The Miami Dolphins finished their 60 minute beat down of the Houston Texans Sunday afternoon, winning the game 44-26 in a score line that does not accurately reflect exactly how much Miami dominated a team they have never previously beaten. Miami spent most of the second half of the game resting their starters, knowing the team had a quick turn around to a Thursday night game against the New England Patriots. Today, as we look at the defensive snap counts, the amount of plays some of the start defenders played is below what would normally be expected, but makes sense in a game that was 41-0 at the half.
Cornerback Jamar Taylor is the only player to appear in every defensive play on the day. Behind him, cornerback Brent Grimes and safety Reshad Jones both played 89-percent of the snaps. Defensive end Olivier Vernon was in the game for 74-percent of the time, while rookie cornerback Bobby McCain played in 69-percent of the plays. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, safey Walt Aikens, and linebacker Jelani Jenkins each played 67-percent of the defensive snaps.
Linebacker Kelvin Sheppard and defensive end Cameron Wake both made it on the field for 56-percent of the plays, while defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, who made one appearance on offense, played 53-percent of the game on defense. Defensive end Derrick Shelby ends the group of players who played a majority of the game, with Shelby being on the field for 52-percent of the defensive snaps.
Safety Michael Thomas played 44-percent of the game, while linebacker Koa Misi was on the field for 42-percent of the snaps and defensive tackle C.J. Mosley played 41-percent of the time. Linebacker Neville Hewitt was on the field for 33-percent of the contest, followed by defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, who played 32-percent of the time. Defensive end Terrence Fede played 26-percent of the snaps, linebacker Zach Vigil played 21-percent of the game, and linebacker Spencer Paysinger played 12-percent of the game. Finally, cornerback Tony Lippett made his NFL debut, playing in 11-percent of the defensive snaps.
Dolphins Defensive Snap Counts - Week 7
Defensive ends
Olivier Vernon - 60
Cameron Wake - 45
Derrick Shelby - 42
Terrence Fede - 21
Defensive tackles
Ndamukong Suh - 54
Earl Mitchell - 43
C.J. Mosley - 33
Jordan Phillips - 26
Linebackers
Jelani Jenkins - 54
Kelvin Sheppard - 45
Koa Misi - 34
Neville Hewitt - 27
Zach Vigil - 17
Spencer Paysinger - 10
Cornerbacks
Jamar Taylor - 81
Brent Grimes - 72
Bobby McCain - 56
Tony Lippett - 9
Safeties
Reshad Jones - 72
Walt Aikens - 54
Michael Thomas - 36
Dolphins Season Snap Count Percentages - Defense
Click to enlarge