Week 4: Eagles Snap Count Analysis
Here’s a look at how Chip Kelly divvied up playing time Sunday afternoon against the Broncos.
| Overall Snaps | Snap % | |
|---|---|---|
| LeSean McCoy | 42 | 59% |
| Bryce Brown | 23 | 32% |
| Chris Polk | 6 | 8% |
LeSean McCoy played 59 percent of the snaps. He had trouble dealing with the mile-high air and sat out for stretches in the first half. McCoy still averaged 4.6 yards per carry (16 for 73) and caught one pass for 21 yards.
Bryce Brown filled in for McCoy, playing 32 percent of the snaps. He had eight carries for 19 yards and also caught two balls for 41 yards. At one point, it looked like the TV camera caught Kelly yelling at Brown to turn upfield, rather than run east/west.
Sidenote: Can someone get Brown new cleats? He slipped on a 35-yard catch and run that should have been a touchdown. The Eagles would later get in the end zone on the drive.
Chris Polk had never played an offensive snap before Sunday. His first in an NFL game was a 4-yard TD run. Polk ran hard even when the game was out of hand. He had three carries for 33 yards.
| Overall Snaps | Snap % | |
|---|---|---|
| DeSean Jackson | 60 | 85% |
| Riley Cooper | 59 | 83% |
| Brent Celek | 52 | 72% |
| Jason Avant | 51 | 72% |
| Zach Ertz | 31 | 44% |
| Jeff Maehl | 12 | 17% |
| James Casey | 10 | 14% |
| Damaris Johnson | 10 | 14% |
DeSean Jackson played 60 of 71 snaps; Riley Cooper 59. The Eagles’ starting wide receivers combined for four catches for 59 yards.
The Eagles still used a lot of ’11’ personnel as Jason Avant was on the field for 72 percent of the snaps.
Brent Celek also played 72 percent of the snaps, finishing with three catches for 57 yards. But he had one huge drop in the red zone in the first quarter.
Zach Ertz played a career-high 31 snaps. He had one catch for 38 yards. Ertz has five catches on the season; three have gone for 20+ yards. He’s averaging 22.4 yards per reception.
James Casey also played a season-high 10 snaps. He had one grab for 12 yards.
| Overall Snaps | Snap % | |
|---|---|---|
| Cedric Thornton | 47 | 64% |
| Fletcher Cox | 46 | 63% |
| Bennie Logan | 26 | 36% |
| Clifton Geathers | 25 | 34% |
| Isaac Sopoaga | 24 | 33% |
| Vinny Curry | 13 | 18% |
Cedric Thornton played 64 percent of the snaps; Fletcher Cox 63 percent. Cox jumped offsides twice, giving the Broncos first downs both times.
The Eagles’ rotational linemen – Bennie Logan and Clifton Geathers – have been non-factors through the first four games.
Vinny Curry was active for the second straight week, but played only 13 snaps. Per Pro Football Focus, he had a grand total of four opportunities to rush the passer.
| Overall Snaps | Snap % | |
|---|---|---|
| DeMeco Ryans | 64 | 88% |
| Mychal Kendricks | 62 | 85% |
| Connor Barwin | 60 | 82% |
| Trent Cole | 53 | 73% |
| Brandon Graham | 20 | 27% |
| Casey Matthews | 14 | 19% |
| Jake Knott | 11 | 15% |
| Najee Goode | 9 | 12% |
Connor Barwin was used a lot in coverage. Per PFF, he dropped on 20 of 36 passing downs, or 55.6 percent of the time.
Trent Cole dropped nine times. He had only been in coverage seven times in the previous two games combined.
The Eagles got zero sacks and zero QB hits from their outside linebackers. Brandon Graham played 20 snaps. He had just eight chances to rush the passer, per PFF.
Casey Matthews played 14 snaps.
| Overall Snaps | Snap % | |
|---|---|---|
| Earl Wolff | 64 | 88% |
| Nate Allen | 64 | 88% |
| Bradley Fletcher | 64 | 88% |
| Cary Williams | 64 | 88% |
| Brandon Boykin | 46 | 63% |
| Colt Anderson | 9 | 12% |
| Kurt Coleman | 9 | 12% |
| Roc Carmichael | 9 | 12% |
Earl Wolff and Nate Allen were the starting safeties.
Brandon Boykin played 63 percent of the snaps as the nickel corner. On 25 passing downs, he rushed the passer six times, or 24 percent of the time. Billy Davis will have to answer this week why he’s using Boykin, one of his better cover guys, to rush the passer so much.
Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.
Become a fan of Birds 24/7 on Facebook.