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The snap counts are in from yesterday's game. Let's take a look at the work rate from the team.
QBs
| S Bradford | QB | 22 | 30.99% |
| G Gilbert | QB | 19 | 26.76% |
| A Davis | QB | 15 | 21.13% |
| S Hill | QB | 15 | 21.13% |
Part of the issue here was that the offense was shut down after Bradford exited the game. Think about it like this: Bradford got two series, Hill got three (if you don't count the kneeldown prior to halftime), Gilbert got three and Davis got three. So all the backups actually had the same amount of series, all more than Sam...they just couldn't move the ball all that well.
As I mentioned in the roster tracker this week, the decision here is whether or not to limit the QB position to just Bradford and Hill or whether to include Gilbert who's getting the third QB snaps. Neither he nor fourth QB Austin Davis looked all that spectacular, so if this was the decision point, two QBs might be the optimal move. In terms of work though, the team is certainly allowing them to play their way up.
RBs
| Name | POS | Offense | ST | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T Mason | RB | 22 | 30.99% | N/A | |
| T Watts | RB | 17 | 23.94% | 12 | 48% |
| B Cunningham | RB | 16 | 22.54% | 4 | 16% |
| Z Stacy | RB | 16 | 22.54% | N/A | |
| C Reynolds | RB | N/A | 5 | 20% | |
| I Pead | RB | N/A | 2 | 8% | |
If there's something to be gleaned here, it's how entrenched Tre Mason is as the second back right now...or at least that the team is looking at him to see if that's going to be the case for Week 1. The Pead injury was tragic. He's never caught on for any reason, but injuries are just the worst, especially non-contact injuries.
Of course this doesn't look at production. The line created nothing for Stacy and little for Mason, resulting on some pretty dismal totals. Bear in mind last year saw Chase Reynolds as the RB4 for his ST duties with Pead occasionally thrown in. With Daryl Richardson gone, there would seem to be room for Benny Cunningham again...the question is if there is room for Watts. He definitely got the lions share of special teams work.
WRs
| Name | POS | Offense | ST | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Franklin | WR | 23 | 32.39% | 8 | 32% |
| S Bailey | WR | 21 | 29.58% | 2 | 8% |
| B Quick | WR | 21 | 29.58% | N/A | |
| T Austin | WR | 19 | 26.76% | 1 | 4% |
| E Blake | WR | 16 | 22.54% | 9 | 36% |
| C Givens | WR | 16 | 22.54% | 1 | 4% |
| J Harris | WR | 13 | 18.31% | 7 | 28% |
| T Moe | WR | 13 | 18.31% | 2 | 8% |
| K Britt | WR | 11 | 15.49% | N/A | |
| A Pettis | WR | 11 | 15.49% | N/A | |
| J Veltung | WR | 5 | 7.04% | 5 | 20% |
Emory Blake, Austin Franklin, Jordan Harris and Justin Veltung are fighting for the special teams nod here. I'd also point to the low work rates of Kenny Britt and Austin Pettis. Is the staff comfortable with their readiness? They obviously wanted to get Bailey, Quick & Austin plenty of time with Sam.
TEs
| Name | POS | Offense | ST | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Bayer | TE | 37 | 52.11% | 11 | 44% |
| J Cunningham | TE | 35 | 49.30% | 9 | 36% |
| J Cook | TE | 14 | 19.72% | N/A | |
| L Kendricks | TE | 12 | 16.90% | 1 | 4% |
| B Smelley | TE | 9 | 12.68% | N/A | |
| C Harkey | TE | 8 | 11.27% | 5 | 20% |
The Bayer/Cunningham roster battle is real.
