NFC IDP Snap Counts: Week Nine

Tom Kislingbury

We are officially over halfway through the 2020 NFL season and frankly, it’s turning into the season we thought it might.

Injuries are rife. Predicting IDP points is tough. It’s a jungle out there.

READ: AFC IDP Snap Counts: Week Nine

Arizona Cardinals – 61 snaps

The Cards saw some significant changes this week.

On the edge, the newly reacquired Markus Golden walked into 34 snaps. Josh Mauro (25) also made his second debut for the team. He played in Zach Allen’s “big end” role with Allen injured.

At LB Isaiah Simmons remains in a part-time role but did play 32 snaps – his most as a pro.

Corners Byron Murphy and Dre Kirkpatrick both missed the game. Patrick Peterson (59) held his side down with Jace Whittaker (48) playing the second-most.

Lastly safety Jalen Thompson (57) played his first snaps since two in week one. Deionte Thompson managed just two.

Atlanta Falcons – 73 snaps

Wow. The Falcons found some pass rush.

DT Grady Jarrett (63) continues his fantastic season. He’s behind just Aaron Donald and Stephon Tuitt in interior pressures.

DE Dante Fowler missed the game. Steven means (51), Allen Bailey (34), Charles Harris (40) and John Cominksy (30 after missing the past three games) all stepped up to create a combined nine pressures between them.

Corner Darqueze Dennard (43) returned for his first game since week three.

Carolina Panthers – 62 snaps

Rookie stud safety Jeremy Chinn missed this game. Interestingly the Panthers did NOT replace him at safety. Instead, LB Jermaine Carter (30) saw his biggest day of the season. Chinn has lined up deep over 100 times already this season – he’s very much a safety. Carter did not line up deep once this game – he’s very much a safety. So far, this scheme has been fairly inflexible, so this is interesting.

Brian Burns (55) continues to lead all edge rushers with the rest of the position being a weekly rotation.

Rasul Douglas (62) returned after a COVID period at corner. Troy Pride was limited to just 17 snaps.

Chicago Bears – 55 snaps

Very little changes on this Bears defense. They’re pretty much the same each and every week.

We saw some minor changes on the defensive line. Roy Robertson-Harris and John Jenkins both missed the game with big nose Daniel McCullers (20) playing.

Dallas Cowboys – 69 snaps

Not much changed personnel-wise as the Cowboys finally had a half-decent defensive game. They made their changes a couple of weeks ago.

LB Leighton Vander Esch (38) played limited snaps with Sean Lee (13) filling in for him.

Rookie DT Neville Gallimore (36) is playing every week and looking like he belongs in the NFL.

DE Aldon Smith (50) had a bit of a dud. After a blistering start to the season, he’s struggled for four games in a row now. DeMarcus Lawrence (47) however, has been on fire. No one’s talking about him – but he’s tearing it up.

Also, the Cowboys used several safeties. Xavier Woods (69) remains the only every-snap player, but Donovan Wilson (25) and Steven Parker (15) have roles too.

Detroit Lions – 58 snaps

This defense is atrocious.

DE Trey Flowers didn’t play in the game but Everson Griffen (24) made his debut alongside Austin Bryant (27).

Corner Desmond Trufant (50) returned after missing three games.

Safety Tracy Walker missed the game. Jayron Kearse (56) clearly played ahead of 2019 second-round pick Will Harris (17).

They need the season to end, replace the coaching staff and get some more talent in.

Right now, they’re just circling the drain.

Green Bay Packers – 56 snaps

There were some disappointing Packers defensive performances this week, especially in IDP terms. But some of that is due to the low volume. Of course some of it is due to the sucking.

In particular they’re a bottom-five pass-rushing team after being excellent in 2020. Za’Darius Smith (32) managed a sack and is playing OK, but the rest of the team can’t create pressure.

LB Oren Burks (34) bizarrely had a good game. It was mainly injury-caused. Krys Barnes (23) and Ty Summers (34) were limited, with Christian Kirksey and Kamal Martin not even dressing.

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams enjoyed their bye week.

Minnesota Vikings – 75 snaps

The Vikes are a settled defense and they played the same snap total as a week ago. So, everything remained fairly stable.

The only big change was Chris Jones (58) being drafted in at corner. Cameron Dantzler, Mark Fields and Harrison Hand all did not play after featuring defensively a week ago.

New Orleans Saints – 50 snaps

The Saints defense barely played after utterly containing the Bucs.

DT Sheldon Rankins did not play in this game. David Onyemata (who normally shares interior rushing duty with Rankins) dominated the Bucs and created eight pressures. Without quite getting home.

DE Trey Hendrickson (31) had a big game too. He leads the Saints in pressures and sacks, ahead of Cameron Jordan (36).

Alex Anzalone (22) barely played and seems like he’s nearing the end of his chance as a starter especially with Kwon Alexander waiting to make his debut.

New York Giants – 54 snaps

Leonard Williams (38) continues to line up as an orthodox end on some snaps. It’s really helping his pass-rushing effectiveness and he managed a sack here.

Kyler Fackrell (47) remains the orthodox edge on the other side, with Jabaal Sheard (24) and Trent Harris (14) rounding out the group.

In the last two games, the Giants had used a second LB on many snaps. This game saw Devante Downs (29) way, way behind Blake Martinez (54).

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles enjoyed their bye week.

Seattle Seahawks – 68 snaps

The Seahawks played their fewest defensive snaps of the season as they struggled to contain the Bills. That sounds so weird.

Newly-acquired DE Carlos Dunlap (46) made his debut and had a huge game. He got to the QB three times! The trade was immediately worth it.

LJ Collier (39), Alton Robinson (36) and Rasheem Green (25 snaps in his first game since week one) rounded out the group.

Bobby Wagner (68) is of course an every-down LB. But it appears Jordyn Brooks (22) might be narrowing the gap on vet KJ Wright (55).

Superstar safety Jamal Adams (68) returned to the team after missing four games. Ryan Neal played just three snaps.

San Francisco 49ers – 66 snaps

There was really only one notable change for the 49ers this week. Safety Jaquiski Tartt (33) returned from injury. He’s fragile and shared the role with Marcell Harris (33).

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 73 snaps

The Bucs took a kicking from the Saints – but still resisted the urge to change anything in terms of defensive personnel. It remains virtually identical week after week.

The team has played 595 defensive snaps. Six different players have played at least 500 of them. Another four have played over 400. Remarkable.

Washington Football Team – snaps

Safety Kamren Curl (77) is playing strong safety with Landon Collins on IR. He should be starting as a top 24 safety.

At LB Jon Bostic (77) continues to lead the way. Kevin Pierre-Louis (37) played sparingly this week with Cole Holcomb (69) way ahead. Only Bostic is a good start.

Rookie DE Chase Young (64) continues to impress. He’s not been the superstar we hoped for but he’s still very good, and very talented. Montez Sweat (44) is playing well on the other side.

Thanks for reading and good luck with waivers.

tom kislingbury