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Offensive participation

Email|Link|Comments (3) Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff November 24, 2008 07:00 AM

A look at the snaps played by offensive skill-position players in the Patriots' 48-28 win over the Dolphins:

WR Randy Moss -- 65 of 72 snaps

WR Wes Welker -- 62 of 72

TE Benjamin Watson -- 59 of 72

WR Jabar Gaffney -- 53 of 72

RB Kevin Faulk -- 38 of 72

RB Sammy Morris -- 27 of 72

WR Sam Aiken -- 19 of 72

TE David Thomas -- 15 of 72

FB Heath Evans -- 8 of 72

RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis -- 7 of 72

TE Russ Hochstein -- 4 of 72

WR Matthew Slater -- 1 of 72

TE Mike Vrabel -- 1 of 72

(snaps include holding penalties on Stephen Neal and Dan Koppen but do not include false start penalties)

ANALYSIS: With the Patriots spreading the field with three and four receivers for much of the game, that explains why three of the top four spots are occupied by receivers. ... RB Kevin Faulk had the most playing time among backs as the team was in more spread formations, which is the personnel package that Faulk often excels. ... WR Randy Moss played every snap on the team's first eight drives, before missing one snap on the ninth drive, and sitting out all but one play of the final kill-the-clock drive. ... WR Sam Aiken, who was part of the four-receiver package as the No. 4 option -- and also came on for Moss on the final drive -- logged a season-high with the 19 snaps. ... TE Benjamin Watson remained the top player at his position, only coming off the field when the team added a fourth receiver. ... WR Matthew Slater's lone snap was his first of the season on offense; he was the target on an incomplete pass with 4:24 remaining in the first quarter. ... RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis didn't play until the last series. ... FB Heath Evans didn't play until 11:19 remaining in the game when the team called on its first running play with a lead fullback. ... Russ Hochstein's four snaps and Mike Vrabel's one snap came on the last drive.

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3 comments so far...

Hey Mike, any way you could put up either a link or give us an updated look at the playoff seedings as of today....thanks....great work, always look forward to your updates...GO PATS!!!!

Posted by Jay Bruce Longtime Patsfan in VA November 24, 08 11:20 AM

It's interesting; Gil Santos made the same exact mistake during the radio broadcast. He stated as well the stat that when the Pats win the coin toss, they win all their games, and vice versa, and at the beginning of the game he said the Pats had won the toss.

Posted by FJ November 24, 08 11:29 AM

This adds up to 359, but I would expect it to add up to 360, which is 72 plays * 5 non-qb skill positions. Was there a play with 6 lineman or something?

Posted by AttentionToDetail November 26, 08 12:47 PM

DO NOT HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON MORE THAN ONCE!

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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.

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