clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

2021 Falcons vs. Dolphins review: Offensive and defensive snap counts for Miami

By Kevin Nogle
/ new
NFL: OCT 24 Falcons at Dolphins Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Stop me if you have heard this before, but the Miami Dolphins lost on Sunday. This marks the sixth straight weekend in which Miami came up on the short side of the scoreboard. This time, they dropped the contest 30-28 as the Atlanta Falcons kicked a last second field goal. It was an entertaining end to the game as Miami made a furious comeback late, then the Falcons charged down the field to come away with the win - entertaining but once again disappointing.

This week is going to be an interesting one all around the league, but especially in South Florida. A week from Tuesday is the NFL trade deadline and the Dolphins are smack in the middle of all the rumors and speculation. Will the Dolphins make a move that impacts who plays for the team the rest of the season? How will the snap counts change over the next couple of weeks? Will a move come before Week 8’s game against the Buffalo Bills or will they potentially wait until just before the deadline?

As we have done every during the 2021 season, we take a look today at the Dolphins through the snaps played by each player against the Falcons. Below you will find charts for the offensive and defensive snap counts, along with the each player’s season total. Finally, some thoughts of each position group close out each side of the ball.

Offense

2021 Offensive Snap Counts

Pos Player Season Played Snaps Season Total Snaps Percent Season Total Week 12 Played Snaps Week 12 Total Snaps Percent Week 12 Week 1 Played Snaps Week 2 Played Snaps Week 3 Played Snaps Week 4 Played Snaps Week 5 Played Snaps Week 6 Played Snaps Week 7 Played Snaps Week 8 Played Snaps Week 9 Played Snaps Week 10 Played Snaps Week 11 Played Snaps
Pos Player Season Played Snaps Season Total Snaps Percent Season Total Week 12 Played Snaps Week 12 Total Snaps Percent Week 12 Week 1 Played Snaps Week 2 Played Snaps Week 3 Played Snaps Week 4 Played Snaps Week 5 Played Snaps Week 6 Played Snaps Week 7 Played Snaps Week 8 Played Snaps Week 9 Played Snaps Week 10 Played Snaps Week 11 Played Snaps
QB Tua Tagovailoa 450 819 55% 74 74 100% 52 9 IR IR IR 69 73 69 DNP 32 72
QB Jacoby Brissett 368 819 45% DNP 74 0% 2 65 83 52 54 1 DNP DNP 74 37 DNP
QB Reid Sinnett 0 819 0% -- -- --% PS PS DNP DNP DNP Inact Waived -- -- -- --
RB Myles Gaskin 463 819 57% 37 74 50% 29 45 43 12 37 25 46 40 54 42 53
RB Phillip Lindsay 15 819 2% 15 74 20% HOU HOU HOU HOU HOU HOU HOU HOU HOU HOU HOU
RB Salvon Ahmed 148 819 18% 13 74 18% 11 23 5 5 11 19 22 16 14 9 Inact
RB Patrick Laird 56 819 7% 12 74 16% PS PS PS PS PS PS PS 10 7 16 11
RB Malcolm Brown 129 819 16% IR 74 0% 16 9 34 35 5 25 5 IR IR IR IR
RB Duke Johnson 6 819 1% PS 74 0% JAX PS -- -- -- -- -- PS PS PS PS 6
TE Durham Smythe 470 819 57% 66 74 89% 38 22 34 21 36 58 29 29 45 41 51
TE Mike Gesicki 602 819 74% 59 74 80% 21 47 55 36 42 49 60 67 59 56 51
TE Hunter Long 53 819 6% 24 74 32% 18 Inact 2 Inact Inact 9 Inact Inact Inact Inact Inact
TE Adam Shaheen 301 819 37% Inact 74 0% Reserve/ COVID-19 20 28 20 21 Inact 51 41 36 38 46
TE Cethan Carter 43 819 5% ST Only 74 0% 13 16 ST Only 1 5 4 ST Only ST Only 4 ST Only ST Only
WR Jaylen Waddle 674 819 82% 55 74 74% 43 47 73 41 43 65 61 65 65 61 55
WR Albert Wilson 256 819 31% 35 74 47% 22 41 Inact 25 12 23 3 2 17 38 38
WR Preston Williams 158 819 19% 23 74 31% Inact 22 Inact Inact 40 Inact 30 Inact Inact 18 25
WR Mack Hollins 288 819 35% 19 74 26% 7 16 24 2 14 68 39 4 60 13 22
WR Isaiah Ford 63 819 8% 12 74 16% PS PS PS PS 3 5 19 8 4 11 1
WR DeVante Parker 274 819 33% IR 74 0% 45 55 64 47 Inact Inact Inact 63 IR IR IR
WR Will Fuller V 65 819 8% IR 74 0% Susp Inact 51 14 IR IR IR IR IR IR IR
WR Kirk Merritt 11 819 1% PS 74 0% PS PS PS PS PS DNP PS PS 11 PS PS
WR Jakeem Grant Sr. 17 819 2% -- -- --% 7 7 2 1 Traded -- -- -- -- -- --
OL Robert Hunt 819 819 100% 74 74 100% 54 74 83 52 54 70 73 69 75 69 72
OL Jesse Davis 790 819 96% 74 74 100% 54 45 83 52 54 70 73 69 75 69 72
OL Liam Eichenberg 774 819 95% 74 74 100% 54 29 83 52 54 70 73 69 75 69 72
OL Austin Jackson 765 819 93% 74 74 100% ST Only 74 83 52 54 70 73 69 75 69 72
OL Austin Reiter 422 819 52% 73 74 99% NO PS NO PS NO PS NO PS DNP DNP 73 69 66 69 72
OL Cameron Tom 1 819 0% 1 74 1% PS PS PS DNP PS PS DNP PS PS DNP DNP
OL Michael Deiter 211 819 26% IR 74 0% 54 74 83 IR IR IR IR IR IR IR IR
OL Greg Mancz 185 819 23% IR 74 0% DNP DNP DNP 52 54 70 Inact ST Only 9 IR IR
OL Solomon Kindley 121 819 15% ST Only 74 0% 54 67 ST Only ST Only ST Only ST Only ST Only ST Only ST Only ST Only ST Only
OL Robert Jones 7 819 1% ST Only 74 0% DNP 7 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP ST Only ST Only ST Only
OL Greg Little 0 819 0% IR 74 0% Inact Inact Inact Inact Inact Inact Inact Inact Inact Inact IR
DL Christian Wilkins 4 819 0% D Only 74 0% D Only D Only D Only D Only 1 D Only D Only D Only D Only 2 1

