Notes and thoughts on the Patriots’ snap counts from their 34-15 loss to the Dolphins.
In a way, the New England Patriots’ loss to the Miami Dolphins was a throwback performance to earlier in the season. For most of the day, after all, the team’s offensive line was not up to the task of keeping its quarterback clean and generating consistent space in the running game.
The tackles in particular had a rough time against the Dolphins’ edge rush, to a point where an actual personnel change was made. In the fourth quarter, Demontrey Jacobs was benched in favor of backup Sidy Sow: Jacobs started the game at right tackle but after 50 snaps was pulled for Sow, who was on the field for the final 19 offensive snaps.
As head coach Jerod Mayo acknowledged after the game, Jacobs struggled.
“He was having a tough game. Whether it was penalties or blocking the edge, he was having a tough game,” he said. “We’ve got to protect the quarterback. As an offensive lineman, that’s what we do. We protect quarterbacks and we have to open up holes for the backs.”
The Patriots had actually entered the game starting the same group for the third straight week — a positive development after the instability of earlier in the year. However, with both Jacobs and the rest of the line underperforming New England needs to return to the drawing board. Yes, it was only one game, but the NFL being a copy-cat league will lead to teams trying to follow Miami’s lead to challenge the integrity up front.
One potential part of the solution will be reinserting former starter Cole Strange into the lineup after his return to practice last week. Of course, there is only so much one individual player can do given that there were holes everywhere on Sunday.
Here is our full snap count report from the Patriots’ 34-15 loss in Miami.
Offense
Total snaps: 69 | Time on the field: 26:59
QB Drake Maye (69; 100%), LT Vederian Lowe (69; 100%), LG Michael Jordan (69; 100%), C Ben Brown (69; 100%), RG Michael Onwenu (69; 100%), WR Kayshon Boutte (60; 87%), TE Hunter Henry (57; 83%), RT Demontrey Jacobs (50; 72%), WR DeMario Douglas (47; 68%), WR Kendrick Bourne (41; 59%), RB Antonio Gibson (30; 43%), RB Rhamondre Stevenson (29; 42%), TE Austin Hooper (26; 38%), WR Ja’Lynn Polk (23; 33%), RT/TE Sidy Sow (20; 29%), RB JaMycal Hasty (11; 16%), WR Javon Baker (11; 16%), TE Jaheim Bell (8; 12%), TE Jack Westover (1; 1%)
*denotes starter
Besides shuffling their offensive line, the Patriots also changed their running back usage versus Miami.
Rhamondre Stevenson ended up playing only 42 percent of snaps in what was his lowest output of the season. In his place, Antonio Gibson saw his opportunities soar: the free agency pickup had his most active game since Week 6, and finished as New England’s leading ball carrier with 31 yards on 6 carries.
At wide receiver, meanwhile, New England continued to rely on Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas and Kendrick Bourne as its top trio. Rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker played smaller roles, combining to catch one 7-yard pass (Polk).
Stability also was the name of the game at tight end, where Hunter Henry is still the top option followed by Austin Hooper. Rookie Jack Westover played his first career snap after being elevated from the practice squad.
Defense
Total snaps: 68 | Time on the field: 31:04
CB Marcus Jones (68; 10%), CB Christian Gonzalez (67; 99%), S Kyle Dugger (66; 97%), CB Jonathan Jones (65; 96%), ED Anfernee Jennings (59; 87%), LB Jahlani Tavai (57; 84%), DT Daniel Ekuale (44; 65%), DE/ED Keion White (42; 62%), DT Davon Godchaux (40; 59%), LB Christian Elliss (37; 54%), S Jaylinn Hawkins (36; 53%), DT Christian Barmore (35; 51%), S Marte Mapu (32; 47%), ED Yannick Ngakoue (31; 46%), LB Sione Takitaki (24; 35%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (20; 29%), S Dell Pettus (13; 19%), DT Eric Johnson (9; 13%), S Brenden Schooler (2; 3%), CB Isaiah Bolden (1; 1%)
*denotes starter
In order to counter Miami’s passing game, the Patriots relied on a base set of defensive backs: cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones and Jonathan Jones, as well as safety Kyle Dugger, were on the field together for a vast majority of snaps. Given their experience in the system and with one another, the Dolphins’ domination particularly in the first half was an enormous disappointment.
