< Back to Front Page Text size – +

Defensive snapshot

Email|Link|Comments (6) Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff September 17, 2008 06:00 AM

From time to time, we will take a look at the snaps played by defensive players as it can sometimes provide a greater understanding of how the Patriots are utilizing their personnel. A look at the snaps played against the Jets:

S Rodney Harrison – 50 of 50 snaps

ILB Jerod Mayo -- 50 of 50

OLB Adalius Thomas – 50 of 50

CB Deltha O’Neal – 47 of 50

OLB Mike Vrabel – 44 of 50

S James Sanders – 42 of 50

CB Ellis Hobbs – 38 of 50

DE Richard Seymour – 38 of 50

DE Ty Warren – 36 of 50

NT Vince Wilfork – 36 of 50

ILB Tedy Bruschi – 32 of 50

DE Jarvis Green – 24 of 50

S Brandon Meriweather – 23 of 50

NT Mike Wright – 16 of 50

CB Lewis Sanders – 15 of 50

OLB Pierre Woods – 6 of 50

ILB Gary Guyton – 2 of 50

DE Le Kevin Smith – 2 of 50

(snaps include a holding call on Jets OT Damien Woody and the play that was a 2-yard rush by Jets QB Brett Favre as well an illegal forward pass)

ANALYSIS: For the second straight week, rookie inside linebacker Jerod Mayo was part of every personnel package, playing every snap. … Adalius Thomas, who was immense in the game, would have likely received a breather if not for Pierre Woods leaving with an injury. Thomas's versatility is evident as he plays on the edge and then sometimes moves inside on third down. ... The Patriots used a few different looks in their nickel (5 defensive backs) package. One had safety Brandon Meriweather coming onto the field, with inside linebacker Tedy Bruschi coming off. Another had Bruschi and defensive linemen Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork coming off, with Meriweather and defensive linemen Jarvis Green and Mike Wright coming on. … The team’s sturdy goal-line package came up with stops on three plays in the second quarter, and that package included Adalius Thomas, Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren, Mike Wright, Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi, Jerod Mayo, Lewis Sanders, James Sanders and Rodney Harrison.

» Back to Front Page

6 comments so far...

On the other hand, Vernon Gholston of the Jets was absouletly invisible, other than drawing a 12th man on the field penalty. B-U-S-T! Bust! BUST! BUST!!!

Posted by supreme12 September 17, 08 08:30 AM

Mayo was a great move by Belichick

Gholston was a lot of hype and hot air
Mangini bought into it

Posted by gick September 17, 08 09:55 AM

Mayo has not missed a snap now in two games. That says a lot for a rookie in Belichick's System.

Seymour, Warren, Wilfork, Thomas and Vrabel all played like studs.

If Seymour can stay heatlhy he will be dangerous. So far he is playing like a man possessed.

And AD's sack of Favre was a thing of beauty. Throwing him around like a ragdoll ...

Posted by Blair from Canada September 17, 08 10:05 AM

we need like that out of AD. he was a complete beast in b-more. he should be dominating the field on every down.

Posted by Alex September 17, 08 11:27 AM

It's going to take Gholston some time to learn everything in a 3-4 scheme. He's a 1-gapper in a 4-3. Very different. But I agree about Mayo. Excellent pickup and will hopefully only get better.

Posted by Tim September 17, 08 12:01 PM

"He reminds me of a young seattle slew"
But anyways, Mayo reminds me of a young Junior Seau. No, I am not saying he will have the career Seau had, but I was in Southern CA when Junior came into the league, and he seemed to be around the ball on every play. He isnt as flashy as Junior, but has the same nose for the ball that Seau did.

Posted by steven September 17, 08 12:54 PM

DO NOT HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON MORE THAN ONCE!

You must be logged in to submit a comment.

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

Mike Reiss, Christopher L. Gasper and the rest of the Globe team provide regular updates –and a behind-the-scenes look– on the daily happenings of the Patriots.

see all globe blogs