2026 Week 3 Snap Counts and Thoughts

[Chopper0080]

Here are the snap counts and then I will post some

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[Chopper0080]

On offense.

1 - OL and QB played every snap. Always nice to see.

2 - At RB, we finally got a hint at the usage for J Love with 64% of snaps. Allgeier got 36%. I wonder if they are telegraphing the distribution though as the broadcast did say they wondered if the Cardinals were tipping their runs with how aggressive the 49er LBs were filling gaps.

3 - At WR...pretty status quo. Wilson played 93% of snaps as he is the WR they are using in 1 WR sets it seems. MHJ played 77% and Bourne 55% which makes sense in that after McBride's 91%, Higgins played 40% and Long played 34%. It does seem like the only thing that keeps MHJ off the field is 1 WR sets.

4 - A little bit of Brooks and Williams. Williams was brought in as an extra OL.

 

[kerouac9]

It’s a real problem that we’re 100% healthy on the OL and we’re getting these results.

The spine of our defense is so bad. Im also quite done with Max Melton.

 

[Chopper0080]

On defense.

1 - The back 6 (2CB, 2S, 2ILB) played almost 100% of snaps which is the norm.

2 - Burke and Melton played the majority at CB. Garrett Williams, either by design or by personnel package, played 35%. A little bit of 3 S sets with Wydell Williams.

3 - Lopez and Nolen paced the DL room at 63%. Stills saw a little drop to his snaps down to 56%. Then Collier at 37% and DRobinson at 31%.

4 - The edge room is almost a straight 50/50 rotation with a little bit of Leota splashed in. Not much to see there. If you wanted an argument to trade Sweat, you would state that getting a top 100 pick for a sub 50% snap player is a solid move.

 

[Chopper0080]

It’s a real problem that we’re 100% healthy on the OL and we’re getting these results.

The spine of our defense is so bad. Im also quite done with Max Melton.

Theo just posted something that Melton's coverage stats are kinda good for what that is worth.

 

[Chopper0080]

The Darius Robinson inability to play the run is likely what is leading him to the extremely reduced snap count and highlights Monti's idiocy with roster building for this division. Why get 285 lb college edge, draft him at the end of the first round, and then put him inside at DT in the most physical division in the NFL? Even Walter Nolen struggles to hold up at POA and he is much stouter than DRob. Both Collier and Stills are undersized or just not strong enough to consistently handle the physicality of the NFC West. The Seahawks are the standard and they have 1 guy under 300 on the DL and almost every OLB is 260+. The 49ers room looks a little bit more like AZs but that is influenced by injuries.

 

[Chopper0080]

It’s a real problem that we’re 100% healthy on the OL and we’re getting these results.

The spine of our defense is so bad. Im also quite done with Max Melton.

Also, Paris Johnson being mid is hurting the production. We all knew Wilkerson was not good at RT. Having two mid to bad OTs is tough to work around as someone is almost always getting beat in pass pro or players aren't getting to the second level on runs. Whether it is the coaching which is another hold over from 2025 or the players is tough to tell.

 

[vince56]

The Darius Robinson inability to play the run is likely what is leading him to the extremely reduced snap count and highlights Monti's idiocy with roster building for this division. Why get 285 lb college edge, draft him at the end of the first round, and then put him inside at DT in the most physical division in the NFL? Even Walter Nolen struggles to hold up at POA and he is much stouter than DRob. Both Collier and Stills are undersized or just not strong enough to consistently handle the physicality of the NFC West. The Seahawks are the standard and they have 1 guy under 300 on the DL and almost every OLB is 260+. The 49ers room looks a little bit more like AZs but that is influenced by injuries.

The Seahawks scout players based on their size, speed, physicality, etc., while the Cardinals draft names and moxie.

They are not the same.

 

[BritCard]

The Darius Robinson inability to play the run is likely what is leading him to the extremely reduced snap count and highlights Monti's idiocy with roster building for this division. Why get 285 lb college edge, draft him at the end of the first round, and then put him inside at DT in the most physical division in the NFL? Even Walter Nolen struggles to hold up at POA and he is much stouter than DRob. Both Collier and Stills are undersized or just not strong enough to consistently handle the physicality of the NFC West. The Seahawks are the standard and they have 1 guy under 300 on the DL and almost every OLB is 260+. The 49ers room looks a little bit more like AZs but that is influenced by injuries.

I think Drob is stronger than his weight alone. Guy is well developed in that area and it was what made him a difficult edge to face, but weight matters when stopping the run. 290lbs is easier to move than 310.

The rest I agree with, stupid draft pick.

 

[kerouac9]

Theo just posted something that Melton's coverage stats are kinda good for what that is worth.

I don’t trust coverage stats. Every time I see an opponent converting a third down I see Melton diving haplessly behind him.

 

[kerouac9]

Also, Paris Johnson being mid is hurting the production. We all knew Wilkerson was not good at RT. Having two mid to bad OTs is tough to work around as someone is almost always getting beat in pass pro or players aren't getting to the second level on runs. Whether it is the coaching which is another hold over from 2025 or the players is tough to tell.

Paris is fine. The real problem is people are mugging up Fro and he’s just getting bulldozed. It’s probably because Adams has to help out Wilkerson first, but it’s a consistent problem.

 

[gimpy]

Thx, Chopper. I really like your insight of the Cardinals games, etc. I don't know if you are right or wrong most of the time, but you always make sense to me.
And you post it in a non accusatory, non demeaning (to other posters) way.

