2025 Week 1 - Snap Counts and Thoughts

[Chopper0080]

First the snap counts, and then I will share my thoughts.

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[Chopper0080]

Offense.

1 - Benson iced Demercado out as RB2 and is getting some 3rd down work.

2 - Zay Jones and Michael Wilson rotation as WR2. Much different than previous years WR2 and WR3 splits.

3 - 52% snaps from Tip is high. I expect this to continue, especially in games leading.

4 - Lower snap rate than previous years for Higgins with 30%. Last year he was closer with Tip.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Offense.

1 - Benson iced Demercado out as RB2 and is getting some 3rd down work.

2 - Zay Jones and Michael Wilson rotation as WR2. Much different than previous years WR2 and WR3 splits.

3 - 52% snaps from Tip is high. I expect this to continue, especially in games leading.

4 - Lower snap rate than previous years for Higgins with 30%. Last year he was closer with Tip.

1 - This was clearly noticeable as last year the coaching staff didn't trust Benson in pass protection. Benson having a solid game and getting the amount of snaps that he did is very encouraging.

2 - I noticed during the game that Zay Jones looked a lot bigger than I remembered. Kyler needs to be able to spread around the ball more as the season progresses and one of these guys needs to step up and become that clear #3 passing target behind MHJr and McBride.

 

[Chopper0080]

Defense was more interesting IMO.

1 - Garrett Williams 100% of snaps. Love to see it.

2 - Melton 100% of snaps. Clear role here.

3 - Will Johnson still got 60% so they are easing him into the CB role playing him in nickel.

4 - Lots of light boxes with DTD getting 67% of snaps. Explains some of the run struggles.

5 - The DL. This probably should have been #1. The injuries impact showed up. DRob paced the line with 56%. CC played 44% and Stills played 45%. Collier 39% and Tomlinson got the NT role with 33%. This was also the problem with Mustipher as he is also more of a NT and only got 15%. The Cardinals played small up front and it showed. They also stuck with a rotation regardless of their depth.

6 - EDGE. Basically three man rotation with Sweat, Browning and Collins. Burch got 37% but no player played more than Sweat's 63%.

 

[Chopper0080]

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[Chopper0080]

I count 14 routes run by Reiman as a win.

I think Benson was able to just play all downs on the reps he subbed in for Conner. So more of the Cardinals not using a 3rd down back in this game.

 

[Chopper0080]

Clear defensive choices by Gannon and Rallis in this game from a personnel standpoint. A lot of playing not to lose in this one.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

First the snap counts, and then I will share my thoughts.

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ADG played? Didn’t notice.

 

[Chopper0080]

ADG played? Didn’t notice.

He has a weird number, 27 I think. Easy to confuse him for a S.

 

[outcent13]

He should have had an INT at one point

 

[Russ Smith]

Defense was more interesting IMO.

1 - Garrett Williams 100% of snaps. Love to see it.

2 - Melton 100% of snaps. Clear role here.

3 - Will Johnson still got 60% so they are easing him into the CB role playing him in nickel.

4 - Lots of light boxes with DTD getting 67% of snaps. Explains some of the run struggles.

5 - The DL. This probably should have been #1. The injuries impact showed up. DRob paced the line with 56%. CC played 44% and Stills played 45%. Collier 39% and Tomlinson got the NT role with 33%. This was also the problem with Mustipher as he is also more of a NT and only got 15%. The Cardinals played small up front and it showed. They also stuck with a rotation regardless of their depth.

6 - EDGE. Basically three man rotation with Sweat, Browning and Collins. Burch got 37% but no player played more than Sweat's 63%.

D Rob has to be better. He got penetration on run downs in the first quarter but he was a non factor the rest of the game. Was hoping with Tomlinson in there and Campbell it would help him but Tomlinson only played 33% of the snaps, Calais 44. The DL and OL were the big disappointments yesterday. The lack of sacks and pressure I get due to how fast they were getting the ball out but they also gave up too much on the ground.

 

[football karma]

my rough calcs had 13 /14 personnel at ~15 of 66 offensive snaps (23%!)

that feels high even for the Cards

 

[Chopper0080]

D Rob has to be better. He got penetration on run downs in the first quarter but he was a non factor the rest of the game. Was hoping with Tomlinson in there and Campbell it would help him but Tomlinson only played 33% of the snaps, Calais 44. The DL and OL were the big disappointments yesterday. The lack of sacks and pressure I get due to how fast they were getting the ball out but they also gave up too much on the ground.

it all depends on your perspective.

In the Grade our Position groups thread I had the OL as a B, DL as a C+, and EDGE as a C. I feel like that is what I saw.

OL did ok, maybe more of a C+, B- game.

The DL did ok. Dalvin was always a NT which means his role is defined by the other team. CC is 39. DRob has to learn to play with balance so we can disengage from blockers. But Nolen was the pass rush upgrade and he isn't available. JJones was the pocket pusher they signed in FA (haven't seen that yet) but is also not available.

