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Want to know which Cowboys players were on the field for how many snaps? Look no further.
With the way the game against the Colts played out last night, there is no way to look at the snap counts that can do the game and its flow any justice. By halftime, the Cowboys were up 28-0, had been on the field for 36 plays to the Colts' 24, and had notched 17 first downs to the Colts' 4. Didn't take much longer before the Cowboys went into cruise control.
So today's review of snap counts is more of a statistical reckoning than any exercise from which we can glean much meaning. But we'll push on anyway, because even this is part of the process.
Cowboys Snap Count by Week
SFO TEN STL NWO HOU SEA NYG WAS ARI JAC NYG PHI CHI PHI IND
Offense 69 80 56 66 76 75 62 65 64 60 54 61 62 82 63
Defense 58 49 76 61 59 49 63 67 67 71 73 77 69 55 62
Difference +11 +31 -20 +5 +17 +26 -1 -2 -3 -9 -19 -16 -7 +27 +1
Going by the snap count above and the previous experience with snap counts of this magnitude, one could have expected a tightly contested game behind the numbers. It was anything but.
Last week, we marveled at how the Cowboys were able to put up 38 points on the Eagles while only going 5-for-13 on third downs. On Sunday, they put up 42 points on the hapless Colts, but they only converted five third downs again, though their percentage was better, as they went 5-for-10 on third downs.
Against the Colts, the Cowboys piled up 25 first downs anyway (note that a score also counts as a first down achieved). So how did that happen?
First down Conversions
Down Pass Run Penalty Score
1st 1 2 - - 2 passes, 1 run
2nd 8 3 1 1 pass
3rd 2 2 1 1 pass
Total 13 7 2 5
The Cowboys kept the ball moving because they converted on second down and got some help with timely penalties from the Colts. That's how you have success against what was previously the 1st ranked defense on 3rd down:
@TheJordanRoss @TomRyleBTB So we go for it on 2nd! 'Boys are 7th ranked 2nd-down offense (35%), Colts are 25th 2nd-down defense (34%)
— One Cool Customer (@OCC44) December 16, 2014
On to the snap counts on offense
Cowboys' Offensive Snap counts vs Colts
QB O-Line RB TE WR
Player Snaps Player Snaps Player Snaps Player Snaps Player SnapsQB O-Line RB TE WR
Romo
57
Smith 63
Murray 31
Witten 55
Bryant 48
Weeden 6
Leary 63
Randle 22
Hanna 30
Williams 42
Frederick 63
Clutts 15
Escobar 18
Beasley 17
Martin 57
Dunbar 8
Harris 15
Parnell 63
Street 11
Bernadeau 6
Hills 3
When you lead 42-0 after 55 minutes against a previously 10-4 team, there really isn't much you've done wrong - on either side of the ball. And that also applies to Jermey Parnell, whom Jerry Jones described as one of the better backup tackles in the league prior to the game:
"I like him, Jones said. "I don't think anybody has a better swing, backup tackle, because he can play both tackles. I don't think there's a better backup situation in the NFL."
Turns out that Jones guy was right.
On to the defense.
Cowboys' Defensive Snap counts vs Colts
Defensive Tackles Defensive Ends Linebackers Cornerbacks Safeties
Player Snaps Player Snaps Player Snaps Player Snaps Player SnapsDefensive Tackles Defensive Ends Linebackers Cornerbacks Safeties
T. Crawford
34
Mincey 34
Hitchens 30
Moore 55
Wilcox 42
Melton 33
Spencer 33
R. McClain 29
Scandrick 48
Church 40
Hayden 29
D. Lawrence 32
Wilber 21
Carr 46
Spillman 22
T. McClain 29
Selvie 21
Carter 20
Patmon 25
Heath 20
Lawrence
20
Smith
20
If you've been keeping count, you'll notice that the Cowboys trotted out all 46 players on the active list during the game. Every defender got at least 20 snaps yesterday. Notice also that Sterling Moore had the highest snap count of all Cowboys defenders, and with Brandon Carr stepping up his game yesterday, there may be hope for the Cowboys secondary yet.
The defense created three turnovers, and special teams created another when this weird fake punt went horribly wrong for the Colts:
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The net result of all this helped give the Cowboys an advantage in field position that played a big role in the outcome of the game.
Against the Colts, the Cowboys had a cumulative starting field position of 422 yards, a staggering 178 yards more than the Colts, the largest field position differential they've generated all season.
Field Position Differential
SF TEN STL NO HOU SEA NYG WAS ARI JAC NYG PHI CHI PHI IND
Opponent 317 226 221 259 308 387 297 296 374 336 273 371 249 294 244
Cowboys 180 307 233 339 268 286 306 214 253 460 353 294 400 470 422
Difference -137 +81 +12 +80 -40 -101 +9 -82 -212 +124 +80 -77 +151 +176 +178
Result L W W W W W W L L W W L W W W
In every one of their losses this year, the Cowboys have lost the field position battle. They won two other contests, an overtime win against the Texans and a surprising upset on the road against Seattle, despite losing the field position battle.
Over the last six games, with the exception of the Thanksgiving loss to the Eagles, the Cowboys have dominated field position. In a game of inches, this is how you win football games.
And finally, the special teams snap counts.
Special Teams Aces
Player Snaps Player SnapsHarris
17
Wilcox 15
Wilber 17
Heath 15
Lawrence 17
Patmon 12
Spillman 17
Hanna 11
This week's ironman award has got to go to DeMarco Murray, regardless of his snap count. How do you play 31 NFL snaps and run the ball 22 times with a broken hand you had surgery on six days earlier?
Seriously.
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