From @RileyMcFerran
We continue HawgBeat's series of analyzing Arkansas' games through the lens of Pro Football Focus after the Razorbacks' 21-17 loss to the No. 24 Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday.
The analytics from PFF keep track of grades for each player on a scale of 0-100. The website goes further into depth on specific grades, but for the purpose of this story, we will just look at defensive grades.
Here are the grades on the defensive side of the ball from the Texas A&M game...
(NOTE: These are premium stats, so please do not share these on free social media sites or other websites. Instead, encourage your friends to subscribe to HawgBeat so they can get the great content, as well.)
Team Grades
~Overall: 67.2
~Defense: 68.6
~Run defense: 70.1
~Tackling: 66.8
~Pass rush: 63.0
~Coverage: 69.5
~ Coming off an SEC Defensive Player of the Week performance, TJ Metcalf recorded the highest coverage grade amongst defensive backs (72.1) and also excelled in tackling (77.4).
~ Former JUCO and BYU transfer Danny Saili recorded the lowest defensive grade (39.9) due to a 41.0 run defense grade, a 25.9 tackling grade and a 57.6 pass rush grade.
~ Arkansas' pass rush continues to fall below expectations, as only three players (Sorey, Metcalf and Nico Davillier) finished with grades above 65.0.
~ Interior defensive linemen Ian Geffrard (63.6), Eric Gregory (66.7), Cam Ball (63.1), Keivie Rose (51.4) and Saili (41.0) all finished with run defense grades below 70.0.
Arkansas Defense PFF Grades - Texas A&M
With a matchup looming against a deadly Tennessee offense, getting Jaylon Braxton back from injury would help alleviate depth concerns and give the Hogs their star No. 1 cover corner.
Add in versatile safety Hudson Clark — who was listed as a game-time decision prior to kickoff against Texas A&M — and Arkansas should start seeing more success on the backend of its defense.
He graded out with an 85.7 run defense grade, an 82.3 tackling grade, a 55.1 pass rush grade and a 66.1 coverage grade on 22 snaps. According to PFF, Spence didn't miss a single tackle against the Aggies.
With Sorey and Dix carving out clear roles in the Razorbacks' front seven, Spence's reemergence keeps his name in the starting conversation at least for another week.
Ball and Gregory are a solid 1-2 punch in the trenches and Geffrard continues to flash his potential, but Deke Adams' unit needs more to keep up with grueling SEC offensive lines and rushing attacks.
We continue HawgBeat's series of analyzing Arkansas' games through the lens of Pro Football Focus after the Razorbacks' 21-17 loss to the No. 24 Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday.
The analytics from PFF keep track of grades for each player on a scale of 0-100. The website goes further into depth on specific grades, but for the purpose of this story, we will just look at defensive grades.
Here are the grades on the defensive side of the ball from the Texas A&M game...
(NOTE: These are premium stats, so please do not share these on free social media sites or other websites. Instead, encourage your friends to subscribe to HawgBeat so they can get the great content, as well.)
Team Grades
~Overall: 67.2
~Defense: 68.6
~Run defense: 70.1
~Tackling: 66.8
~Pass rush: 63.0
~Coverage: 69.5
Notes
~ Outside of five outliers (four of which were players within the bottom five of defensive grades), Arkansas was solid at tackling despite the 66.8 grade. Leading the way was Brad Spence (82.3), Xavian Sorey Jr. (81.3) and Jayden Johnson (80.5).~ Coming off an SEC Defensive Player of the Week performance, TJ Metcalf recorded the highest coverage grade amongst defensive backs (72.1) and also excelled in tackling (77.4).
~ Former JUCO and BYU transfer Danny Saili recorded the lowest defensive grade (39.9) due to a 41.0 run defense grade, a 25.9 tackling grade and a 57.6 pass rush grade.
~ Arkansas' pass rush continues to fall below expectations, as only three players (Sorey, Metcalf and Nico Davillier) finished with grades above 65.0.
~ Interior defensive linemen Ian Geffrard (63.6), Eric Gregory (66.7), Cam Ball (63.1), Keivie Rose (51.4) and Saili (41.0) all finished with run defense grades below 70.0.
Arkansas Defense PFF Grades - Texas A&M
| Player, position | PFF Grade - Texas A&M | Snaps vs Texas A&M |
|---|---|---|
| Brad Spence, LB | 79.8 | 22 |
| Xavian Sorey Jr., LB | 72.0 | 35 |
| Marquise Robinson, CB | 71.7 | 62 |
| TJ Metcalf, S | 70.9 | 62 |
| Jayden Johnson, S | 69.7 | 50 |
| Larry Worth, S | 67.6 | 12 |
| Ian Geffrard, DT | 67.3 | 12 |
| Anton Juncaj, DE | 67.2 | 22 |
| Landon Jackson, DE | 67.2 | 46 |
| Quincy Rhodes Jr., DE | 66.4 | 11 |
| Doneiko Slaughter, NB | 64.7 | 55 |
| Eric Gregory, DT | 62.4 | 42 |
| Stephen Dix Jr., LB | 59.9 | 40 |
| Jaheim Singletary, CB | 58.2 | 53 |
| Nico Davillier, DE | 56.5 | 41 |
| Anthony Switzer, LB | 55.7 | 35 |
| Cam Ball, DT | 55.4 | 32 |
| Keivie Rose, DT | 51.0 | 23 |
| Charlie Collins, DE | 48.7 | 5 |
| Kee'yon Stewart, CB | 44.4 | 9 |
| Danny Saili, DT | 39.9 | 13 |
TAKEAWAYS
1. Arkansas needs Jaylon Braxton back
Arkansas' secondary coverage against the Aggies wasn't outright bad, but having to rely on inconsistent play from names like Kee'yon Stewart (44.7 COV grade) and Jaheim Singletary (56.6 COV grade) won't get it done in the SEC.With a matchup looming against a deadly Tennessee offense, getting Jaylon Braxton back from injury would help alleviate depth concerns and give the Hogs their star No. 1 cover corner.
Add in versatile safety Hudson Clark — who was listed as a game-time decision prior to kickoff against Texas A&M — and Arkansas should start seeing more success on the backend of its defense.
2. Bounce back game for Brad Spence
After two straight weeks of sub-55.0 PFF Grade football (38.5 vs. UAB, 53.3 at Auburn), Spence overcame his struggles with a big time rebound performance.He graded out with an 85.7 run defense grade, an 82.3 tackling grade, a 55.1 pass rush grade and a 66.1 coverage grade on 22 snaps. According to PFF, Spence didn't miss a single tackle against the Aggies.
With Sorey and Dix carving out clear roles in the Razorbacks' front seven, Spence's reemergence keeps his name in the starting conversation at least for another week.
3. Interior defensive line depth won't cut it
Landing talented transfer defensive tackles during the offseason is tough sledding for any team, but especially Arkansas. Still, only adding one contributor to the position (Saili) didn't do the Hogs any favors against the Aggies.Ball and Gregory are a solid 1-2 punch in the trenches and Geffrard continues to flash his potential, but Deke Adams' unit needs more to keep up with grueling SEC offensive lines and rushing attacks.
