Data Driven: USC

Each week after Purdue football games, we’ll take a closer look back at the game through PFF data and analytics. Today, Purdue’s 33-17 loss to USC.

(Editor’s note: PFF data is just one organization’s interpretation of the happenings from Saturday’s game. It is not to be taken as gospel).

OFFENSE

Offensive snap counts:

Bakyne Coly all 72
Bradyn Joiner all 72
Jalen St. John all 72
Joey Tanona all 72
Ethan Trent all 72
Ryan Browne 71
Nitro Tuggle 69
Michael Jackson III 64
George Burhenn 59
Devin Mockobee 48
EJ Horton Jr. 37
Corey Smith 27
Jesse Watson 15
Arhmad Branch 11
Antonio Harris 10
Jaheim Merriweather 9
Malachi Thomas 5
Christian Moore 4
Christian Earls 2
Malachi Singleton 1

Grades and notes:

• Top honors on Purdue’s offense went to a trio of receivers: Branch, Tuggle and Horton. Both Tuggle and Horton turned in their best performances in the young season, totaling nine catches for 139 yards between the two. Branch left the game early on.
• Despite three interceptions, Browne graded respectably. More to come on him…
• Matching the proverbial “eye test,” Purdue’s offensive line graded poorly, with subpar grades in both pass blocking and run blocking
• The best offensive lineman, per PFF? Tanona.
• Running backs Mockobee and Harris graded especially poorly in pass protection. The film review won’t be kind to them in this aspect, as USC overwhelmed them on multiple occassions.

Ryan Browne’s passing chart:

• Clean: 18-26, 210 yards, TD, INT
• Under pressure: 6-13, 95 yards, 2 INT
• Not blitzed: 14-24, 180 yards, INT
• Blitzed: 10-15, 125 yards, TD, 2 INT
• Play action: 15-25, 167 yards, TD, 3 INT
• No play action: 9-14, 138 yards
• Screen: 8-10, 51 yards
• No screen: 16-29, 254 yards, TD, 3 INT

• Browne’s average depth of target: 7.9 yards, a stark difference between the 12+ in the first two games of the season. Purdue utilized the short passing game as a replacement for the traditional run game at times.
• Browne turned in a really nice grade when kept clean, but he struggled when under pressure. Browne was pressured on 21 of his 47 dropbacks.
• No “big-time throws” and two “turnover-worthy passes” for Browne
• Browne’s best grade came on short passes, defined as passes between 0-9 yards downfield, where he graded very nicely.
• But, Browne didn’t exactly grate terribly in any particular depth
• Roughly two-thirds of Browne’s dropbacks utilied play action, though it’s worth pointing out that Purdue passed the ball far more than it ran.
• Three drops for Purdue wide receivers: Tuggle, Burhenn, Watson.

Running game:

• Adjusting for sack yardage, Purdue ran for a mere 3.4 yards per carry. The Boilermakers didn’t abandon the run game, per se, but it became clear early on that USC’s front was a tall task for Purdue to overcome.
• 68 of Purdue’s 74 rushing yards came after contact
• A week after forcing 11 missed tackles, Purdue forced just three in this one.
• 17 of the 74 yards came on a single scamper by Mockobee.
• Nearly an even split of zone and gap blocking schemes by Purdue’s O-line.
• 15 of Purdue’s 19 designed runs went to the right side, where both runs of 10+ yards came from
• Only one designed run for Browne

DEFENSE

Defensive snap counts:

Charles Correa all 70
Tony Grimes all 70
Myles Slusher all 70
Tahj Ra-El 67
Mani Powell 66
Hudauri Hines 55
CJ Madden 48
Alex Sanford Jr. 43
Demeco Kennedy 42
CJ Nunnally IV 40
Smiley Bradford 34
Jamarrion Harkless 28
Josh Burney 23
Breeon Ishmail 22
Ian Jeffries 21
Winston Berglund 16
Ryan Turner 15
Richard Toney Jr. 12
Jamarius Dinkins 8
TJ Lindsey 7
Trey Smith 7
Sanders Ellis 4
An’Darius Coffey 2

Grades and notes:

• Top honors matched the eye test, as Smiley Bradford continues a strong start to the season. He’s turned heads early on.
• Right behind him? UNLV transfer linebacker Mani Powell. While Correa was charged with three missed tackles and graded poorly, those two have been strong additions to the linebacking corps.
• Purdue graded rather poorly in pass coverage, but Bradford turned in a really nice grade. Ra-El and Turner struggled.
• Second straight week with nine missed tackles for Purdue, which seems like an alright mark. Three charged to Correa, three to Slusher. As a whole, the tackling grades were solid.
• Eight pressures on Maiava’s 30 dropbacks. When he had time to operate, he exceled. 10.1 yards per attempt for him – a great number
• Purdue broke up three passes. A couple of those could have (maybe should have) been picked off.

Jayden Maiava’s passing chart

• Clean: 16-22, 257 yards
• Under pressure: 1-6, 25 yards
• Not blitzed: 13-23, 185 yards
• Blitzed: 4-5, 97 yards
• Play action: 8-11, 102 yards
• No play action: 9-17, 180 yards
• Screen: 6-6, 37 yards
• No screen: 11-22, 245 yards