The New England Patriots’ preseason opener against the visiting Indianapolis Colts was not necessarily filled with points or offensive fireworks, but it nonetheless offers quite a bit of excitement. After all, it was a first chance for the new-look team to showcase itself to its fans in a game setting and another opportunity for players to keep building their cases for the 53-man roster.
In that regard, Mike Vrabel and his assistance have plenty to evaluate. Even though nearly a third of players on the active roster did not take the field, a majority — 60 different players — did. While not everybody had the same level of involvement, their roles, performances and exposure gives coaches and analysts alike another data point to assess the team with the 53-man cutdown deadline looming.
Here is our full snap count report from the Patriots’ 13-13 tie at Gillette Stadium.
Offense
Total snaps: 73 | Time on the field: 30:23 | *denotes starter
RG/LT James Hudson III* (60; 82%), LG Andrew Rupcich* (58; 79%), C Jacob Rizy (55; 75%), WR Nick DeGennaro (46; 63%), QB Tommy DeVito* (43; 59%), LT Marcus Bryant* (43; 59%), RT Caleb Lomu* (43; 59%), RB Lan Larison (41; 56%), TE Eli Raridon* (39; 53%), WR Efton Chism III (32; 44%), QB Behren Morton (30; 41%), RT/LT Dametrious Crownover (30; 41%), LG/RG Mehki Butler (30; 41%), WR Kobe Prentice (27; 37%), WR Kyle Williams (26; 36%), WR Cameron Dorner (23; 32%), TE/FB Jack Westover (23; 32%), RB Jam Miller* (22; 30%), WR Tejhaun Palmer (19; 26%), C Ben Brown* (18; 25%), WR Kayshon Boutte* (16; 22%), TE Tanner Arkin* (16; 22%), RG JonDarius Morgan (15; 21%), WR Mack Hollins* (13; 18%), RT Lorenz Metz (13; 18%), TE C.J. Dippre (9; 12%), RB Hassan Haskins (5; 7%), RB JaMycal Hasty (5; 7%), TE Mitch Van Vooren (3; 4%)
With Drake Maye absent, the Patriots gave backup quarterbacks Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton a chance to show what they could do, and both had positive moments. Still, their pecking order seems set in stone, which is why other positions were more interesting to watch.
First up were the wide receivers, which saw four of the top seven take the field. Mack Hollins and Kayshon Boutte both saw a handful of snaps early in the contest, while Kyle Williams and Efton Chism saw comparatively extended playing time. Among the depth wideouts, undrafted rookie Nick DeGennaro received the most opportunities — a result of him, like others, not being used extensively during Tuesday’s joint practice.
The other skill positions also did not see any of the top options involved, with the exception of Eli Raridon. A roster lock at tight end, the third-round draft pick led his position group with 39 snaps and four targets (of which he caught one for 8 yards). The most actively-used running back was Lan Larison, a potential sign that the team is taking a close look at him in the RB3 competition.
Along the offensive line, the expected candidates were the first men up. Marcus Bryant and Caleb Lomu started at left and right tackle, respectively, and clearly appear to be ahead of the competition at the position. Along the interior, the injury suffered by Ben Brown opened the door for Jacob Rizy to see considerable snaps at center.
Defense
Total snaps: 65 | Time on the field: 26:42 | *denotes starter
LB Khalil Jacobs (50; 77%), CB Karon Prunty* (40; 62%), ED Bradyn Swinson, (38; 58%) CB Channing Canada (32; 49%), CB Brandon Crossley (32; 49%), S Peter Manuma (32; 49%), DT Eric Gregory* (30; 46%), ED Quintayvious Hutchins* (29; 45%), CB Kobee Minor (28; 43%), S Mike Brown* (28; 43%), LB Chad Muma* (27; 42%), LB Namdi Obiazor (27; 42%), S Dell Pettus* (27; 42%), S John Saunders Jr.* (27; 42%), DT Joshua Farmer* (25; 38%), ED Gabe Jacas* (25; 38%), DT Isaiah Iton (24; 37%), DT Leonard Taylor III (23; 35%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (23; 35%), CB Kenneth Harris (22; 34%), S Eric Butler (22; 34%), ED Amari Gainer (21; 32%), CB Marcellas Dial Jr. (21; 32%), ED Jesse Luketa (17; 26%), DT Casey Rogers (15; 23%), LB K.J. Britt* (14; 22%), LB Riley Wilson (8; 12%), CB Kindle Vildor* (8; 12%)
None of the Patriots’ projected defensive starters appeared in the game, which allowed the depth pieces to see considerable action. Tops among the group was undrafted rookie Khalil Jacobs, who seemingly elevated himself to the fourth spot on the linebacker depth chart in recent practices. However, with K.J. Britt getting the start and playing generally well in his limited action, and with Chad Muma having an inconsistent day, the competition for the depth spots at LB still seems to be wide open.
Up front, second-year edge Bradyn Swinson and his 38 snaps led the way. Swinson also showed his disruptiveness even though. he was not a starter. That honor belonged to rookies Quintayvious Hutchins and Gabe Jacas; the latter — like Swinson — was also actively involved on special teams and at one point challenged by head coach Mike Vrabel to play with better effort.
