19.3
- RT K’Rojhn Calbert (41.5) +2.3
- LT/ Wanya Morris (36.7) -19.3
- RT Darnell Wright (36.7) -7.5
Running through some others who play some but not a lot …
WR Cedric Tillman (68.9, -5.7)
WR Tyler Byrd (notably just 69 total snaps, 65.1)
QB JT Shrout (59.7)
Of the team’s 648 offensive snaps, Kennedy has naturally logged the most playing time, seeing 94% of the team’s snaps this season. Interestingly, among a veteran wideout unit, Palmer (493) has played more than Callaway (429) and Jennings (393).
Ryan Johnson has graded out as the team’s second-best OL through 10 weeks, but it’s noteworthy to point out that Johnson played 104 snaps the first month of the season, and has only seen garbage time since — 60 snaps in six games.
Morris’ grade is alarmingly low, but I’ve voiced some of my quarrels with the OL grading before. When comparing the early season to now, his two worst games were against Georgia and UAB, where he allowed multiple sacks and pressures each week. As for Wright, he’s missed the last few weeks and his grade seems to be a combination of a slow start to begin with and one really poor performance at Alabama (3 penalties, sack).
Overall, Tennessee’s pass blocking efficiency (as a unit) remains much better than a year ago. Through four games, the Vols had allowed nine sacks. But over the next six weeks, the OL has been responsible for just seven sacks. They’ve also considerably cut down on the times they allowed the quarterback to get hit — (aside from sacks, 13 times through 10 games). At this point of the season in 2018, the Vols had allowed 23 QB hits, per PFF. There’s still progress to be had though, as the team’s 78 allowed pressures is fifth-most in the conference right now.
Morris has surrerended the most pressures (20), sacks (5) and QB hits (5). Tatum, who was benched earlier this season, has yielded the second-most pressures on the team (12).
Among lineman who have played 50% of his team’s snaps, Smith has graded out as the SEC’s No. 6 overall lineman — No. 2 guard behind Alabama’s Lane Dickerson.
Tennessee does not have another lineman ranked inside the Top 45 in the SEC. Morris has graded out as the least efficient starting tackle in the conference.
In terms of passing, Guarantano ranked as the league’s No. 14 quarterback following his disastrous start to the 2019 season. His improvement as the team’s sixth-man backup has clearly worked though, as the redshirt junior now ranks as the No. 6 quarterback in the league — behind only Joe Burrow, Jake Fromm, Tua Tagovailoa, Tommy Stevens and Kellen Mond.
Couple noteworthy areas of improvement: Through four games, Guarantano had five batted passes. He has just one since. He tossed four interceptions. He has just once since. He was completing 64% of his passes between the numbers through four weeks, but that percentage has climbed to 72%.
One stat that Guarantano continues to excel at is his deep pass percentage, per PFF. He has the third-highest QB rating in the SEC on throws over 20 yards — only behind Burrow and Tagovailoa. He has 12 such completions, tied for No. 4 in the conference with Fromm and Kyle Trask.
An area where the redshirt junior continues to see little improvement is on his play action passes. A strength in 2018, Guarantano is completing just 58% of his passes on play-action drop-backs. That’s an uptick from the 53.1% through four weeks, but still underwhelming compared to last season. His yards per attempt have shot up though with Jim Chaney dialing up more explosive plays, as JG’s 9.4 ypa on play action throws ranks No. 4 in the SEC. Where as many of the league’s quarterbacks do their most damage on play action (in terms of touchdowns), Guarantano’s three touchdowns off play action is tied for third-fewest in the league among QBs with at least 25% of his team’s drop backs. However, Guarantano’s 10 touchdowns on standard passes ranks fourth in the league behind Burrow, Tagovailoa and Mond.
As for Maurer, his 47.7% completion percentage would rank ahead of only Kentucky’s Sawyer Smith and Vandy’s Deuce Wallace among SEC quarterbacks. The freshman has been hurt by drops (six) compared to Guarantano (nine all season), but he’s also thrown an interception every 14 throws (5 on 72 attempts), which would rank last in the SEC if he qualified. Maurer has not been an efficient drop-back quarterback. As the eye test confirms, he’s much more comfortable in play action or on RPOs. On just standard drop-backs, he’s thrown four interceptions, zero touchdowns and has a completion percentage south of 44.
Tennessee has struggled to consistently run the ball all season, but Chandler has seen an uptick in his yards per carry compared to the first four games of the season. After averaging right at 4.3 ypc before the first idle date, Chandler’s ypc has climbed to 5.1 through 10 weeks. The junior’s 14 runs over 10 yards are nearly more than Jordan (six), Gray (4), Guarantano (3) and Maurer (3) combined. In terms of SEC ‘backs, Chandler ranks No. 9 overall in the conference.
Pruitt has previously lamented Tennessee’s inability to make defenders miss sometimes, and the stats bear that out. On the season, Chandler has 22 “avoided tackles,” while Jordan has 18. Other SEC tailbacks like Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kylin Hill, D’Andrew Swift, Najee Harris, JaTarvious Whitlow and Ke’Shawn Vaughn all have more than 30 such AVTs.
At receiver, Jennings’ season is truly special, as the senior checks in as the No. 3 overall wideout in the SEC — behind only LSU’s duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. Despite not being a burner, Jennings has the fourth-most YAC in the conference, averaging 7.3 yards after the catch. Why? Because he’s impossible to tackle. His 21 “AVTs” is easily the most in the SEC, five more than Kalija Lipscomb at Vandy. Jennings’ seven touchdowns from the slot ranks No. 2 in the SEC.
Overall, Callaway checks in as the league’s No. 21 overall wideout, while Palmer is just inside the Top 40 at 38.
A couple final interesting receiver stats: The Vols have thrown 10 INTs this season — three each in the direction of Jennings and Wood-Anderson, two to Palmer and one apiece between Callaway and Tyler Byrd.
The Vols have been a bit more susceptible to drops compared to earlier the season. They have 17 through 10 games, with Jennings leading the team with four.
Finally, Tennessee’s tailbacks have largely been MIA in the passing game this season. As a unit, the group has accounted for just four first downs all season. After 23 targets through four games, the unit has just 11 over the next six games combined.
