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Falcons - Buccaneers snap counts: The scramble to replace Desmond Trufant

How the Falcons utilized C.J. Goodwin should be a clue for how they’ll navigate life without their top cornerback.

NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Offense

Matt Ryan: 64

Jake Matthews: 64

Andy Levitre: 64

Alex Mack: 64

Ryan Schraeder: 64

Wes Schweitzer: 54

Mohamed Sanu: 52

Julio Jones: 46

Austin Hooper: 44

Tevin Coleman: 44

Taylor Gabriel: 42

Levine Toilolo: 29

Justin Hardy: 25

Terron Ward: 20

Derrick Coleman: 14

Ben Garland: 10

Eric Saubert: 3

Andre Roberts: 1


Big note: Julio Jones was targeted on nearly a third of his snaps Sunday. He destroyed the Bucs, and it was fun.

The Falcons interestingly got Ben Garland involved in this one for ten snaps, all of them at Wes Schweitzer’s expense. I don’t think Schweitzer has been bad this year at all, but if the team is intent on getting him off the field at times, they may disagree. It’s something to watch going forward.

It’s interesting how the Falcons feel comfortable using Ward much the same way they use Tevin Coleman when Devonta Freeman is healthy, though he’ll be lucky to get any snaps with Freeman likely to return this weekend. The Falcons continue to have a plethora of riches on offense.

Defense

Keanu Neal: 71

Deion Jones: 68

Robert Alford: 67

Ricardo Allen: 65

De’Vondre Campbell: 64

Dontari Poe: 55

Grady Jarrett: 53

C.J. Goodwin: 47

Vic Beasley: 45

Adrian Clayborn: 40

Damontae Kazee: 32

Derrick Shelby: 30

Brooks Reed: 26

Courtney Upshaw: 26

Desmond Trufant: 25

Takk McKinley: 21

Ahtyba Rubin: 15

Brian Poole: 11

Kemal Ishmael: 8

Duke Riley: 4

LaRoy Reynolds: 4

Sharrod Neasman: 1


This was a bizarre game. The Falcons had to use Ricardo Allen a little at cornerback, they got Damontae Kazee extremely involved, and even Sharrod Neasman got into the game. That’s what happens when injuries strikes.

The most intriguing thing that happened was Allen at corner. You’ll recall that the Falcons drafted him as a cornerback under Mike Smith, and in a pinch, he can clearly play there again. That takes a ton of pressure off the Falcons to sign a cornerback who probably wouldn’t offer much more than Allen or Blidi Wreh-Wilson, who will almost certainly be active against the Vikings.

Interestingly, Takk didn’t get much run in this one, and he was arguably the Falcons’ most productive pass rusher Sunday. That’ll probably change against the Vikings, as speed around the edges can be problematic for that offensive line.

Special Teams

Kemal Ishmael: 20

Duke Riley: 18

Sharrod Neasman: 18

Damontae Kazee: 18

LaRoy Reynolds: 16

Derrick Coleman: 16

C.J. Goodwin: 15

Matt Bosher: 14

Eric Saubert: 13

Ben Garland: 11

Justin Hardy: 10


No special notes here, given that it’s a familiar cast of characters.