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Eagles vs. Washington snap counts: Miles Sanders leads running backs in playing time

Playing time tracker.

NFL: Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Here’s a breakdown of the snap counts from the Philadelphia Eagles’ 32-27 win over the Washington Redskins in Week 1 of the 2019 NFL season. There are some interesting things to note.

OFFENSE

Jason Peters looked shaken up and was down on a knee at one point but the 37-year-old left tackle didn’t miss a snap. Peters managed to play 100% of the Eagles’ offensive snaps in just six of his 16 regular season games played in 2018.

11 personnel (three wide receivers) was utilized more often than 12 personnel (two tight ends). The Eagles also used some 21 personnel (two running backs). Here’s how all those packages worked out:

So, maybe scrap the 21 stuff. Also think the Eagles could afford a little more Dallas Goedert at the expense of Nelson Agholor.

Brandon Brooks was only supposed to play around 30 snaps but ending up exceeding his pitch count and reaching 55 before Halapoulivaati Vaitai came in to relieve him. Brooks is expected to be full go for the Falcons game next Sunday. It’s real impressive how he’s doing so well coming off his Achilles injury.

Miles Sanders and Darren Sproles each saw 12 total offensive touches but the rookie played significantly more than the 36-year-old veteran. That’s how it should be. Jordan Howard could afford to get more playing time and touches moving forward, especially if he’s going to be as effective as he was on Sunday.

We’ve thought of JJ Arcega-Whiteside as the Eagles’ fourth receiver but the 2019 second-round pick saw Mack Hollins double his snap count.

2019 first-round pick Andre Dillard got some sparse playing time as a sixth offensive lineman / blocking tight end.

Corey Clement didn’t log a single offensive touch.

DEFENSE

Encouraging to see guys coming off injury were able to handle big workloads. Rodney McLeod and Nigel Bradham didn’t miss a single snap. Ronald Darby and Fletcher Cox played a good amount but also got rotated.

Avonte Maddox playing the most of any Eagles cornerback is a little interesting, especially since he missed some snaps due to cramps. The coaching staff clearly has trust in him.

Rasul Douglas got the start on the outside but was later replaced by Sidney Jones. Doug Pederson said the team plans to rotate their corners:

“It’s all part of the plan, early in the season like that, especially with Darby, putting him on, not a pitch count, but a rotating basis. All of those guys were going to play. When you have four corners out there and the three that played corner position, obviously, but yeah, all part of the plan.”

Derek Barnett played the most of any Eagles defensive end. He was their most productive edge rusher, too, with three quarterback hits and two holding penalties drawn. Encouraging stuff from DB.

Andrew Sendejo is clearly going to have a signifcaint role as the Eagles’ third safety. The team will need him to play better than he did on Sunday, though. His role in allowing that Vernon Davis touchdown was atrocious.

Malik Jackson’s playing time was impacted by having to get carted off with a foot injury.

Zach Brown received the second most playing time of any Eagles linebacker and he only logged 43% of the snaps. Goes to show you how Jim Schwartz really values that position.

Vinny Curry was a starter for this team in 2017 but he’s clearly the third defensive end now. Josh Sweat is the fourth defensive end. Both of these players each had one tackle and no other stats. I’d like to see Daeshon Hall active over Sweat if the 2018 fourth-round pick isn’t going to produce.

Nathan Gerry took a couple snaps as a third linebacker in the Eagles’ base defense, which the team barely used.

Sunday marked the first game in Johnathan Cyprien’s career that he did not start. He saw just one defensive snap. Howie Roseman has talked about how Cyppy Cup has had to embrace a new role as a special teams contributor.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Rudy Ford played a good amount on special teams in his Eagles debut.

L.J. Fort and T.J. Edwards only saw playing time on special teams. Reminder that Fort being on the Eagles’ roster is costing them a 2020 fourth-round compensatory pick.

DID NOT PLAY

INACTIVE: Nate Sudfeld, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Jordan Mailata, Nate Herbig, Matt Pryor, Shareef Miller, Daeshon Hall

ACTIVE: Josh McCown

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