In the Arizona Cardinals13-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, 22 players played in at least one of 57 defensive snaps and 35 played at least one of 22 special teams snaps.
How were these photos distributed? Below we have the individual snap counts for each player, grouped by position.
The first number after each name is the snap and the second is the percentage. The players in bold were starters.
Defensive linemen
LJ Necklace 35/61, Darius Robinson 29/51, Dante Stills 27/47, Roy Lopez 24/42, Khyiris Tonga 13/23, Naquan Jones 12/21
Injured reserve: Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols (both eligible to return, but will not)
Collier and Stills each had two solo tackles, while Tonga had two unassisted tackles. Collier also had a deflected pass. Robinson and Jones each made a solo tackle for loss.
Linebackers
ILB Kyzir White 57/100, ILB Mack Wilson Sr. 41/72, OLB Zaven Collins 36/63, OLB Baron Browning 30/53, OLB Julian Okwara 12/21, OLB Xavier Thomas 12/21, OLB Victor Dimukeje 1/2, ILB Krys Barnes 1/2
Did not play: ILB Owen Pappoe (played only on special teams)
Inactive: LB Milo Eifler, LB Benton Whitley
Injured reserve: OLB Dennis Gardeck (eligible to return, but will not make it), OLB Jesse Luketa, OLB BJ Ojulari
White was the defense’s leading tackler with eight, including four solo tackles for loss. Wilson returned after missing the previous game with a concussion and made six tackles (four solo). Collins had three tackles and a quarterback hit. Browning made a tackle, but applied constant pressure. Thomas defended a pass.
Defensive backs
S Budda Baker 57/100, S Jalen Thompson 56/98, CB Max Melton 55/96, CB Garrett Williams 44/77, CB Star Thomas V 31/54, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting 28/49, S Dadrion (Rabbit) Taylor-Demerson 20/35, CB Kei’Trel Clark 6/11
Did not play: S Andre Chachere (played only on special teams)
Inactive: S Joey Blount (injured), S Jammie Robinson
Injured reserve: CB Elijah Jones
Baker had six tackles (one solo) plus a QB hit and two passes defensed. Thompson had six tackles (four solo). Murphy-Bunting had four tackles (three solo). Williams had four tackles and two passes defended. Melton played all but two snaps and made two tackles as well as a crucial third-and-goal pass defense in the fourth quarter that forced the Rams to settle for a field goal. Taylor-Demerson made a solo tackle.
Special teams
LB Victor Dimukeje 20/91, LB Owen Pappoe 19/86, S Dadrion (Rabbit) Taylor-Demerson 19/86, RB/RS DeeJay Dallas 16/73, WR Zach Pascal 16/73, LB Krys Barnes 14/64, TE Elijah Higgins 13/59, CB Max Melton 13/59, S Andre Chachere 13/59, WR/RS Greg Dortch 11/50, TE Tip Reiman 11/50, LB Julian Okwara 10/45, CB Star Thomas V 7/32, LS Aaron Brewer 6/27, P Michael Palardy 6/27, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting 6/27, K Chad Ryland 5/23, CB Garrett Williams 5/23, DL Dante Stills 4/18, DL Naquan Jones 4/18, DL Roy Lopez 3/14, C Hjalte Froholdt 2/9, G Evan Brown 2/9, G Isaiah Adams 2/9, T Kelvin Beachum 2/9, G/ C Jon Sheaths II 2/9, G Trystan Colon 2/9, T Jackson Barton 2/9, DL LJ Collier 1/5, DL Khyiris Tonga 1/5, LB Kyzir White 1/5, LB Mack Wilson Sr. 1/5, LB Zaven Collins 1/5, S Budda Baker 1/5, CB Kei’Trel Clark 1/5
Injured reserve: K Matt Prater (return/practice eligible), P Blake Gillikin
It appeared that Beachum and Colon had not fortified the point of attack, allowing Michael Hoecht to break through and block an extra point. Ryland made his only field goal attempt of the game from 28 yards out.
Palardy’s first two punts (50 and 47) were solid, but his last two (39 and 28) were less so.
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This article was originally published on Cards Wire: Cardinals defense, Week 17, special teams countdown, observations vs. Rams