Nothing surprising with the quarterback position. Tua Tagovailoa played every snap during the game while Jacoby Brissett, who has made cameos in games Tagovailoa started as a short-yardage/quarterback sneak option, did not play. Reid Sinnett was waived over the weekend as a part of a series of roster moves the Dolphins made, though he likely will be re-signed to the practice squad.

Malcolm Brown started at running back for Miami, but sustained a quadriceps injury and was limited to just five snaps. Myles Gaskin took the bulk of the snaps at the position, playing 46 of the available 73 snaps, carrying the ball 15 times for 67 yards along with four receptions for 10 yards. Salvon Ahmed played 22 snaps, just slightly more than he played last week.

Mike Gesicki was back atop the tight end snap counts, playing 60 snaps (82 percent), though Adam Shaheen was not far back at 51 plays (70 percent). Shaheen was inactive last week due to injury and the Dolphins missed him. He clearly has a big part in this offense, with Gesicki being the big-play threat while Shaheen is more an all-around tight end and works well as a possession type of receiver. Durham Smythe, who is maybe more of a blocking tight end than Shaheen even, but still can be a factor as a receiver as well, played 29 snaps. Gesicki tied for the team lead with seven receptions on Sunday, leading the team with 85 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Shaheen caught four passes for 23 yads and Smythe caught three passes for 37 yards. Cethan Carter only appeared on special teams plays while rookie Hunter Long was inactive.