Lots of people have discussed Sweat's lack of elite sack numbers. Collins and Browning are slightly above average and Burch is a rookie.

I just don't really understand what people were expecting. Two of the best position groups for NO are the offensive and defensive fronts.

 

[Cardiac]

Offense.

1 - Benson iced Demercado out as RB2 and is getting some 3rd down work.

2 - Zay Jones and Michael Wilson rotation as WR2. Much different than previous years WR2 and WR3 splits.

3 - 52% snaps from Tip is high. I expect this to continue, especially in games leading.

4 - Lower snap rate than previous years for Higgins with 30%. Last year he was closer with Tip.

I always look forward to these posts from you.
I was a bit surprised about Tomlinson and CCs snaps. I thought I saw CC out there more than he was and expected Tomlinson to be closer to 50% of the snaps. Especially since it felt like the run D was shaky.
I think Stills made more plays than the rest of the Dline. At least more wow plays.
Can't wait to see 0 getting more snaps

 

[BigDavis75]

The four man rush fronts at the end had CC and DR inside, I’m hoping stills gets some of those snaps moving forward (he had a heel injury coming into this game) as I believe he’s a better rusher than either at this point. Wanted to see more snaps from Tomlinson as well, it’s not like he’s a zero from a pass rush perspective either.

 

[Chopper0080]

I always look forward to these posts from you.
I was a bit surprised about Tomlinson and CCs snaps. I thought I saw CC out there more than he was and expected Tomlinson to be closer to 50% of the snaps. Especially since it felt like the run D was shaky.
I think Stills made more plays than the rest of the Dline. At least more wow plays.
Can't wait to see 0 getting more snaps

18 RB carries vs 46 pass attempts is generally going to lead to Tomlinson getting less snaps. Similar to when we had Dan Williams. Tomlinson will get more reps as the Cardinals play teams that want to run the ball more and in games that are closer.

I also felt like Stills played well. He always seems to have one flash play.

Typing these up early in the season is always fun because you can compare vs what you expected since camp. Also nice when you have new/young players mixing in.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I just don't really understand what people were expecting. Two of the best position groups for NO are the offensive and defensive fronts.

We've been told for years now that Monti and the team are going to build in the trenches and do it the right way. We were soundly beaten on both the offensive and defensive lines against a bad team. Not great!

 

[Chopper0080]

We've been told for years now that Monti and the team are going to build in the trenches and do it the right way. We were soundly beaten on both the offensive and defensive lines against a bad team. Not great!

I don't believe it is that black and white, personally.

Saints OL has 4 former first round picks on it and their best player Erik McCoy was a 2nd. Radunz was their replacement for Penning and he was a former 2nd rounder.

Granderson has about the same pressure rate as Sweat has had over the past two seasons. Bresee was a 1st rounder. Cam Jordan is a wash with CC.

You can argue that Monti has not invested heavily enough in the lines, but along with RB and WR, the Saints best groups are the DL and OL.

 

[Capital Card]

I just don't really understand what people were expecting. Two of the best position groups for NO are the offensive and defensive fronts.

Admittedly, I don't know much about the Saints, but I thought their OL played very well, much better than I expected. I do recall that the Panthers had a pretty good OL last year, so I'm curious to see how our D fares this week. With all the resources we threw at the D this offseason, I expected more pressure, which other than a couple of hits on QB, I didn't see much all day yesterday.

Go Cards!!!

 

[PDXChris]

The one glaring issue i see is if Dortch is on O, it's a pass 80% (8 of 10) of the time. He's one of the worst blocking WRs in the league, so that makes sense, but it also is dead give away of the play.

 

[QuebecCard]

Admittedly, I don't know much about the Saints, but I thought their OL played very well, much better than I expected. I do recall that the Panthers had a pretty good OL last year, so I'm curious to see how our D fares this week. With all the resources we threw at the D this offseason, I expected more pressure, which other than a couple of hits on QB, I didn't see much all day yesterday.

Go Cards!!!

The Saints have four first-round picks and one second-round pick on their offensive line.

 

[Chopper0080]

Admittedly, I don't know much about the Saints, but I thought their OL played very well, much better than I expected. I do recall that the Panthers had a pretty good OL last year, so I'm curious to see how our D fares this week. With all the resources we threw at the D this offseason, I expected more pressure, which other than a couple of hits on QB, I didn't see much all day yesterday.

Go Cards!!!

Just remember we are missing three DL players who were expected to push for roster spots. (at least I am sure Monti was hoping hey were pushing)

On the EDGE, we upgraded from "not playable" to slightly above average in Sweat. Burch is a rookie but nice to see him get reps.

 

[cardpa]

The fact that Robinson had 42 snaps (56%) and didn't register any stats whatsoever is a bit concerning to me. He was zeros across the board.

 

[kerouac9]

After all this it’s kinda crazy that Dante Stills might be our best DL

 

[kerouac9]

I was surprised at how often Browning was in the field. It’ll be interesting to see if that snap share holds up against more run-oriented teams.