O-line
| Name | POS | Offense | ST | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M Person | T | 71 | 100.00% | 2 | 8% |
| S Hooey | T | 49 | 69.01% | 2 | 8% |
| T Bond | G | 41 | 57.75% | 2 | 8% |
| M Van Dyk | T | 39 | 54.93% | 1 | 4% |
| G Robinson | T | 32 | 45.07% | 1 | 4% |
| R Dill | T | 27 | 38.03% | 2 | 8% |
| T Barnes | C | 22 | 30.99% | 2 | 8% |
| J Barksdale | T | 22 | 30.99% | 1 | 4% |
| D Joseph | G | 22 | 30.99% | N/A | |
| S Wells | C | 22 | 30.99% | N/A | |
| D Morrell | T | 8 | 11.27% | 1 | 4% |
Mike Person certainly got a run out yesterday. With Jake Long and Rodger Saffold both out, it's tough to get a solid grasp on what was really going on here. Suffice to say with the quality of the run blocking, we'll need them back. But looking at the reserves, I'm not sure how the coaching staff is looking at how things will shake out based on the snap count alone.
Make sure to check Van's O-line recap for more on the status of the line.
D-line
| Name | POS | Defense | ST | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E Westbrooks | DT | 39 | 55.71% | 3 | 12% |
| A Donald | DT | 38 | 54.29% | 1 | 4% |
| M Conrath | DT | 32 | 45.71% | 5 | 20% |
| D Harlan | DT | 30 | 42.86% | 1 | 4% |
| K Brown | DE | 28 | 40.00% | 1 | 4% |
| M Sam | DE | 27 | 38.57% | 3 | 12% |
| C Long | DE | 20 | 28.57% | 1 | 4% |
| K Langford | DT | 20 | 28.57% | 1 | 4% |
| R Quinn | DE | 19 | 27.14% | 1 | 4% |
| E Sims | DE | 16 | 22.86% | 3 | 12% |
| A Carrington | DT | 12 | 17.14% | 1 | 4% |
Westbrooks took a huge step up last night. As much work as Michael Sam got, it's hard not to feel Westbrooks is ahead of him for a DE role. And notice that Aaron Donald surpassed 50% of snaps where Greg Robinson didn't quite make that threshold. Rookies getting work.
On a side note, the lack of pass rush was the most troubling aspect of yesterday's game. It wasn't due to sitting the ones...Robert Quinn and Chris Long were both in on the early snaps along with Kendall Langford. Say what you will about Michael Brockers' absence, but that has to change if the Rams are going to find anything near success as a team this year. Let's hope it's a one off.
LBs
| Name | POS | Defense | ST | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R Armstrong | LB | 47 | 67.14% | 6 | 24% |
| D Bates | LB | 33 | 47.14% | 3 | 12% |
| J Dunbar | LB | 24 | 34.29% | 2 | 8% |
| A Ogletree | LB | 24 | 34.29% | N/A | |
| P Steward | LB | 13 | 18.57% | 13 | 52% |
| A Hill | LB | 13 | 18.57% | 11 | 44% |
| L Wilson | LB | 6 | 8.57% | 16 | 64% |
Ray Ray's definitely getting a ton of work in James Laurinaitis' absence. Perhaps we've got a battle for the sixth LB spot on our hands. Definitely worth tracking Philip Steward to see if he's holding on to it next weekend.
DBs
| Name | POS | Defense | ST | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L Joyner | DB | 51 | 72.86% | 2 | 8% |
| G Reid | DB | 41 | 58.57% | 3 | 12% |
| M Alexander | DB | 40 | 57.14% | 14 | 56% |
| M Roberson | DB | 34 | 48.57% | 6 | 24% |
| B McGee | CB | 28 | 40.00% | 5 | 20% |
| C Davis | DB | 28 | 40.00% | 3 | 12% |
| R McLeod | FS | 24 | 34.29% | 2 | 8% |
| T Johnson | CB | 24 | 34.29% | 2 | 8% |
| A Cunningham | DB | 17 | 24.29% | 10 | 40% |
| C Bryant | DB | 17 | 24.29% | 2 | 8% |
| J Bryant | DB | 13 | 18.57% | 3 | 12% |
| T McDonald | SS | 12 | 17.14% | 4 | 16% |
Perhaps the most interesting point here was the amount of special teams work Maurice Alexander and Avery Cunningham received. Pretty clear indication of their value beyond the position. And yes, Joyner got a ton of field time. He needs it too. Along with GRob and Donald, he's going to be a key rookie component of the team.