Courtesy of @Zac Arrowood
As you look at the numbers, here's a chart for reference to see how each grade would be categorized:
1-49 - poor
50-55 - below average
56-64 - average
65-70 - above average
71-79 - good
80-89 - very good
90-99 - outstanding
Each week, we will explore the PFF rankings for individual players as well as look at top performers across Conference USA. Coach Huff mentioned Charlie Gray by name in his post-game press conference regarding him being shifted back to his more natural position against North Carolina Central versus where he was lined up facing Navy. The shift paid dividends as Gray was Marshall’s top graded defensive player in this week of action with a score of 89.0. As with the offense, Marshall was able to rotate a plethora of individuals through the lineup against North Carolina Central which impacted some of the overall grades based on sample size. Now for a closer look at the defense.
Defensive Line:
Elijah Alston had the best performance on the defensive line according to PFF with a grade of 76.1 (69.8 run defense, 72.2 tackling, 70.6 pass rush, 60.6 coverage) on 25 snaps. Alston was followed by Jamare Edwards scoring 73.7 (60.0 run defense, 72.5 pass rush) on 14 snaps, Emmanuel Balogun at 73.1 (70.3 run defense, 71.5 tackling, 67.6 pass rush, 60.0 coverage) on 25 snaps, and TJ Johnson with a 72.9 (67.8 run defense, 71.9 tackling, 68.6 pass rush) on 17 snaps. Of note, Shane Simmons bounced back after grading 58.9 against Navy to score 72.2 on 22 snaps against North Carolina Central. Jayshaun Coffman, who led the Herd with a 82.6 grade against Navy, was at 63.3 on 12 snaps this week.
Linebackers:
As noted above, Charlie Gray was the Herd’s top performer on the defensive side of the ball with an 89.0 (69.8 run defense, 80.9 tackling, 90.7 pass rush, 72.9 coverage) on 23 snaps. Brian Cavicante graded out second at 76.1 (72.1 run defense, 79.1 tackling, 77.3 pass rush, 64.1 coverage) on 29 snaps, with Abraham Beauplan third at 71.4 (87.2 run defense, 80.2 tackling, 76.1 pass rush, 45.9 coverage) playing 26 snaps. Eli Neal, who graded the highest on defense against Navy, finished with a score of 70.1 on 26 snaps.
Secondary:
Marshall’s secondary performed better against North Carolina Central than they did against Navy which should come as no surprise since North Carolina Central attempted 32 passes compared to Navy’s 16. I am only going to report grades for players who saw 20 or more snaps on Saturday in the secondary. Steven Gilmore led the Herd grading at 74.3 (60.4 run defense, 73.5 tackling, 74.4 coverage) on 29 snaps. E.J. Jackson was next with a 72.8 (75.8 run defense, 38.3 tackling, 65.7 pass rush, 67.6 coverage) playing 47 snaps. Following Jackson, was Micah Abraham with a grade of 72.3 (68.4 run defense, 77.4 tackling, 70.0 coverage) on 27 snaps. Other grades of note were Nazeeh Johnson with a 66.5 on 35 snaps, Joshua Bowers at 65.5 on 26 snaps, Cory McCoy grading out at 64.0 on 38 snaps and JoJo Evans with a grade of 56.4 on 30 snaps.
A Look at CUSA’s Top Defensive Performers:
Top Graded Defensive Lineman in CUSA Week 1: Ben Bell from Louisiana Tech at 91.9
Top Graded Linebacker in CUSA Week 1: Charlie Gray from Marshall at 89.0
Top Graded Corner/Safety in CUSA Week 1: Lakevias Daniel from Southern Miss at 92.5
If you would like to know the grade for a specific defensive player during week two, do not hesitate to ask.
As you look at the numbers, here's a chart for reference to see how each grade would be categorized:
1-49 - poor
50-55 - below average
56-64 - average
65-70 - above average
71-79 - good
80-89 - very good
90-99 - outstanding
Each week, we will explore the PFF rankings for individual players as well as look at top performers across Conference USA. Coach Huff mentioned Charlie Gray by name in his post-game press conference regarding him being shifted back to his more natural position against North Carolina Central versus where he was lined up facing Navy. The shift paid dividends as Gray was Marshall’s top graded defensive player in this week of action with a score of 89.0. As with the offense, Marshall was able to rotate a plethora of individuals through the lineup against North Carolina Central which impacted some of the overall grades based on sample size. Now for a closer look at the defense.
Defensive Line:
Elijah Alston had the best performance on the defensive line according to PFF with a grade of 76.1 (69.8 run defense, 72.2 tackling, 70.6 pass rush, 60.6 coverage) on 25 snaps. Alston was followed by Jamare Edwards scoring 73.7 (60.0 run defense, 72.5 pass rush) on 14 snaps, Emmanuel Balogun at 73.1 (70.3 run defense, 71.5 tackling, 67.6 pass rush, 60.0 coverage) on 25 snaps, and TJ Johnson with a 72.9 (67.8 run defense, 71.9 tackling, 68.6 pass rush) on 17 snaps. Of note, Shane Simmons bounced back after grading 58.9 against Navy to score 72.2 on 22 snaps against North Carolina Central. Jayshaun Coffman, who led the Herd with a 82.6 grade against Navy, was at 63.3 on 12 snaps this week.
Linebackers:
As noted above, Charlie Gray was the Herd’s top performer on the defensive side of the ball with an 89.0 (69.8 run defense, 80.9 tackling, 90.7 pass rush, 72.9 coverage) on 23 snaps. Brian Cavicante graded out second at 76.1 (72.1 run defense, 79.1 tackling, 77.3 pass rush, 64.1 coverage) on 29 snaps, with Abraham Beauplan third at 71.4 (87.2 run defense, 80.2 tackling, 76.1 pass rush, 45.9 coverage) playing 26 snaps. Eli Neal, who graded the highest on defense against Navy, finished with a score of 70.1 on 26 snaps.
Secondary:
Marshall’s secondary performed better against North Carolina Central than they did against Navy which should come as no surprise since North Carolina Central attempted 32 passes compared to Navy’s 16. I am only going to report grades for players who saw 20 or more snaps on Saturday in the secondary. Steven Gilmore led the Herd grading at 74.3 (60.4 run defense, 73.5 tackling, 74.4 coverage) on 29 snaps. E.J. Jackson was next with a 72.8 (75.8 run defense, 38.3 tackling, 65.7 pass rush, 67.6 coverage) playing 47 snaps. Following Jackson, was Micah Abraham with a grade of 72.3 (68.4 run defense, 77.4 tackling, 70.0 coverage) on 27 snaps. Other grades of note were Nazeeh Johnson with a 66.5 on 35 snaps, Joshua Bowers at 65.5 on 26 snaps, Cory McCoy grading out at 64.0 on 38 snaps and JoJo Evans with a grade of 56.4 on 30 snaps.
A Look at CUSA’s Top Defensive Performers:
Top Graded Defensive Lineman in CUSA Week 1: Ben Bell from Louisiana Tech at 91.9
Top Graded Linebacker in CUSA Week 1: Charlie Gray from Marshall at 89.0
Top Graded Corner/Safety in CUSA Week 1: Lakevias Daniel from Southern Miss at 92.5
If you would like to know the grade for a specific defensive player during week two, do not hesitate to ask.
