New England Patriots

New England Patriots snap counts analysis entering Week 2

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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LeGarrette Blount (29) cuts in Week 1. How many New England Patriots snap counts will he see against the Dolphins? Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Join us as we take a look at New England Patriots snap counts from Week 1 and provide analysis entering Week 2.

Because it would be pretty useless examining Jimmy Garoppolo’s snap counts last Sunday night, we’re going to start by looking at distribution of New England Patriots snap counts in the backfield.

[Editor’s note: Patriots snap counts numbers come by way of USA TODAY Sports Patriots wire.]

Week 1 Patriots snap counts: Running backs

LeGarrette Blount – 42 snaps (59 percent)

James White – 26 snaps (37 percent)

James Develin – 17 snaps (24 percent)

Brandon Bolden – 3 snaps (4 percent)

Entering Week 2, expect Patriots snap counts at running back to continue along this Blount-dominated trajectory with White getting looks as a pass catcher out of the backfield. Develin will be used as a snowplow in obvious running situations, and Bolden will be used sparingly, as his specialty is special teams.

Week 2 predictions

Blount – 48 snaps

White – 32 snaps

Develin – 18 snaps

Bolden – 2 snaps

Malcolm Mitchell (19) should factor heavily into New England Patriots snap counts on Sunday. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Week 1 Patriots snap counts: Wide receivers

Here is the distribution of Patriots snap counts at wide receiver from Week 1:

Julian Edelman – 61 snaps (86 percent)

Chris Hogan – 55 snaps (77 percent)

Malcolm Mitchell – 39 snaps (55 percent)

Danny Amendola – 19 snaps (27 percent)

Interestingly, the rookie Mitchell played twice as much as proven Patriots veteran Amendola against the Cardinals. Not surprisingly, Edelman led the way in Patriots snap counts at wideout, edging Hogan. In Week 2, look for Mitchell to be targeted even more as the Miami Dolphins key-in on Hogan after his breakout game. But Edelman will still top the group.

Week 2 predictions

Edelman – 51 snaps

Mitchell – 44 snaps

Hogan – 35 snaps

Amendola – 23 snaps

Martellus Bennett (88) led the way in Patriots snap counts at tight end in Week 1. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Week 1 Patriots snap counts: Tight ends

Here is a listing of tight end snaps counts from Week 1:

Martellus Bennett – 69 snaps (97 percent)

A.J. Derby – 20 snaps (28 percent)

Two names are missing from this list that we had expected to be there: Rob Gronkowski and Clay Harbor. The absence of Gronk pressed Bennett into a greater role, and the veteran delivered. His stat line of 14 yards on three catches may not sound all that impressive, but Bennett made his mark setting the edge run blocking throughout the game. Harbor was a healthy scratch.

With Gronk’s Week 2 status up in the air (and most likely remaining that way until the last second), we’re going to proceed under the impression that he won’t play against the Dolphins, which will render Bennett and Derby all that much more valuable. Don’t expect the Pats to hold out Harbor for a second week in a row.

Week 2 predictions

Bennett – 60 snaps

Derby – 33 snaps

Harbor – 12 snaps

Cameron Fleming (71) played in every snap in Week 1. Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Week 1 Patriots snap counts: Offensive line

Below is a listing of last week’s numbers in the trenches:

Joe Thuney – 71 snaps (100 percent)

Cameron Fleming – 71 snaps (100 percent)

Marcus Cannon – 71 snaps (100 percent)

David Andrews – 71 snaps (100 percent)

Ted Karras – 57 snaps (80 percent)

Shaq Mason – 14 snaps (14 percent)

One of the biggest stories coming out of the Patriots’ Week 1 upset of the Cardinals was the resiliency of this group. Playing without Nate Solder and Jonathan Cooper, these six men were up the job of handling the potent Arizona pass rush, which Thuney, Fleming, Cannon and Andrews never getting a break.

Looking ahead to Week 2, we are going to assume that Solder and Cooper will be good to go, even if that may not end up being the case. It’s only Wednesday, after all.

Week 2 predictions

Solder – 74 snaps

Thuney – 74 snaps

Andrews – 74 snaps

Cannon – 74 snaps

Cooper – 58 snaps

Karras – 16 snaps

Chris Long (95) recorded his first sack for the Patriots in Week 1. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Week 1 Patriots snap counts: Defensive line

Your Week 1 defensive line Patriots snap counts:

Jabaal Sheard – 44 snaps (72 percent)

Chris Long – 39 snaps (64 percent)

Alan Branch – 31 snaps (51 percent)

Malcom Brown – 30 snaps (49 percent)

Trey Flowers – 21 snaps (34 percent)

Vincent Valentine – 20 snaps (33 percent)

Anthony Johnson – 20 snaps (33 percent)

Not surprisingly, Sheard and Long were the iron men in Week 1. Branch, Brown, Valentine and Johnson split the interior work pretty evenly, making for a balanced and effective group of defensive tackles.

Against the Dolphins, expect Flowers to see more looks as the Patriots get a better idea of his pass rushing threat

Week 2 predictions

Sheard – 36 snaps

Flowers – 32 snaps

Brown – 30 snaps

Long – 26 snaps

Branch – 24 snaps

Valentine – 22 snaps

Johnson – 17 snaps

Jamie Collins (91) played in every snap in Week 1. Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Week 1 Patriots snap counts: Linebackers

Jamie Collins – 61 snaps (100 percent)

Dont’a Hightower – 58 snaps (95 percent)

Shea McClellin – 24 snaps (39 percent)

Jonathan Freeny – 6 snaps (10 percent)

As you would expect, Collins and Hightower played together on nearly every down for the Patriots at linebacker. Collins didn’t miss a single snap; Hightower was off the field for only three snaps. Meanwhile, offseason addition McClellin saw the field a good amount, and noted hard worker Freeny appeared on the field a few times.

Looking ahead, don’t expect the distribution of Patriots snap counts at linebacker to change very much. The Patriots have the two best linebackers in football, and they’re going to use them.

Week 2 predictions

Collins – 55 snaps

Hightower – 55 snaps

McClellin – 13 snaps

Freeny – 4 snaps

Devin McCourty (32) didn’t miss a single snap in Week 1. Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Week 1 Patriots snap counts: Defensive backs

Last but not least, here are your Patriots snap counts from Week 1 at cornerback and safety:

Devin McCourty – 61 snaps (100 percent)

Logan Ryan – 61 snaps (100 percent)

Malcolm Butler – 61 snaps (100 percent)

Pat Chung – 60 snaps (98 percent)

Justin Coleman – 40 snaps (66 percent)

Duron Harmon – 29 snaps (48 percent)

Cyrus Jones – 5 snaps (8 percent)

Jordan Richards – 1 snap (2 percent)

McCourty, Chung, Ryan and Butler are the quarter of outstanding Patriots defensive backs that will only miss a snap if an injury is bugging them or they are completely and utterly gassed. This writer doesn’t remember why Chung came off the field for a play on Sunday night, but it won’t happen very often.

In Week 2, expect second round pick Jones to see increased looks in the slot as the Patriots try to get a better idea of who is strong as the No. 3 corner, Jones or Coleman.

Week 2 predictions

McCourty – 55 snaps

Chung – 55 snaps

Butler – 55 snaps

Ryan – 55 snaps

Jones – 33 snaps

Harmon – 27 snaps

Coleman – 20 snaps

Richards – 3 snaps