Indiana finally had to sweat one out. Against Michigan on Saturday, one tense fourth quarter drive followed the next as IU held on for dear life against the Wolverines.
Below we took a look at Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades, notes and snap counts from the contest.
Through ten games and for the fourth straight week, Indiana’s overall cumulative PFF grade for the season is No. 1 in the nation. Their overall offense is second, and their overall defense is third.
Next up for Indiana (10-0) is PFF No. 3 Ohio State (8-1) on Nov. 23 following a bye week. The Buckeyes play this coming weekend at Northwestern before returning home to host the Hoosiers in Columbus.
OFFENSE
The top overall offensive grade went to quarterback Kurtis Rourke despite the game being far from his best based on traditional statistical measures (17-of-28 passing, 206 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT). The interception was Rourke’s lone major mistake, and his accuracy related issues were largely the result of pressure in the pocket he has rarely faced this season. PFF credited Michigan with 14 total QB pressures for the game on 34 drop backs.
The best pass blocking grade went to center Mike Katic. He posted an elite score, and according to PFF allowed none of the Michigan pressures. The trouble along the line mainly came from Carter Smith (4 pressures allowed) and Bray Lynch (3 pressures allowed). Running backs Ty Son Lawton and Kaelon Black also received poor pass blocking marks.
Mike Katic also posted the best run blocking grade of the game among the offensive linemen, although no one received particularly high marks in a game when IU mostly struggled to move the football on the ground. Left guard Tyler Stephens, who subbed in for lost for the season starter Drew Evans, received the lowest run blocking marks among the offensive linemen.
Running back Ty Son Lawton, who carried 12 times for 55 yards (4.6 per carry) had the best rushing grade. PFF says he forced a couple missed tackles.
With six receptions on six targets, wideout Ke’Shawn Williams had the best receiving grade. He had 20 yards after catch, and Omar Cooper, Jr. had 26. Elijah Sarratt had a big first half touchdown, but also had two drops.
Snap counts (58 total) —
- Tyler Stephens, OG (58)
- Carter Smith, OT (58)
- Trey Wedig, OT (58)
- Mike Katic, C (58)
- Bray Lynch, G (58)
- Kurtis Rourke, QB (58)
- Elijah Sarratt, WR (52)
- Zach Horton, TE (52)
- Miles Cross, WR (35)
- Ke’Shawn Williams, WR (34)
- Ty Son Lawton, RB (34)
- Omar Cooper, Jr., WR (29)
- Justice Ellison, RB (23)
- Myles Price, WR (18)
- Kaelon Black, RB (5)
- James Bomba, TE (4)
- Andison Coby, WR (4)
DEFENSE
The top overall defensive grade went to Mikail Kamara, who received high end marks across the board against both the run and pass. Kamara once again impacted the quarterback throughout the game with six pressures — five hurries and one hit. He also batted down a pass and recovered a fumble.
With 51 pressures on the season, Kamara leads the nation. The next closest player has 44.
Linebacker Aiden Fisher posted the team’s top run defense grade and second-best overall tackling grade behind cornerback Jamier Johnson, who was ejected in the first half for targeting. PFF says C.J. West missed two tackles which resulted in a poor tackling score for the massive defensive tackle.
With Johnson out of the game, Jamari Sharpe filled in at cornerback and posted good grades, especially as a tackler. He was targeted seven times for just two completions.
C.J. West led the team in quarterback pressures with seven hurries, and he also batted down a pass. He had the second best pass rushing score.
The best pass coverage grade went to safety Terry Jones, Jr., who recorded two pass breakups. He was targeted four times and allowed just one reception. Jones also had three quarterback pressures and forced a fumble.
D’Angelo Ponds locked down his side of the field. Michigan only targeted him once the entire game.
In total, IU recorded 25 pressures on the quarterback on 37 pass plays.
Snap counts (69 total) —
- Aiden Fisher, LB (69)
- Jailin Walker, LB (69)
- Amare Ferrell, S (68)
- D’Angelo Ponds, CB (68)
- Shawn Asbury, S (61)
- James Carpenter, DT (61)
- Mikail Kamara, DE (59)
- Lanell Carr, OLB (55)
- CJ West, DT (48)
- Jamari Sharpe, CB (37)
- Terry Jones, CB (36)
- Tyrique Tucker, DT (30)
- Jamier Johnson, CB (26)
- Rolijah Hardy, LB (17)
- Isaiah Jones, LB (15)
- Jacob Mangum-Farrar, DE (12)
- Marcus Burris, DE (11)
- Mario Landino, DT (10)
- Bryson Bonds, S (7)
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