For the third straight week, DeVante Parker was inactive, meaning the wide receiver group continues to be shuffled. Jaylen Waddle is clearly the top receiver of the group - maybe even including Parker - and he played 61 snaps, or 84 percent of the game. He tied Gesicki with seven receptions, coming in two yards short of Gesicki’s 85 yards. Mack Hollins played 39 snaps while Preston Williams returned from injury to play 30 snaps. Isaiah Ford was signed to the active roster after using up his practice squad elevations for the year and scored his first career touchdown in the 19 snaps he played. Albert Wilson was on the field for just three snaps.

On the offensive line, there was a change as Greg Mancz was inactive due to a groin injury, leading to Austin Reiter starting at center. The rest of the line remained the same, with Liam Eichenberg at left tackle, Austin Jackson at left guard, Robert Hunt at right guard, and Jesse Davis at right tackle. All five payers played all 73 snaps for the game. Solomon Kindley was the only other lineman to make an appearance in the game, but he only played on special teams. The offensive line is still a work in progress, and probably will be throughout the rest of the year. Will the Dolphins at some point look at flipping Davis and Hunt, which may play better to Davis’ skill set?

Defense

2021 Defensive Snap Counts

Pos Player Season Played Snaps Seans Total Snaps Percent Season Total Week 12 Played Snaps Week 10 Total Snaps Percent Week 10 Snaps Week 1 Played Snaps Week 2 Played Snaps Week 3 Played Snaps Week 4 Played Snaps Week 5 Played Snaps Week 6 Played Snaps Week 7 Played Snaps Week 8 Played Snaps Week 9 Played Snaps Week 10 Played Snaps Week 11 Played Snaps
Pos Player Season Played Snaps Seans Total Snaps Percent Season Total Week 12 Played Snaps Week 10 Total Snaps Percent Week 10 Snaps Week 1 Played Snaps Week 2 Played Snaps Week 3 Played Snaps Week 4 Played Snaps Week 5 Played Snaps Week 6 Played Snaps Week 7 Played Snaps Week 8 Played Snaps Week 9 Played Snaps Week 10 Played Snaps Week 11 Played Snaps
DL Emmanuel Ogbah 562 827 68% 43 55 78% 48 47 63 37 37 41 42 60 53 46 45
DL Christian Wilkins 511 827 62% 31 55 56% 42 44 58 46 46 46 43 48 38 34 35
DL Adam Butler 456 827 55% 31 55 56% 48 47 41 33 38 26 31 41 40 47 33
DL Zach Sieler 332 827 40% 23 55 42% 28 33 42 39 32 29 26 14 21 26 19
DL Raekwon Davis 246 827 30% 23 55 42% 5 IR IR IR 39 36 33 25 31 23 31
DL John Jenkins 169 827 20% Inact 55 0% 45 18 47 49 Inact 7 Inact Inact Inact 3 Inact
DL Jabaal Sheard 13 827 2% -- -- --% PS PS PS PS 13 PS PS PS PS PS Released
LB Jerome Baker 677 827 82% 45 55 82% 74 63 83 71 66 65 10 Inact 68 73 59
LB Andrew Van Ginkel 545 827 66% 43 55 78% 53 46 34 44 34 47 48 35 51 67 43
LB Duke Riley 158 827 19% 30 55 55% 1 2 1 ST Only 8 1 6 67 7 26 9
LB Jaelan Phillips 449 827 54% 28 55 51% 22 18 49 29 57 54 15 61 37 41 38
LB Elandon Roberts 437 827 53% 21 55 38% 36 19 47 50 44 31 44 49 39 28 29
LB Sam Eguavoen 175 827 21% 7 55 13% 36 8 5 19 17 15 53 4 1 3 7
LB Vince Biegel 1 827 0% 1 55 0% -- -- -- -- -- PS DNP ST Only PS PS
LB Brennan Scarlett 161 827 19% IR 55 0% 26 20 18 28 10 8 18 7 15 2 9
LB Darius Hodge 0 827 0% Inact 55 0% CIN CIN CIN CIN CIN CIN CIN CIN Inact Inact Inact
CB Xavien Howard 732 827 89% 45 55 82% 75 62 80 71 62 Inact 63 73 69 73 59
CB Byron Jones 683 827 83% 45 55 82% 75 62 77 25 62 Inact 63 73 69 73 59
CB Nik Needham 429 827 52% 38 55 69% 35 2 57 51 56 41 24 49 44 4 28
CB Justin Coleman 311 827 38% 20 55 36% 2 49 25 37 12 66 ST Only 20 14 44 22
CB Noah Igbinoghene 76 827 9% 10 55 18% Inact Inact ST Only Inact Inact 66 Inact DNP DNP ST Only Inact
CB Javaris Davis 10 827 1% 10 55 18% PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS
CB Jamal Perry 3 827 0% IR 55 0% ST Only ST Only PS PS PS PS PS ST Only PS PS 3
CB Trill Williams 0 827 0% Inact 55 0% Inact Inact Inact Inact Inact DNP DNP Inact Inact DNP DNP
CB Elijah Campbell 0 827 0% IR 55 0% Inact Inact Inact ST Only ST Only ST Only ST Only ST Only ST Only Inact ST Only
S Eric Rowe 483 827 58% 50 55 91% 65 26 65 61 22 19 44 22 28 44 37
S Jevon Holland 653 827 79% 45 55 82% 24 50 42 19 72 66 63 73 68 73 58
S Sheldrick Redwine 10 827 1% 10 55 18% NYJ PS NYJ PS NYJ PS NYJ PS NYJ PS CAR PS CAR PS Inact Inact Inact PS
S Clayton Fejedelem 14 827 2% 6 55 11% ST Only ST Only 1 ST Only 6 ST Only ST Only ST Only 1 ST Only ST Only
S Brandon Jones 477 827 58% Inact 55 0% 11 41 36 2 55 48 39 70 65 73 37
S Jason McCourty 312 827 38% IR 55 0% 74 58 41 70 27 14 28 IR IR IR IR
S Will Parks 0 827 0% Inact 55 0% -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- SF PS SF PS SF PS

