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It is a few days after the game, but I finally am getting to sharing the playing time for the Arizona Cardinals when they played last Thursday night. Here are the snap counts, based on what was in the NFL's game book for the Arizona 12-6 win over the St. Louis Rams.
There were 68 offensive snaps and 63 defensive snaps.
Offense:
Quarterback: Drew Stanton, 43; Ryan Lindley, 25
We know why this happened. Stanton went down. Lindley got the playing time instead of Logan Thomas.
Offensive line: Jared Veldheer, 68; Ted Larsen, 68, Lyle Sendlein, 68; Bobby Massie, 68; Jonathan Cooper, 66; Earl Watford, 2
I had no idea Cooper was out for two plays. I don't remember when that happened. Those two snaps for Watford were the first ones he has had in his career on offense.
Running back: Kerwynn Williams, 32; Stepfan Taylor, 29; Robert Hughes, 6, Marion Grice, 2
This was definitely a committee. Both Taylor and Williams played well. There is optimism this week for the running game against the Seahawks.
Wide receiver: Michael Floyd, 59; Larry Fitzgerald 56; John Brown, 41; Jaron Brown, 21; Ted Ginn, 7
Nothing surprising here.
Tight end: Darren Fells, 47; John Carlson, 21; Rob Housler, 19
Once again it is Fells getting the most playing time. Carlson is still usually the guy in three-receiver sets, but fells is getting more and more time on the field.
Defense:
Defensive backs: Rashad Johnson, 63; Tony Jefferson, 62; Patrick Peterson, 62; Antonio Cromartie, 62; Deone Bucannon, 47; Jerraud Powers, 46; Justin Bethel, 21
The one thing that stands out is the playing time of Bethel. That shows the Cardinals played a bunch with seven defensive backs in the game.
Linebackers: Larry Foote, 63; Alex Okafor, 62; Matt Shaughnessy, 30; Sam Acho, 9; Kevin Minter, 9; Lorenzo Alexander, 4; Marcus Benard, 3; Glenn Carson, 3
Because of the playing time for Bethel as a seventh DB, linebacker snaps went down after Foote and Okafor. I don't remember seeing Benard or Carson, but I would suppose they were in at the goalline.
Defensive linemen: Calais Campbell, 60; Frostee Rucker, 34; Tommy Kelly, 34; Dan Williams, 17; Ed Stinson, 2
Lots of Campbell, less of everyone else with more time for Bethel in the defensive backfield.
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Any other observations you can share with the playing time here?