Offense - https://lsu.rivals.com/news/pff-grades-lsu-offense-vs-ucf
—Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson shared the team lead for receiving with 58 snaps apiece. Chase led LSU with 6 receptions for 93 yards, including a touchdown, and was one of four LSU players with at least three catches and one of three — along with Jefferson and Sullivan — to have more than 76 yards receiving.
--Joe Burrow had one of his best passing games of the season. LSU’s junior quarterback earned an 89.8 grade passing, his third-best mark behind the Rice and Ole Miss games. It’s fair to call UCF the best opponent of that group.
—LSU’s offensive line was the difference in this game. Lloyd Cushenberry was the highest grader, good for a 71.7 score, but the five up front thrived in protecting Burrow. Four of the five starters on LSU’s line graded 80.0 or above in terms of pass-blocking. The exception was left tackle Saahdiq Charles, who still managed an impressive 73.6 grade in that area. Overall, the five starters averaged an 82.36, and four will return next season.
Defense - https://lsu.rivals.com/news/pff-grades-lsu-defense-vs-ucf
Notes from the grades:
—LSU’s young pieces in the secondary thrived in place of Week 1 starters Greedy Williams (NFL Draft) and Kristian Fulton (injury). Kary Vincent Jr. and Jacoby Stevens, in particular, thrived in expanded roles. Vincent was the highest-graded defensive back and scored a 69.1 grade in pass coverage. Stevens, who played strong safety in place of Grant Delpit, who was ejected for targeting, graded well in multiple areas such as tackling and coverage, but added another element as a 80.1-graded pass-rusher off the edge.
—Rashard Lawrence had himself his best game of the 2018 campaign, earning his best grade since the Florida game in just the second instance he topped a 70.0 grade on PFF. Lawrence was a force against the run and gave UCF’s quarterback fits all afternoon. His 72.0 overall grade was a season-high for the junior defensive end, who was credited with 6 pressures, 4 hurries and 2 sacks.
—Tyler Shelvin made his first career start at nose tackle in place of Ed Alexander, who has declared for the NFL Draft. The second-year lineman saw a season-high 46 snaps in the middle of LSU’s defensive front and finished with a 63.2 grade, a little lower score than his season average (72.1). Shelvin was able to clog up holes in the middle well, but struggled to wrap up. The more encouraging sign is how much he was on the field as he prepares for a larger role in 2019.
—The combination of Michael Divinity Jr. and Patrick Queen was exceptional at outside linebacker. Divinity has quietly been one of LSU’s best edge-rushers on the season, scoring a 73.2 mark in that category vs. UCF and earning his third best overall mark on the season. He was tagged with rushing the quarterback 36 times on Jan. 1, the third most rushes of the season. Queen was equally as dynamic sticking outside. He earned his best grade as a starter on the LSU defense, standing out in coverage (77.4 grade).
—Once Terrence Alexander was ejected from the game for throwing a punch at a UCF receiver, Jontre Kirklin and Mannie Netherly split snaps outside at corner. Both struggled in an expanded role, but Netherly was a bright spot tackling (74.2 grade).
—Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson shared the team lead for receiving with 58 snaps apiece. Chase led LSU with 6 receptions for 93 yards, including a touchdown, and was one of four LSU players with at least three catches and one of three — along with Jefferson and Sullivan — to have more than 76 yards receiving.
--Joe Burrow had one of his best passing games of the season. LSU’s junior quarterback earned an 89.8 grade passing, his third-best mark behind the Rice and Ole Miss games. It’s fair to call UCF the best opponent of that group.
—LSU’s offensive line was the difference in this game. Lloyd Cushenberry was the highest grader, good for a 71.7 score, but the five up front thrived in protecting Burrow. Four of the five starters on LSU’s line graded 80.0 or above in terms of pass-blocking. The exception was left tackle Saahdiq Charles, who still managed an impressive 73.6 grade in that area. Overall, the five starters averaged an 82.36, and four will return next season.
Defense - https://lsu.rivals.com/news/pff-grades-lsu-defense-vs-ucf
Notes from the grades:
—LSU’s young pieces in the secondary thrived in place of Week 1 starters Greedy Williams (NFL Draft) and Kristian Fulton (injury). Kary Vincent Jr. and Jacoby Stevens, in particular, thrived in expanded roles. Vincent was the highest-graded defensive back and scored a 69.1 grade in pass coverage. Stevens, who played strong safety in place of Grant Delpit, who was ejected for targeting, graded well in multiple areas such as tackling and coverage, but added another element as a 80.1-graded pass-rusher off the edge.
—Rashard Lawrence had himself his best game of the 2018 campaign, earning his best grade since the Florida game in just the second instance he topped a 70.0 grade on PFF. Lawrence was a force against the run and gave UCF’s quarterback fits all afternoon. His 72.0 overall grade was a season-high for the junior defensive end, who was credited with 6 pressures, 4 hurries and 2 sacks.
—Tyler Shelvin made his first career start at nose tackle in place of Ed Alexander, who has declared for the NFL Draft. The second-year lineman saw a season-high 46 snaps in the middle of LSU’s defensive front and finished with a 63.2 grade, a little lower score than his season average (72.1). Shelvin was able to clog up holes in the middle well, but struggled to wrap up. The more encouraging sign is how much he was on the field as he prepares for a larger role in 2019.
—The combination of Michael Divinity Jr. and Patrick Queen was exceptional at outside linebacker. Divinity has quietly been one of LSU’s best edge-rushers on the season, scoring a 73.2 mark in that category vs. UCF and earning his third best overall mark on the season. He was tagged with rushing the quarterback 36 times on Jan. 1, the third most rushes of the season. Queen was equally as dynamic sticking outside. He earned his best grade as a starter on the LSU defense, standing out in coverage (77.4 grade).
—Once Terrence Alexander was ejected from the game for throwing a punch at a UCF receiver, Jontre Kirklin and Mannie Netherly split snaps outside at corner. Both struggled in an expanded role, but Netherly was a bright spot tackling (74.2 grade).
