In the Arizona Cardinals» 36-30 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers, 22 players participated in at least one of 68 defensive snaps and 30 played at least one of 33 special teams snaps.
How was playing time distributed? Below are the number of snaps for each player, grouped by position.
The first number after each name is the snap and the second is the percentage. Players in bold were starters.
Defensive line
LJ Collier 39/57, Dante Stills 34/50, Darius Robinson 33/49, Roy Lopez 28/41, Naquan Jones 22/32, Khyiris Tonga 20/29
Injured reserve: Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols (both eligible to return, but will not)
Naquan Jones has been a solid contributor this season after injuries to Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols. On Sunday, he had three tackles (two solo, one for loss) while adding a sack and a quarterback hit. Lopez and Tonga each had three tackles including one solo, Stills had two and one and Robinson had two unassisted tackles.
Linebackers
ILB Kyzir White 68/100, OLB Zaven Collins 51/75, OLB Julien Okwara 31/46, OLB Baron Browning 29/43, ILB Owen Pappoe 25/37OLB Victor Dimukeje 22/32, ILB Krys Barnes 12/18, OLB Xavier Thomas 9/13
Did not play: ILB Milo Eifler (played only on special teams)
Inactive: ILB Mack Wilson Sr. (injured)
Injured reserve: OLB Dennis Gardeck (eligible to return, but will not make it), OLB Jesse Luketa, OLB BJ Ojulari
White showed no signs of the illness that kept him out of practice Thursday as he was second on the team with eight tackles (five solo), a sack, a tackle for loss and two quarterback hits. QB. With Wilson out, Pappoe started in place of Barnes and had four tackles (one solo) as well as a pass defended.
Barnes had three tackles (one solo), Browning two and one sack and Collins two and one. He also left the gap that led to running back Chuba Hubbard’s 28-yard run in overtime.
Defensive backs
S Budda Baker 68/100, S Jalen Thompson 68/100, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting 62/91, CB Star Thomas V 52/76, CB Garrett Williams 42/62, CB Max Melton 22/32, S Dadrion (Rabbit) Taylor-Demerson 10/15, CB Kei’Trel Clark 1/1
Did not play: S Joey Blount (played only on special teams)
Inactive: S Jammie Robinson
Injured reserve: CB Elijah Jones (designated for return/practice)
Thompson was the team leader with 10 tackles (seven solo), but he and Williams were unable to stop Hubbard three yards from the line of scrimmage on the 28-yard run. Williams had six tackles (four solo), but also failed to cover a wide-open Adam Thielen on an 8-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
Baker had six tackles (two solo) as well as a pass interference penalty. Murphy-Bunting had four solos among his five tackles as well as a tackle for loss. Taylor-Demerson had three tackles (one solo), Melton two and one, and Thomas’ only tackle was a solo.
Special teams
LB Owen Pappoe 27/82, LB Victor Dimukeje 27/82, S Dadrion (Rabbit) Taylor-Demerson 25/76, RB/RS DeeJay Dallas 22/67, WR Zach Pascal 22/67, LB Krys Barnes 22/67, CB Max Melton 20/61, S Joey Blount 18/55, LB Julian Okwara 16/48, TE Elijah Higgins 15/45, TE Tip Reiman 14/42, K Chad Ryland 13/39, WR/RS Greg Dortch 11/33, LS Aaron Brewer 10/30, P Michael Palardy 10/30, LB Milo Eifler 8/24, CB Kei’Trel Clark 7/21, CB Star Thomas V 07/21, C Hjalte Froholdt 6/18, G Evan Brown 6/18, G Isaiah Adams 6/18, T Kelvin Beachum 6/18, G/C Jon Gaines II 6/18, G Trystan Colon 6/18, Jackson Barton 6/18, CB Garrett Williams 6/18, DL Dante Stills 5/15, DL Naquan Jones 5/15, DL Roy Lopez 5/15, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting 5/15,
Injured reserve: K Matt Prater (return/practice eligible), P Blake Gillikin
Ryland had his second consecutive game with six successful shots on goal: three baskets and three extra points. His 58-yard field goal tied the game at the end of regulation.
Palardy averaged just 39.3 yards on three punts with a net of 38.0.
Dimukeje made two solo tackles on kick coverage, but ended up on the field illegally on an overtime punt that would have allowed the Panthers to kick off at their own 34-yard line. Instead, they took over at the Arizona 49-yard line after the extra kick. Pappoe and Blount each made a solo tackle.
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This article was originally published on Cards Wire: Cardinals Week 16 defense, special teams countdown, observations
