In the Arizona Cardinals 17-15 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, 20 players played in at least one of 66 defensive snaps and 31 played at least one of 22 special teams snaps.
Let’s see how the playing time was divided.
The first number after each name is the snap and the second is the percentage. Players in bold were starters.
Defensive line
Dante Stills 36/55, LJ Necklace 33/50, Ben Stille 27/41, Roy Lopez 20/30, Naquan Jones 20/30, Khyiris Tonga 14/21
Injured reserve: Darius Robinson (eligible to return/practice), Bilal Nichols (eligible to return, but will not make it)
Jones continues to contribute as a playmaker, even with just 20 snaps. He had two solo tackles including one for loss, a sack and two quarterback hits. Stills only had one solo tackle, but that was also for loss and he added a sack plus two QB hits. Stille, who was elevated to the practice squad Monday, had a solo tackle for loss, a sack and a QB hit in 27 snaps. Collier had four tackles (one solo).
Linebackers
ILB Kyzir White 66/100, ILB Mack Wilson Sr. 59/89, OLB Zaven Collins 40/61, OLB Julien Okwara 29/44, OLB Dennis Gardeck 22/33 (injured, knee)OLB Jesse Luketa 22/33, ILB Krys Barnes 20/30
Did not play: ILB Markus Bailey (played only on special teams)
Inactive: OLB Victor Dimukeje, ILB Owen Pappoe (hip), OLB Xavier Thomas
Injured reserve: BJ Ojulari
After playing just 21 snaps and totaling three tackles due to a knee injury suffered against the Packers, White was back with the green dot in his helmet and made 10 tackles (three solo) with a QB hit . Before leaving with a knee injury, Gardeck had three tackles (one solo) and a QB hit.
Collins and Luketa had three tackles (two solo), while Wilson and Barnes had three with one solo. Okwara made a solo tackle.
Defensive backs
S Budda Baker 66/100, S Jalen Thompson 66/100, CB Star Thomas V 66/100, CB Garrett Williams 52/79CB Max Melton 52/79, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting 14/21 (neck injury), S Dadrion (Rabbit) Taylor-Demerson 2/3
Did not play: S Joey Blount, S Darren Hall (both played only on special teams)
Inactive: CB Kei’Trel Clark
Injured reserve: CB Elijah Jones (return eligible)
With Murphy-Bunting coming out after just 14 snaps, Melton was targeted frequently, leading to nine tackles including eight solo tackles. He had his ups and downs, but also made a few plays with a pass defense and a forced fumble. Baker had eight tackles (four solo), while teammate safety Thompson had five tackles (three solo) and a fumble recovery.
Williams also had five tackles (four solo) and added a pass defensed. Thomas had five tackles (three solo) including one for loss and a big forced fumble.
Special teams
LB Jesse Luketa 19/86, LB Krys Barnes 19/86, S Joey Blount 19/86, LB Markus Bailey 16/73, S Dadrion (Rabbit) Taylor-Demerson 15/68, WR Zach Pascal 14/64, RB/RS DeeJay Dallas 14/64, CB Max Melton 12/55, TE Elijah Higgins 10/45, WR/RS Greg Dortch 9/41, S Darren Hall 9/41, TE Tip Reiman 8/36, LB Dennis Gardeck 8/36, P Blake Gillikin 7/32, LS Aaron Brewer 7/32, K Chad Ryland 6/27, LB Julian Okwara 6/27, CB Star Thomas V 6/27, DL Naquan Jones 5/23, DL Roy Lopez 4/18, DL Dante Stills 4/18, T Paris Johnson Jr. 3/14, C Hjalte Froholdt 3/14, C/G Trystan Colon 3/14, G Evan Brown 3/14, G Isaiah Adams 3/14, T Charlie Heck 3 /14, G/C Jon Gaines II 3/14, LB Zaven Collins 1/5, LB Mack Wilson Sr. 1/5, DL Khyiris Tonga 1/5
Inactive: K Matt Prater (injured)
Ryland made his second game-winning field goal in three weeks, while Gillikin dropped all four of his punts inside the 20. On three, there were fair catches and the other was downed at the line. ‘one meter by Blount. His net of 44.5 matched his gross. After seven weeks, his net rating of 42.9 is ninth in the NFL.
Dortch had a 31-yard kickoff return and Dallas one of 23. The latter’s 31.5-yard average is second in the league.
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This article was originally published on Cards Wire: Cardinals Week 7 defense, ST snap count, observations vs. Chargers
