/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44163324/458933748.0.jpg)
We have not taken a look at the Miami Dolphins snap counts from the last few games, but a quick look at this week's counts for the offense and defense saw something unusual. In their 22-9 win over the Buffalo Bills, more players played on offense than on defense, and six defenders took at 62 snaps from the game.
That's not normal, where the Dolphins usually rotate players a lot on defense, making sure they keep them as fresh as possible. They also usually only have the safeties, and possibly a linebacker or cornerback, play every snap. This week, it was two safeties, two cornerbacks, and two linebackers.
Was it a matter of wanting to ensure the best matchups? Was it a by-product of the short turn around from Week 10 to Week 11, with just four days to get players ready for the game? Was it simply there was not the available depth to sub as much as they usually would? Whatever the case, here are the snap counts for the Dolphins this week (starters in bold italics):
Player | Position | Snaps | Percentage | Player | Position | Snaps | Percentage | ||
Shelley Smith | Guard | 67 | 100% | Brent Grimes | Cornerback | 62 | 100% | ||
Dallas Thomas | Tackle | 67 | 100% | Jelani Jenkins | Linebacker | 62 | 100% | ||
Ja'Wuan James | Tackle | 67 | 100% | Reshad Jones | Safety | 62 | 100% | ||
Mike Pouncey | Guard | 67 | 100% | Jamar Taylor | Cornerback | 62 | 100% | ||
Samson Satele | Center | 67 | 100% | Koa Misi | Linebacker | 62 | 100% | ||
Ryan Tannehill | Quarterback | 67 | 100% | Louis Delmas | Safety | 62 | 100% | ||
Charles Clay | Tight end | 57 | 85% | Jimmy Wilson | Cornerback | 50 | 81% | ||
Mike Wallace | Wide receiver | 49 | 73% | Olivier Vernon | Defensive end | 47 | 76% | ||
Jarvis Landry | Wide receiver | 48 | 72% | Cameron Wake | Defensive end | 47 | 76% | ||
Brian Hartline | Wide receiver | 41 | 61% | Jared Odrick | Defensive tackle | 46 | 74% | ||
Brandon Gibson | Wide receiver | 35 | 52% | Earl Mitchell | Defensive tackle | 33 | 53% | ||
Lamar Miller | Running back | 34 | 51% | Randy Starks | Defensive tackle | 33 | 53% | ||
Daniel Thomas | Running back | 24 | 36% | Derrick Shelby | Defensive end | 26 | 42% | ||
Dion Sims | Tight end | 20 | 30% | Dion Jordan | Defensive end | 16 | 26% | ||
Rishard Matthews | Wide receiver | 17 | 25% | Philip Wheeler | Linebacker | 12 | 19% | ||
Damien Williams | Running back | 9 | 13% | ||||||
Harold Hoskins | Tight end | 1 | 1% |