Today we go back and look at the safety play in 2018. This group played well throughout the year, even after losing Daniel Lewis to a season ending injury against UAB.
2018 Safety Statistics:
SR Jordan Baldwin: 72 tackles, 3 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 2 pass break-ups, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery
RS JR Darryl Lewis: 66 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 INTs, 2 pass break-ups, 1 QB hurry, and 1 forced fumble
RS SR Daniel Lewis: 25 tackles, 1 TFL, 0.5 sack
RS JR Ephraim Kitchen: 21 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 pass break-up
SO Jaiden Cole: 7 tackles, 1 TFL
RS FR Kollin Hurt: 3 tackles
FR Bee Jay Williamson: 2 tackles
FR Derek Turner: 0 tackles
PFF Coverage Grades:
Baldwin: 79
Kitchen: 71.8
Daniel Lewis: 68.1
Darryl Lewis: 68.1
Hurt: 64.9
Turner: 61.2
Williamson: 59.3
Cole: 43.6
PFF Run Defense Grades:
Cole: 74.9
Kitchen: 71.1
Daniel Lewis: 69.7
Baldwin: 69
Darryl Lewis: 68.5
Hurt: 53.3
Williamson: 42.9
Turner: N/A
PFF Tackling Grades:
Cole: 83.9
Hurt: 81.5
Baldwin: 69.7
Kitchen: 63.7
Daniel Lewis: 56.7
Darryl Lewis: 52.9
Williamson: 21.8
Turner: N/A
When Targeted in Coverage:
Turner: N/A
Williamson: 0/1
Daniel Lewis: 2/9 (22%) for 13 yards, 2 yards after catch, 0 TD, 0 INT, and 39.6 QB rating
Darryl Lewis: 18/40 (45%) for 184 yards, 75 yards after catch, 0 TD, 2 INTs, and 37.9 QB rating
Kitchen: 4/7 (57%) for 40 yards, 12 yards after catch, 0 TD, 0 INT, and 73.5 QB rating
Baldwin: 14/20 (70%) for 157 yards, 96 yards after catch, 2 TDs, 1 INT, and 105.6 QB rating
Hurt: 1/1 (100%) for 5 yards, 1 yard after catch, 0 TD, 0 INT, and 87.5 QB rating
Cole: 3/3 (100%) for 50 yards, 33 yards after catch, 2 TDs, 0 INT, and 158.3 QB rating
Obviously Jordan Baldwin will now depart due to graduation. It will be interesting to see if Daniel Lewis can get a redshirt. With him sitting out the Hawaii Bowl, I assume that is what he’s shooting for.
Ephraim Kitchen was finally healthy most of a season, and while he played a limited role, he played pretty well.
The two young safeties, Williamson and Turner, are going to be very good players.
Here is something to ponder: We have seen Jaiden Cole have his issues in coverage with slot receivers, might he be a guy that could move to LB?
2018 Safety Statistics:
SR Jordan Baldwin: 72 tackles, 3 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 2 pass break-ups, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery
RS JR Darryl Lewis: 66 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 INTs, 2 pass break-ups, 1 QB hurry, and 1 forced fumble
RS SR Daniel Lewis: 25 tackles, 1 TFL, 0.5 sack
RS JR Ephraim Kitchen: 21 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 pass break-up
SO Jaiden Cole: 7 tackles, 1 TFL
RS FR Kollin Hurt: 3 tackles
FR Bee Jay Williamson: 2 tackles
FR Derek Turner: 0 tackles
PFF Coverage Grades:
Baldwin: 79
Kitchen: 71.8
Daniel Lewis: 68.1
Darryl Lewis: 68.1
Hurt: 64.9
Turner: 61.2
Williamson: 59.3
Cole: 43.6
PFF Run Defense Grades:
Cole: 74.9
Kitchen: 71.1
Daniel Lewis: 69.7
Baldwin: 69
Darryl Lewis: 68.5
Hurt: 53.3
Williamson: 42.9
Turner: N/A
PFF Tackling Grades:
Cole: 83.9
Hurt: 81.5
Baldwin: 69.7
Kitchen: 63.7
Daniel Lewis: 56.7
Darryl Lewis: 52.9
Williamson: 21.8
Turner: N/A
When Targeted in Coverage:
Turner: N/A
Williamson: 0/1
Daniel Lewis: 2/9 (22%) for 13 yards, 2 yards after catch, 0 TD, 0 INT, and 39.6 QB rating
Darryl Lewis: 18/40 (45%) for 184 yards, 75 yards after catch, 0 TD, 2 INTs, and 37.9 QB rating
Kitchen: 4/7 (57%) for 40 yards, 12 yards after catch, 0 TD, 0 INT, and 73.5 QB rating
Baldwin: 14/20 (70%) for 157 yards, 96 yards after catch, 2 TDs, 1 INT, and 105.6 QB rating
Hurt: 1/1 (100%) for 5 yards, 1 yard after catch, 0 TD, 0 INT, and 87.5 QB rating
Cole: 3/3 (100%) for 50 yards, 33 yards after catch, 2 TDs, 0 INT, and 158.3 QB rating
Obviously Jordan Baldwin will now depart due to graduation. It will be interesting to see if Daniel Lewis can get a redshirt. With him sitting out the Hawaii Bowl, I assume that is what he’s shooting for.
Ephraim Kitchen was finally healthy most of a season, and while he played a limited role, he played pretty well.
The two young safeties, Williamson and Turner, are going to be very good players.
Here is something to ponder: We have seen Jaiden Cole have his issues in coverage with slot receivers, might he be a guy that could move to LB?
