Notes and thoughts on the Patriots’ snap counts from their 32-16 loss to the Jaguars.
Head coach Jerod Mayo promised some lineup changes heading into the New England Patriots’ Week 7 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. His team indeed looked different compared to previous weeks, with the defense in particular seeing some personnel turnover.
The most prominent change was the Patriots’ usage of their defensive linemen. Daniel Ekuale led the group by playing a career-high 89 percent of snaps: he was on the field for 54 of 61 defensive snaps on Sunday. Fellow defensive tackles Davon Godchaux (50; 82%) and Jaquelin Roy (24; 39%), meanwhile, also setting new season highs.
On the flip side were ends Keion White and Deatrich Wise Jr. The former was on the field for a season-low 69 percent of snaps (42), with the latter tying his own personal low from Week 2 (24; 39%).
A similar change happened at linebacker, where Christian Elliss (42; 69%) replaced Raekwon McMillan (11; 18%) in the starting lineup. Joshua Uche also saw his opportunities decrease, with his 18 percent playing time share (11) marking his lowest to date this season.
The Patriots seemingly tried to get bigger at the point of attack in hopes of improving their struggling run defense, but the plan did not work out. Jacksonville ended up gaining 171 rushing yards on 39 carries for an average of 4.4 yards per attempt.
With that said, here is our full snap count report from the Patriots’ 32-16 loss to the Jaguars.
Offense
Total snaps: 60 | Time on the field: 25:51
QB Drake Maye* (60; 100%), LT Demontrey Jacobs* (60; 100%), LG Michael Jordan* (60; 100%), C Ben Brown* (60; 100%), RT Michael Onwenu* (60; 100%), TE Hunter Henry* (52; 87%), WR Kayshon Boutte* (50; 83%), RG Sidy Sow (41; 68%), WR Kendrick Bourne* (37; 62%), WR Ja’Lynn Polk (34; 57%), RB Rhamondre Stevenson* (30; 50%), TE Austin Hooper* (23; 38%), WR K.J. Osborn (22; 37%), RB JaMycal Hasty (20; 33%), WR DeMario Douglas (20; 33%), RG Layden Robinson* (19; 32%), RB Antonio Gibson (10; 17%), TE Jaheim Bell (1; 2%); OT/TE Zachary Thomas (1; 2%)
*denotes starter
While not as drastic as on offense, the Patriots also experienced some turnover on the offensive side of the ball. Most of it, however, had a medical basis.
Along the offensive line, New England use its seventh different starting combination in seven weeks: with left tackle Vederian Lowe out, the team moved Demontrey Jacobs over from the right side, installed right guard Michael Onwenu at right tackle, and elevated Layden Robinson from the bench to fill Onwenu’s previous spot.
However, Robinson lasted only 19 plays before leaving the game with an ankle injury. Sidy Sow, himself a former starter, entered the game for its final 41 offensive snaps.
At wide receiver, meanwhile, DeMario Douglas saw his smallest playing time share in over a year. The sophomore was in and out of the lineup while dealing with an illness.
Also dealing with an injury was running back Antonio Gibson, who exited the game in the first quarter and despite a brief return ended up playing only 10 snaps. The main benefactor of that appeared to be JaMycal Hasty, whose 33 percent share marked a season high.
Defense
Total snaps: 61 | Time on the field: 32:51
S Kyle Dugger* (61; 100%), CB Christian Gonzalez* (61; 100%), S Marte Mapu* (60; 98%), DT Daniel Ekuale* (54; 89%), LB/ED Jahlani Tavai* (52; 85%), ED Anfernee Jennings* (50; 82%), DT Davon Godchaux* (50; 82%), LB Christian Elliss (42; 69%), DE/ED Keion White* (42; 69%), CB Jonathan Jones* (40; 66%), CB Marcus Jones (35; 57%), DE/ED Deatrich Wise Jr. (24; 39%), DT Jaquelin Roy* (24; 39%), CB Marco Wilson (21; 34%), S Jaylinn Hawkins* (18; 30%), DT Eric Johnson (14; 23%), LB Raekwon McMillan (11; 18%), ED Joshua Uche (11; 18%), ED Ochaun Mathis (1; 2%)
*denotes starter
As noted above, the Patriots shook up their defensive personnel against Jacksonville. That process did not have a noticeable impact on the secondary, however.
In the backend, things pretty much looked as expected: Kyle Dugger, Christian Gonzalez and Marte Mapu rarely left the field, while the Joneses — Jonathan and Marcus — were the next men up at cornerback alongside Gonzalez. The only somewhat noteworthy development among the defensive backs was Jaylinn Hawkins being relegated to clear No. 3 at safety; his 30 percent share was his lowest of the season.
Special Teams
Total snaps: 22 | Time on the field: 1:18
LB Raekwon McMillan (20; 91%), CB Marcellas Dial Jr. (20; 91%), S Brenden Schooler (20; 91%), LB Christian Elliss (19; 86%), LB Curtis Jacobs (15; 68%) S Jaylinn Hawkins (13; 59%), TE Jaheim Bell (11; 50%), S Marte Mapu (11; 50%), ED Ochaun Mathis (11; 50%), RB/KR JaMycal Hasty (7; 32%), ED Anfernee Jennings (7; 32%), WR Kayshon Boutte (6; 27%), RB Antonio Gibson (6; 27%), P/H Bryce Baringer (6; 27%), K Joey Slye (6; 27%), LS Joe Cardona (6; 27%), DT Daniel Ekuale (5; 23%), DT Davon Godchaux (5; 23%), DE Keion White (5; 23%), DE Deatrich Wise Jr. (5; 23%), CB Isaiah Bolden (5; 23%), S Dell Pettus (5; 23%), C Ben Brown (2; 9%), OT Demontrey Jacobs (2; 9%), G Michael Jordan (2; 9%), OT Michael Onwenu (2; 9%), G Sidy Sow (2; 9%), TE Austin Hooper (2; 9%), OT Zachary Thomas (2; 9%), CB/PR Marcus Jones (2; 9%), CB Marco Wilson (2; 9%), DT Eric Johnson (1; 5%)
The usual suspects led the Patriots in kicking game snaps: Raekwon McMillan, Marcellas Dial Jr., Brenden Schooler and Christian Elliss continue to play prominent snaps in the game’s third phase. Undrafted rookie Dell Pettus, on the other hand, was suspiciously absent from that core group of special teamers.
The undrafted rookie had played 63.3 percent of special teams snaps entering Sunday, but ended the game against the Jaguars with a season-low play time share of only 23 percent. Pettus seemed to be taking a bad angle on the Jaguars’ 96-yard punt return touchdown in the second quarter, even though his was far from the only breakdown on that particular play.
Did not play
QB Jacoby Brissett, OL Lecitus Smith
Despite the game getting out of hand, the Patriots decided against inserting their backup quarterback into the lineup late. Instead, Jacoby Brissett joined recently-signed interior offensive lineman Lecitus Smith on the bench throughout the day.
Inactive
WR Javon Baker, WR Tyquan Thornton, LB Sione Takitaki, QB Joe Milton III, OT Vederian Lowe, DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
The Patriots’ inactives list included no real surprises. Starting left tackle Vederian Lowe was already ruled out before the trip across the Atlantic due to an ankle injury sustained last Sunday, while only two other players — linebacker Sione Takitaki (knee) and wide receiver Javon Baker (illness) — carried an official injury status into the weekend.