Analyzing the Ravens snap count totals vs. the New England Patriots

It’s time to check out who played in Sunday’s game, how much they did or didn’t play and make presumptuous calls regarding the numbers.

Note: All snap counts courtesy of NFLGSIS

Offensive 100%ers — Players who played all 70 offensive snaps

• Ronnie Stanley
• Matt Skura
• Orlando Brown Jr.
• Bradley Bozeman
• Lamar Jackson
• Marshal Yanda

The big unit stepped up and administered punishment on the Patriots defense, which totaled more than 200 yards rushing and allowed only one sack. You cannot ask for more from this group.

Tight end snaps breakdown

• Nick Boyle — 59 (84%)
• Hayden Hurst — 29 (41%)
• Mark Andrews 24 (34%)

This is somewhat surprising. Not that Boyle is leading, because that is to be expected in a run-heavy game plan but seeing Andrews below Hurst. Maybe that’s also due to the strategy Sunda night but also knowing the Patriots were going to target Andrews in coverage so they kept him off to force their attention elsewhere and utilize Boyle/Hurst more on the ground game. Either way, it worked to perfection.

Wide receiver snaps breakdown

• Willie Snead IV — 42 (60%)
• Marquise Brown — 40 (57%)
• Seth Roberts — 30 (43%)
• Miles Boykin — 27 (39%)
• Chris Moore — 2 (3%)

The Beatdown slack discussed whether Hollywood’s return was going to be small and less than 50% of plays. Turns out we were wrong, and he placed second in snaps, behind only Snead. Makes sense, as Snead’s blocking ability and grit was needed in the fight tonight.

Chris Moore saw only two snaps of offense tonight, showing the coaching staff isn’t interested in his production at the position. However, he did play 16 special teams snaps, the most of any offensive player.

Running back snaps breakdown

• Mark Ingram — 31 (44%)
• Gus Edwards — 28 (40%)
• Pat Ricard — 27 (39%)
• Justice Hill — 10 (14%)

On Ingram’s 31 snaps, he rushed the football 15 times and was targeted thrice. He totaled 168 all-purpose yards and lead the charge against the porous Patriot defense.

Ricard’s heavy utilization shows how heavily the coaching staff opted for the run game. He There were only 70 offensive plays, and this group totals 96. The three tight ends amounted to 112 snaps, meaning there was an incredible amount of heavy package formations from the beginning.

Defense

Defensive 100%ers — Players who played all 67 defensive snaps

• Chuck Clark
• Marlon Humphrey
• Marcus Peters
• Earl Thomas

These four, plus the rest of the secondary, faced a well-oiled machine. The reason being, Julian Edelman, Mohamed Sanu, and Benjamin Watson also played all 67 snaps. Philip Dorsett played 66, meaning he was also out there for the virtual entirety of the Patriots’ possessions. A formidable opponent and they closed the doors on them when it mattered. This Ravens defense is not the same as last month.

Linebacker snaps breakdown

• Matt Judon — 51 (76%)
• Jaylon Ferguson — 42 (63%)
• Tyus Bowser — 28 (42%)
• Patrick Onwuasor — 28 (42%)
• Josh Bynes — 25 (37%)
• L.J. Fort — 18 (27%)
• Chris Board — 0 | 23 ST snaps (tied with Fort and Anthony Levine for most snaps)

While I’m sure these players would have a bit more balance had the Patriots not run no-huddle on each possession, it’s still quite a feat when Judon, Ferguson and Bowser are creating pressure late in the game.

I think all Ravens fans are a tad disappointed Peanut is not the answer at middle linebacker but relieved to see the coaching staff make the adjustment and bring him back to his natural weak-side position. He’s back to making plays and it was desperately needed on Sunday.

It appears Board is no longer getting cycled in at linebacker as the veteran additions usurped the role.

Defensive backs snaps breakdown

• M. Humphrey — 67
• E. Thomas III — 67
• C. Clark — 67
• M. Peters — 67
• Jimmy Smith — 54 (81%)
• Brandon Carr — 47 (70%)
• Anthony Averett — 13 (19%)

What a blessing it is to have Smith back in the lineup. I’m joyfully surprised to see him not only back on the field but his play was rock solid. He did not look like a cornerback who missed nearly half the season to a knee injury.

I’d like to give a nod to Averett for his play, too. He was the cornerback the team looked to when Smith needed a break. He’s had a roller coaster of a sophomore season and this was his second-straight positive game after being benched in favor of Maurice Canady earlier this season.

Carr and Clark were two names we didn’t hear a lot about and that’s a good thing. Neither was really victimized or allowed the big bust coverage. This defense with Clark as the signal caller is impressive.

Defensive line snaps breakdown

• Michael Pierce — 44 (66%)
• Jihad Ward — 38 (57%)
• Brandon Williams — 36 (54%)
• Chris Wormley — 33 (49%)
• Pat Ricard — 4 (6%)

Pierce sure got his conditioning in on Sunday night, playing the eighth-most snaps of any defensive player.

It’s interesting to see Ward so heavily utilized along the interior line but if he can notch a few more sacks on Tom Brady and other quarterbacks, we’re here for it.