 

[cardpa]

On defense.

1 - The back 6 (2CB, 2S, 2ILB) played almost 100% of snaps which is the norm.

2 - Burke and Melton played the majority at CB. Garrett Williams, either by design or by personnel package, played 35%. A little bit of 3 S sets with Wydell Williams.

3 - Lopez and Nolen paced the DL room at 63%. Stills saw a little drop to his snaps down to 56%. Then Collier at 37% and DRobinson at 31%.

4 - The edge room is almost a straight 50/50 rotation with a little bit of Leota splashed in. Not much to see there. If you wanted an argument to trade Sweat, you would state that getting a top 100 pick for a sub 50% snap player is a solid move.

Looking at stats, Sweat is in for 24 plays and doesn't register on the stat line. Collins is in for 23 snaps and has three solo tackles and two pass defended. Seems to me Sweat is trying to play himself off of this team. Our first rounder Robinson is in for only 17 snaps in his third year. That is sad commentary.

 

[vince56]

Looking at stats, Sweat is in for 24 plays and doesn't register on the stat line. Collins is in for 23 snaps and has three solo tackles and two pass defended. Seems to me Sweat is trying to play himself off of this team. Our first rounder Robinson is in for only 17 snaps in his third year. That is sad commentary.

Zaven had a great game. He effectively shutdown Juschkyiyk's routes and had a great sniff-out that I could have sworn was caught and should have been a net 6 yard loss.

 

[Goodyear Card]

browning on kittle

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[HairZach]

This defense is so much worse than it was the first 6 weeks of last season.

Its easy to see why. Budda and Sweat are completely washed, Garrett Williams is coming off a major injury, and Calais Campbell is gone.

The only defensive players on our roster that are above replacement level are Walter Nolan and Mack Wilson. Everyone else is a JAG or worse.

 

[Russ Smith]

I do think there's something to the tipping of plays with Love and TA. Commented on it several times in the game thread Love is known for his ability to catch the ball but until later in the game TA was getting all the 3rd down work. I assume it's blitz pickup they don't trust Love yet but he's so slow if he does get the ball he's not going anywhere.

But it does seem we're much more likely to run when Love is in and throw when TA is in but I certainly don't have stats on it

 

[Chopper0080]

Paris is fine. The real problem is people are mugging up Fro and he’s just getting bulldozed. It’s probably because Adams has to help out Wilkerson first, but it’s a consistent problem.

I guess my point is that it seems it is always somebody and you (royal you) hoped that wouldn't include Paris.

 

[Chopper0080]

Thx, Chopper. I really like your insight of the Cardinals games, etc. I don't know if you are right or wrong most of the time, but you always make sense to me.
And you post it in a non accusatory, non demeaning (to other posters) way.

I try but am not always successful if I am being honest.

 

[Chopper0080]

I do think there's something to the tipping of plays with Love and TA. Commented on it several times in the game thread Love is known for his ability to catch the ball but until later in the game TA was getting all the 3rd down work. I assume it's blitz pickup they don't trust Love yet but he's so slow if he does get the ball he's not going anywhere.

But it does seem we're much more likely to run when Love is in and throw when TA is in but I certainly don't have stats on it

I feel the same but do not have the data to verify. The PFF fantasy breakdown I sometimes share shows Allgeier ran 21 routes on his 31 snaps. Bourne ran a route on 41 of his 48 snaps. Harrison 48 of 66. It would imply that is Love is on the field and MHJ and Bourne are off it, the Cardinals are likely running the ball. To know for sure you would need to chart.

 

[BritCard]

Zaven had a great game. He effectively shutdown Juschkyiyk's routes and had a great sniff-out that I could have sworn was caught and should have been a net 6 yard loss.

People miss all the great work Zaven does because it doesn't put up sack numbers. Consistently one of our better defenders.

 

[kerouac9]

People miss all the great work Zaven does because it doesn't put up sack numbers. Consistently one of our better defenders.

We gave up 36 points yesterday

 

[Cheesebeef]

It’s a real problem that we’re 100% healthy on the OL and we’re getting these results.

the OL just stinks. It's mid-AF on the left side and just awful on the right.

The spine of our defense is so bad. Im also quite done with Max Melton.

Same.

Also, I'm disappointed in Walter Nolan's impact, or complete lack thereof the last couple weeks. This team desperately needed him to be a force and take a big step forward this week and so far, it looks like his only impact was made against an absolutely atrocious Chargers offensive line.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Also, I'm disappointed in Walter Nolan's impact, or complete lack thereof the last couple weeks. This team desperately needed him to be a force and take a big step forward this week and so far, it looks like his only impact was made against an absolutely atrocious Chargers offensive line.

He was dominating our O-line in training camp, so there's that!

 

[Russ Smith]

I feel the same but do not have the data to verify. The PFF fantasy breakdown I sometimes share shows Allgeier ran 21 routes on his 31 snaps. Bourne ran a route on 41 of his 48 snaps. Harrison 48 of 66. It would imply that is Love is on the field and MHJ and Bourne are off it, the Cardinals are likely running the ball. To know for sure you would need to chart.

That was on here last week too I don't remember the stat but it was something like 70 percent of the time Marv is in it's a pass and the claim was it's because he can't or won't run block so they are tipping plays in that regard.