In addition to those four players, the Patriots relied heavily on their usual set of character. Up front, that was a mix of linemen Daniel Ekuale, Davon Godchaux and Keion White, edge Anfernee Jennings, and off-ball linebackers Jahlani Tavai and Christian Elliss — all of whom playing more than half of defensive snaps alongside nickel safety Jaylinn Hawkins.
Christian Barmore also found himself in that category, being on the field for 35 of 68 possible snaps. In his second game back from his blood clot diagnosis, the fourth-year man registered his first sack of the season.
Recent waiver wire pickup Yannick Ngakoue also increased his playing time, from 27 to 46 percent between his first and second games as a Patriot; he registered a pair of tackles but was largely quiet as a pass rusher again. Special teamers Brenden Schooler and Isaiah Bolden also were part of the mix, with Schooler’s “Longhorn” package making a successful comeback (he registered his second sack).
Special Teams
Total snaps: 28 | Time on the field: 1:57
S Brenden Schooler (26; 93%), ED Keshawn Banks (26; 93%), CB Marcellas Dial Jr. (26; 93%), S Marte Mapu (20; 71%), TE Jaheim Bell (19; 68%), S Jaylinn Hawkins (18; 64%), LB Sione Takitaki (18; 64%), LB Jahlani Tavai (16; 57%), LB Christian Elliss (15; 54%), CB Alex Austin (14; 50%) TE Jack Westover (13; 46%), RB/KR JaMycal Hasty (11; 39%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (11; 39%), DE Keion White (9; 32%), CB Isaiah Bolden (8; 29%), RB/KR Antonio Gibson (7; 25%), DT Eric Johnson (7; 25%), P/H Bryce Baringer (7; 25%), LS Joe Cardona (7; 25%), CB/PR Marcus Jones (5; 18%), S Dell Pettus (5; 18%), K Joey Slye (5; 18%), C Ben Brown (2; 7%), G Michael Jordan (2; 7%), G Michael Onwenu (2; 7%), OT Demontrey Jacobs (2; 7%), TE Austin Hooper (2; 7%), OT Sidy Sow (2; 7%), OL Lecitus Smith (2; 7%), DT Christian Barmore (1; 1%)
One week after getting benched in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams, rookie Javon Baker did not see any snaps in his previous role as the Patriots’ kickoff returner. Instead, the team relied on running backs Antonio Gibson and JaMycal Hasty as the deep men versus the Dolphins; neither of the two returned a kick.
Another rookie also saw his role change on Sunday. One week after playing a career-high 71 percent of special teams snaps, Dell Pettus played a career-low 18: the undrafted free agent, whose defensive playing time also took a hit, only was on the field for five snaps as personal punt protector.
Also worth mentioning is cornerback Alex Austin, who was activated from injured reserve last Monday. The Patriots’ nominal No. 4 cornerback did not play any defensive snaps, but he was on the field for half of the kicking game reps; Austin was employed on both return teams and the kickoff coverage unit.
Did not play
QB Jacoby Brissett, OL Layden Robinson
Even though the circumstances would have favored them seeing the field, Jacoby Brissett and Layden Robinson both spent the entirety of Sunday’s game on the bench again. Given New England’s struggles along the O-line, Robinson’s outlook in particular will be interesting to follow.
Inactive
WR K.J. Osborn, QB Joe Milton III, OL Tyrese Robinson, DE Deatrich Wise Jr., DT Jaquelin Roy, ED Titus Leo
Two of the Patriots’ six inactives on the day were because of injury. Defensive linemen Deatrich Wise Jr. and Jaquelin Roy both missed their second game in a row due to foot and neck issues originally suffered in Week 10 against the Chicago Bears.
The four other inactives, meanwhile, were healthy scratches — a reflection of their current spots on the depth chart.