The defensive line did not have any surprises to it, with everyone playing just about the same amount of snaps as they have played recently. Christian Wilkins played 43 snaps after playing 46 snaps each of the previous two weeks. Emmanuel Ogbah played 42 snaps compared to 41 snaps in Week 6. Raekwon Davis played 33 snaps after 36 in Week 6, while Adam Butler played 31 snaps after 26 the previous week, and Zach Sieler appeared in 26 plays while he made 29 appearances in Week 6. Basically the exact same snap counts week to week.

The linebacker position saw major changes as Jerome Baker, who had played nearly every snap coming into the week, only appeared on 10 plays this week as a knee injury sidelined him. To adjust, Sam Eguavoen jumped from 15 snaps in Week 6 to 53 snaps this week. Andrew Van Ginkel played 48 snaps, on par with his Week 6 appearances. Elandon Roberts appeared in 44 snaps, while Brennan Scarlett played 18 snaps. Jaelan Phillips dropped from 54 snaps in Week 6 to just 15 snaps this week, likely due to a ankle injury that had him limited in practice all week. Duke Riley appeared in six plays.

Cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Byron Jones returned after both starters missed Week 6, and they both played all 63 available snaps. Nik Needham played 24 snaps. That was the extent of the cornerback play on the day, with Noah Igbinoghene inactive after sustaining a knee injury late in the week. Justin Coleman and Elijah Cmapbell played on special teams while Trill Williams was active for the second-straight week, but has not yet made his debut.

The Dolphins obviously like playing big with multiple safeties on the field, and Jevon Holland was on the field for all 63 available snaps. He is playing really well - there are still some rookie mistakes and communications issues, like on a Falcons touchdown where he did not stay deep inside the receiver like Howard thought he would - and that is promising for the Dolphins defense. Eric Rowe played 44 snaps and was asked to cover Kyle Pitts a lot this week; he seems to be a step off right now and the Dolphins will likely continue to use Holland and Brandon Jones, who played 39 snaps, more, especially if Baker is healthy and continues to be the primary tight end coverage option (not that that is a great answer, but that is not the point). Jason McCourty was limited to 28 snaps this week, in part because of a foot injury and in part because that is about what he has been playing each week.

Next Up In Miami Dolphins News

Loading comments...