With that … the PFF data Tennessee-Missouri advanced stats…
OFFENSIVE GRADES
- WR Marquez Callaway (86.0)
- RB Ty Chandler (65.1)
- RB Tim Jordan (64.0)
- WR Jauan Jennings (63.4)
- RT Drew Richmond (61.8)
- WR Josh Palmer (60.6)
- QB Keller Chryst (59.9)
- LT Marcus Tatum (56.3)
- C Ryan Johnson (50.3)
- LG Jahmir Johnson (48.6)
- WR Jordan Murphy (48.5)
- RG Nathan Niehaus (48.2)
- TE Eli Wolf (47.3)
- TE Dominick Wood-Anderson (45.3)
Tennessee made a change along the OL in the second half, as freshman Jerome Carvin (65.6) replaced Nathan Niehaus at right guard and saw his most extensive action since the Alabama game. Carvin played 12 snaps.
Jarrett Guarantano (40.3) was on the field for just the first three series of the game (9 snaps).
Others who saw limited action included RB Carlin Fils-Aime (24.6), who fumbled on his only carry. Backup TE LaTrell Bumphus (54.3) saw five snaps, while WR Brandon Johnson (60.2) continues to see his playing time dip.
As I noted in my review piece, Keller Chryst didn’t face as much pressure as Jarrett Guarantano (3 hits in 4 drop-backs) but the senior transfer was really bad when he was pressured. Per PFF, Chryst was 0-for-8 with an INT, a sack, a batted pass and two throw aways on nine drop backs under pressure.
I belated Ty Chandler’s lack of usage in the passing game, and Chryst’s passing chart only looks even stranger in hindsight. Despite the senior's accuracy concerns, 12 of 19 attempts were 10+ yards down the field. Those seven attempts under 10 yards include a pair of throwaways and batted passes each. That simply doesn’t seem like a smart way to use Keller Chryst.
The Vols had issues running the football, but their best success (in limited spurts) came running behind Drew Richmond, per PFF. Ryan Johnson, Nathan Niehaus and Richmond also combined to open up the biggest hole of the game, too, creating a big lane for Chandler’s 33 yard rush.
In terms of pass protection, Tennessee allowed 12 pressures and three sacks. The dozen hurries were the second-most they’ve allowed in an SEC game this season (South Carolina, 16). Again, four of those pressures came on the first 7 snaps of the game though. Ryan Johnson had a tough time in pass pro (4 pressures and a sack), as did Jahmir Johnson (3 hurries, 2 QB hits). Notably, Marcus Tatum had his best performance as a pass protector, allowing zero pressures in 27 pass snaps. He graded out with a PBLK grade of 86.8. Richmond also graded out well pass blocking (84.5).
At receiver, the Vols were credited with two drops. Murphy’s was obvious, while DWA’s was a bit harsh, IMO. The pass was catchable, but it was also a bad sideline overthrow by Chryst.
DEFENESIVE GRADES
- CB Marquill Osborne (83.0)
- CB Baylen Buchanan (81.6)
- DT Emmit Gooden (72.0)
- DB Micah Abernathy (68.4)
- CB Bryce Thompson (68.2)
- OLB Darrell Taylor (65.9)
- DE Kyle Phillips (65.7)
- LB Darrin Kirkland Jr. (64.9)
- WLB Will Ignont (64.8)
- DT Shy Tuttle (64.5)
- DT Alexis Johnson (63.3)
- DT Matthew Butler (57.8)
- OLB Deandre Johnson (57.8)
- MLB Quart’e Sapp (56.2)
- LS Nigel Warrior (51.9)
- MLB Daniel Bituli (48.7)
- CB Alontae Taylor (45.4)
DB Theo Jackson (73.2) didn’t play enough snaps to qualify for the main group, but the sophomore was solid in backup snaps (18) for the second straight week. Backup nickel-back Shawn Shamburger (57.4) saw 11 snaps in Tennessee’s nickel and DIME packages. Notably, freshman Trevon Flowers did not record a defensive snap.
Interestingly (and I didn’t catch this on tape) but backup DE John Mincey didn’t play Saturday. Mincey was one of the few guys who had a rough game against Kentucky. Butler saw 20 snaps, while Paul Bain (59.2) played 19. Freshman Kurott Garland and sophomore Kivon Bennett (64.2) saw some snaps in mop up duty, as did Ja’Quain Blakley.
OLB Jordan Allen (62.9) played seven snaps.
Pruitt said Gooden was Tennessee’s best defensive player Saturday, and PFF’s stats back that up. The JUCO transfer had as many “stops” (2) as Tuttle and Alexis Johnson in half as many snaps. Meanwhile, Darrell Taylor continues to be feast or famine. He had several pressures Saturday, but the only time he hit Lock he was correctly flagged for roughing the passer.
In all, the Vols hit Lock just one time: When he was flushed from the pocket and decided to just eat the turf for a sack. Kyle Phillips was credited with the play.
Tennessee missed 10 tackles Saturday. I honestly counted more than that. So did the staff.
Once again, the LBs were picked on in coverage. As a unit, Bituli (2 of 3 targets for 30 yards), Sapp (3 of 3 targets for 24 yards) and Ignont (2 of 2 targets for 23 yards) allowed 6 catches on 7 targets for 77 yards.
Buchanan’s grade seems a bit out of whack, but the junior did force a fumble, was solid in run support and allowed just 8 yards receiving on 3 catches. Also, Thompson’s grade seems generous considering he missed two tackles and was fortunate on a pair of big drops, including Hall’s would-be touchdown.
Finally, Taylor had the toughest game of his career. The freshman was targeted 6 times, allowing 5 catches for 82 yards and a score
