Below is an overview of the snap counts and PFF grades for Indiana’s defense from the 42-13 win at UCLA.
Also added are some notes on players standing out nationally on the season through three weeks.
At 95.9, Indiana has the third-best overall team score in the nation according to PFF, behind just Ole Miss and Miami (Fla.).
DEFENSIVE LINE
James Carpenter played 44 snaps and earned the lowest overall defensive grade on the team. Although he registered a sack, Carpenter’s night appears to have been graded poorly due to his tackling in run defense.
Marcus Burris played 41 snaps and also appears to have been dinged by PFF for his tackling despite just one missed tackle on his tally. Burris did record two QB hurries.
C.J. West (18 snaps) and Tyrique Tucker (17) split time at the nose. Both earned respectable grades. Tucker was a bit better in run defense, and West, who was ejected for targeting, had higher marks as a pass rusher.
True freshman Mario Landino has clearly moved up on the depth chart. He saw five snaps.
EDGE/OLB
Playing mostly on the edge, Mikail Kamara wreaked havoc on the UCLA passing game, playing all but two snaps and registering seven QB pressures. He had the highest overall defensive grade on the team. Among players with 50 pass rush snaps on the season, Kamara has the 21st best pass rush grade in the nation.
Lanell Carr also had three hurries and a QB hit on the night. In 46 snaps he earned average grades across the board.
LINEBACKERS
Aiden Fisher and Jailin Walker played every snap at middle linebacker. Fisher had the most tackles on the team and the highest tackling grade. Walker had the third-highest tackling grade. Both posted average marks in coverage. Fisher ranks 48th nationally in run defense among linebackers who have played on 40 running plays.
Isaiah Jones served as a third middle linebacker at times, and he posted solid tackling grades as well in 12 snaps.
CORNERBACKS
Amare Ferrell is a versatile defensive back who played mostly slot corner but also was also in the box at times and also saw snaps at free safety. He added a sack in 54 snaps and had the second-highest overall defensive grade on the team, including the highest pass coverage marks.
Jamier Johnson played every snap back in his hometown. He earned especially good tackling marks and only had one completion against him, for six yards. Overall he was the fourth-highest graded defender.
D’Angelo Ponds played 47 snaps before he was ejected for targeting. UCLA only completed 1-of-3 passes thrown his way, for 9 yards. He did earn a poor tackling grade.
Jamari Sharpe stepped in for nine snaps when Ponds was out and earned respectable marks.
SAFETIES
Josh Sanguinetti played 42 snaps at free safety and had the third-highest overall grade, second-highest tackling grade and second-highest coverage grade. He was used to stack the box at times as well. On the season, Sanguinetti has the 14th best coverage grade in the nation among all safeties with 50 coverage snaps.
Shawn Asbury played every snap at safety. He earned respectable marks in coverage but struggled in run defense. PFF says he missed four tackles.
Terry Jones played three snaps at safety.
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