Denver Broncos v. Oakland Raiders: Snap Counts

Offense

QB, WR, TE

Player	Total	Run	Pass	Run Block	Pass Block
Manning	79	2	40	37	0
Decker	57	0	32	25	0
D. Thomas	75	0	39	36	0
Welker	53	0	30	23	0
Caldwell	18	0	6	12	0
J. Thomas	77	0	33	39	5
Green	25	0	8	14	3
Tamme	10	0	4	6	0

I looks like Caldwell took some snaps away from Eric Decker this game. When I go back and watch it will be interesting to see if this occurred in 12 personnel looks with only two wide receivers. On the surface it appears so as Caldwell registered 12 pass block snaps. It was the most snaps Caldwell has received in a game thus far

With the TE's, Julius Thomas continues to play the entire game no matter the personnel grouping. It was good to see more use of Virgil Green. With 3 TE sets we can clearly see that Jacob Tamme has fallen to #3 on the depth chart.

RB

Player	Total	Run	Pass	Run Block	Pass Block
Moreno	37	13	16	2	6
Hillman	25	9	11	4	1
Ball	17	11	2	0	4

More equitable distribution when compared with the Giants game. All three backs graded out positively in pass protection. Moreno graded out negatively overall while both Hillman and Ball graded out positively.

*Mitch Unrein had one offensive snap run blocking on the goalline

OL

Player	Total	Run	Pass	Run Block	Pass Block
Clark	79	0	0	39	40
Beadles	79	0	0	39	40
Ramirez	79	0	0	39	40
Vasquez	79	0	0	39	40
Franklin	79	0	0	39	40

Clark allowed 1 sack and 1 hurry. Franklin allowed 1 hit and 1 hurry. Franklin and Ramirez allowed one hurry each. Ramirez, Vasquez, and Clark all graded out positively with Ramirez and Vasquez earning the highest marks along the line.

Overall, through 3 games Peyton Manning has been sacked 4 times. We'll see how Chris Clark holds up but I was relieved after his first performance.

Defense

DT/DE

Player	Total	Run	Rush	Coverage
Wolfe	45	14	30	1
Knighton	26	12	14	0
Vickerson	32	13	17	2
Ayers	30	5	24	1
Jackson	23	7	16	0
Williams	9	3	6	0
Unrein	17	8	9	0

The Broncos played 55 defensive snaps. It will be interesting to see, but I would venture to say the Broncos ran their 3-4/5-2 defense more extensively against the Raiders rushing attack given that Robert Ayers snap counts are a bit lower this game.

In the run stopping department, Knighton scored the highest grade. In the pass rushing department, Ayers was the only Bronco in the green. He led all pass rushers with 5 pressures. Derek Wolfe and Malik Jackson come in 2nd place with 2 each.

LB

Player	Total	Run	Rush	Coverage
Woodyard	55	17	2	36
Trevathan	44	15	6	23
Phillips	42	17	25	3
Irving	26	13	6	7
Johnson	1	0	0	1

My guess about the 3-4/5-2 front is comfirmed here as Irving played the most snaps he has all season in this game. Irving, Woodyard, and Trevathan all graded out positive in run support and Irving registered the most stops with 3. The bigs up front are taking up blockers and space to let the little guys eat.

DB

Player	Total	Run	Rush	Coverage
DRC	48	13	0	35
Carter	6	0	0	6
Harris Jr.	53	13	2	36
Webster	27	4	0	23
Moore	54	17	0	37
Ihenacho	28	10	0	18
Adams	34	5	0	29
Bruton	5	2	0	3

With the injuries to Duke Ihenacho and Tony Carter, Mike Adams, and Kayvon Webster saw more extensive action. No one had a stellar day in coverage. Part of the reason was the more extensive use of zone coverage against a young and athletic quarterback. In my keys to the game, I pointed out that one way to keep a QB like Pryor from running wild was to have the secondary play zone and be facing the QB. Zone is not the strength of our secondary, but with the combination of our opponents and our injuries, Del Rio took a bend but don't break approach with a comfortable lead.

* Tony Carter leads all Broncos DB's with 8 passes defensed, Duke Ihenacho is 2nd with 5

* The Broncos rank 31st in the league against the pass and 1st against the run. The first number is very deceptive as the Broncos have allowed a ton of garbage time passing yards with 2 and 3 score leads.

* I've been charting the Broncos use of defensive fronts and techniques amongst the defensive line and will be writing up an extensive post by the end of the week.

Go Broncos!!!