The defensive tackle rotation saw every one of the players on the field play between 15 and 30 snaps, with the highest-quality opportunities being given to Joshua Farmer and Eric Gregory. The former is seemingly a roster lock, while the latter appears to be on the bubble.
In the secondary, Kindle Vildor only played eight snaps as a starting outside cornerback but he bolstered his case by registering an interception. While low snap counts might be an ominous sign for some players — LB Riley Wilson among them — they are probably not in Vildor’s case. At this point in time, he very well looks to be in a solid position in the race for the CB5 role.
Special teams
Total snaps: 27 | Time on the field: 2:55
ED Bradyn Swinson (12; 44%), ED Gabe Jacas (12; 44%), LS Niko Lalos (12; 44%), P/H Bryce Baringer (12; 44%), TE C.J. Dippre (11; 41%), LB Khalil Jacobs (11; 41%), CB/KR Channing Canada (11; 41%), CB Karon Prunty (10; 37%), K Andy Borregales (10; 37%), S Peter Manuma (9; 33%), S Mike Brown (9; 33%), S John Saunders Jr. (9; 33%), CB Marcellas Dial Jr. (9; 33%), TE Tanner Arkin (8; 30%), ED Quintayvious Hutchins (8; 30%), LB Namdi Obiazor (8; 30%), LB Riley Wilson (8; 30%), S Dell Pettus (7; 26%), ED Jesse Luketa (7; 26%), OL James Hudson III (6; 22%), OL Jacob Rizy (6; 22%), OT Marcus Bryant (6; 22%), RB/KR Lan Larison (6; 22%), CB Kobee Minor (6; 22%), OT Dametrious Crownover (5; 19%), TE Jack Westover (5; 19%), RB Jam Miller (5; 19%), DT Leonard Taylor III (5; 19%), CB Kenneth Harris (5; 19%), LB K.J. Britt (5; 19%), OL Andrew Rupcich (4; 15%), WR/PR Kobe Prentice (4; 15%), RB Hassan Haskins (4; 15%), CB Brandon Crossley (4; 15%), DT Eric Gregory (4; 15%), LB Chad Muma (4; 15%), OT Caleb Lomu (3; 11%), OL Mehki Butler (3; 11%), WR Tejhaun Palmer (3; 11%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (3; 11%), ED Amari Gainer (3; 11%), TE Mitch Van Vooren (2; 7%), DT Joshua Farmer (2; 7%), S Eric Butler (2; 7%), CB Kindle Vildor (2; 7%), WR/KR Nick DeGennaro (1; 4%), TE Eli Raridon (1; 4%), WR Kyle Williams (1; 4%), WR Cameron Dorner (1; 4%), OL Ben Brown (1; 4%), OL JonDarius Morgan (1; 4%), OT Lorenz Metz (1; 4%)
For many fringe roster players, special teams might be the way onto the 53-man team. Accordingly, kicking game usage plays an important role during preseason.
In that sense, the aforementioned Bradyn Swinson and Gabe Jacas are both noteworthy players on the top of the list. The same can be true for Khalil Jacobs, who out-snapped every other linebacker in the kicking game. While that does not necessarily have to be a sign of things to come, the Patriots are making sure the youngsters are well-rounded — a key element of earning one of the limited number of roster spots.
In total, the Patriots had 11 players see reps on the core four coverage and return teams: Swinson and Jacobs as well as Channing Canada, Karon Prunty, Peter Manuma, Marcellas Dial Jr, John Saunders Jr, Mike Brown, Namdi Obiazor, Quintayvious Hutchins and Riley Wilson. Canada and Manuma iin particular stand out, because the latter served as personal punt protector while the latter had a 27-yard kickoff return.
The other returns were handled by Nick DeGennaro (25 yards) and Lan Larison (24 yards). Kobe Prentice handled punt return duties, gaining 14 yards on three runbacks.
Did not play
QB Drake Maye, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, RB TreVeyon Henderson, FB Reggie Gilliam, WR A.J. Brown, WR Romeo Doubs, WR DeMario Douglas, WR Kyle Dixon, TE Hunter Henry, LT Will Campbell, LG Alijah Vera-Tucker, C Jared Wilson, RG Mike Onwenu, RT Morgan Moses, DT Milton Williams, DT Christian Barmore, DT Cory Durden, ED Harold Landry III (PUP), ED Dre’Mont Jones, ED Elijah Ponder, ED Xavier Holmes, LB Robert Spillane, LB Christian Elliss, CB Christian Gonzalez, CB Carlton Davis III, CB Marcus Jones, CB Charles Woods, S Craig Woodson, S Kevin Byard III, S Brenden Schooler (NFI), LS Julian Ashby
Drake Maye sitting out Thursday’s game was expected, and the same was true for other starters on both sides of the ball. In total, 31 players did not see any snaps against the Colts — including a handful of injured players. Per Mike Vrabel, Christian Gonzalez, Christian Barmore, and Christian Elliss all fell into that category.