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. For the second week in a row, Marshall’s defensive line was the singular bright spot in a loss. Jayshaun Coffman had the highest grade for the Herd with a 72.8. It has been no secret that Marshall’s secondary play has been abysmal of late and PFF agrees. You will see below that those grades are U-G-L-Y. Now for a closer look at the defense.
Defensive Line:
As noted above, Jayshaun Coffman had the best performance on the defensive line according to PFF with a grade of 72.8 (75.1 run defense, 72.2 tackling, 57.6 pass rush) on 17 snaps. Shane Simmons was next in line with a 70.7 (66.5 run defense, 62.6 tackling, 68.2 pass rush, 63.0 coverage) playing 71 snaps. Jamare Edwards was in on 54 snaps and graded 65.1 (58.7 run defense, 71.9 tackling, 76.1 pass rush), while TyQaze Leggs played 25 snaps and graded 64.5 (66.3 run defense, 73.8 tackling, 56.6 pass rush). Of note, TJ Johnson graded 53.6 on 69 snaps and Elijah Alston played 63 snaps with a grade of 49.6. Koby Cumberlander has the top defensive line grade through four games with an overall grade of 74.9. That grade ranks him 17th among defensive linemen in CUSA.
Linebackers:
After the first two games of the season, it appeared that the linebackers may be the most solid unit on the defensive side of the ball for the Herd, however, the last two performances have changed that narrative. Eli Neal was Marshall’s highest graded linebacker with a 66.1 (70.7 run defense, 33.4 tackling, 67.8 pass rush, 56.4 coverage) on 89 snaps. Abraham Beauplan had the second-best grade at 65.9 (73.2 run defense, 71.8 tackling, 61.5 pass rush, 56.4 coverage) while playing 72 snaps. Rounding out the linebacking corps were Charlie Gray, with an overall grade of 57.5 on 30 snaps and J’Coryan Anderson grading 43.5 on 13 snaps. Eli Neal is the highest graded linebacker through for games with a score of 72.6. Neal’s 72.6 places him 11th among linebackers in CUSA.
Secondary:
Now for the “long-awaited” secondary grades. Nazeeh Johnson had the top grade with a 59.2 (36.9 run defense, 54.4 tackling, 59.5 pass rush, 71.4 coverage) on 101 snaps. Steven Gilmore followed grading at 56.1 (54.5 run defense, 82.0 tackling, 56.5 coverage) on 101 snaps, while E.J. Jackson was third with a grade of 55.9 (64.8 run defense, 53.6 tackling, 50.8 coverage) while playing 95 snaps. Rounding out the secondary, Cory McCoy graded out at 55.0 on 97 snaps and Micah Abraham scored a 46.8 on 80 snaps. Through four games, Nazeeh Johnson, leads the secondary with a composite grade of 66.3. Johnson’s grade ranks him 41st among corners and safeties in CUSA.
A Look at CUSA’s Top Defensive Performers:
Top Graded Defensive Lineman in CUSA Week 4: Roderick Brown from North Texas at 92.9
Top Graded Linebacker in CUSA Week 4: Larry Nixon III from North Texas at 88.6
Top Graded Corner/Safety in CUSA Week 4: Starling Thomas V from UAB at 91.9
If you would like to know the grade for a specific defensive player during week four, 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. For the second week in a row, Marshall’s defensive line was the singular bright spot in a loss. Jayshaun Coffman had the highest grade for the Herd with a 72.8. It has been no secret that Marshall’s secondary play has been abysmal of late and PFF agrees. You will see below that those grades are U-G-L-Y. Now for a closer look at the defense.
Defensive Line:
As noted above, Jayshaun Coffman had the best performance on the defensive line according to PFF with a grade of 72.8 (75.1 run defense, 72.2 tackling, 57.6 pass rush) on 17 snaps. Shane Simmons was next in line with a 70.7 (66.5 run defense, 62.6 tackling, 68.2 pass rush, 63.0 coverage) playing 71 snaps. Jamare Edwards was in on 54 snaps and graded 65.1 (58.7 run defense, 71.9 tackling, 76.1 pass rush), while TyQaze Leggs played 25 snaps and graded 64.5 (66.3 run defense, 73.8 tackling, 56.6 pass rush). Of note, TJ Johnson graded 53.6 on 69 snaps and Elijah Alston played 63 snaps with a grade of 49.6. Koby Cumberlander has the top defensive line grade through four games with an overall grade of 74.9. That grade ranks him 17th among defensive linemen in CUSA.
Linebackers:
After the first two games of the season, it appeared that the linebackers may be the most solid unit on the defensive side of the ball for the Herd, however, the last two performances have changed that narrative. Eli Neal was Marshall’s highest graded linebacker with a 66.1 (70.7 run defense, 33.4 tackling, 67.8 pass rush, 56.4 coverage) on 89 snaps. Abraham Beauplan had the second-best grade at 65.9 (73.2 run defense, 71.8 tackling, 61.5 pass rush, 56.4 coverage) while playing 72 snaps. Rounding out the linebacking corps were Charlie Gray, with an overall grade of 57.5 on 30 snaps and J’Coryan Anderson grading 43.5 on 13 snaps. Eli Neal is the highest graded linebacker through for games with a score of 72.6. Neal’s 72.6 places him 11th among linebackers in CUSA.
Secondary:
Now for the “long-awaited” secondary grades. Nazeeh Johnson had the top grade with a 59.2 (36.9 run defense, 54.4 tackling, 59.5 pass rush, 71.4 coverage) on 101 snaps. Steven Gilmore followed grading at 56.1 (54.5 run defense, 82.0 tackling, 56.5 coverage) on 101 snaps, while E.J. Jackson was third with a grade of 55.9 (64.8 run defense, 53.6 tackling, 50.8 coverage) while playing 95 snaps. Rounding out the secondary, Cory McCoy graded out at 55.0 on 97 snaps and Micah Abraham scored a 46.8 on 80 snaps. Through four games, Nazeeh Johnson, leads the secondary with a composite grade of 66.3. Johnson’s grade ranks him 41st among corners and safeties in CUSA.
A Look at CUSA’s Top Defensive Performers:
Top Graded Defensive Lineman in CUSA Week 4: Roderick Brown from North Texas at 92.9
Top Graded Linebacker in CUSA Week 4: Larry Nixon III from North Texas at 88.6
Top Graded Corner/Safety in CUSA Week 4: Starling Thomas V from UAB at 91.9
If you would like to know the grade for a specific defensive player during week four, do not hesitate to ask.
