Colts Week 2 Snap Counts vs. Cardinals

The Indianapolis Colts hosted the Arizona Cardinals for their home opener on Sunday. Though they led the visitors for essentially the entire game, the Colts could not hold on. They were competitive, however, which is a great change from last week. Young players are playing more often, and they are actually stepping up.

NOTES:

• The Colts were able to keep the offensive line that they started with this week in tact throughout the game, all five players seeing all 71 offensive snaps.
• The running back snaps changed quite a bit from last week. Last week, it was Frank Gore (19), Marlon Mack (17), Robert Turbin (14). This week, it was Gore (32), Turbin (28), Mack (11). Part of this is due to the Colts being in control almost the entire game this week instead of getting blown out the entire time like last week. Mack had pretty poor blocking and wasn’t able to make much of his carries, so he did not see as much.
• WR3 Kamar Aiken (63) saw 10 more snaps than WR2 Donte Moncrief (53).
• Overall, 16 players saw offensive snaps.

NOTES:

• It appears to be time for the youth takeover. After playing sparingly in practice, the preseason and Week 1, rookie first-round pick Malik Hooker played every single defensive snap against the Cardinals (66). He even chipped in 7 special teams snaps. Second-round pick Quincy Wilson played in 64 snaps and got the start at corner opposite of Rashaan Melvin. Last week, he played in just 17 defensive snaps. Third-round pick Tarell Basham (9), fourth-rounder Grover Stewart (11), fifth-round pick Nate Hairston (44) and Kenny Moore (13) also got in on the action.
• The defensive line was balanced out very evenly. Starters Henry Anderson, Johnathan Hankins and Al Woods all saw 31 snaps, as did reserve Margus Hunt. Behind them were Hassan Ridgeway (11) and Stewart.
• Snap counts were divvied up very interestingly this week. After starting at cornerback and playing more snaps than any other Colts defensive back last week (62), T.J. Green barely played at all this week (1).
• Judging by the discrepancy in certain players playing a lot last week and almost not at all this week, it shows two things. First, the coaches are actually playing the best players. Second, they are still very much in the evaluation process even though the preseason is over with.
• Overall, 19 players saw defensive snaps.

*Statistics from the NFL’s official game book.