Has BB changed his philosophy on makeup of gameday roster?

[Family]

New poster.... so please don't beat me up

The Patriots reputation has been one where the coaching staff has in the past prided itself for having starters on special teams. Yes there have always been Matthew Slaters & Nate Ebners, but this year it seems there are more players who are core special teamers (at least for one game) and nothing else.

1) Matthew Slater - 0 snap last week
2) Jonathan Casillas - 1 snap
3) Nate Ebner - 0 snaps
4) Chris White - 0 snaps
5) Tavon Wilson - 3 snaps
6) Logan Ryan - 4 snaps
7) Brandon Bolden - 0 snaps
8) Don Jones - 0 snaps

I know there are some who will receive more positional snaps during the year like Ryan & Bolden, but it feels like this season the team is placing more emphasis on players maintaining a single role on special teams.

Is it different this year or just my imagination???

 

[RayClay]

New poster.... so please don't beat me up

The Patriots reputation has been one where the coaching staff has in the past prided itself for having starters on special teams. Yes there have always been Matthew Slaters & Nate Ebners, but this year it seems there are more players who are core special teamers (at least for one game) and nothing else.

1) Matthew Slater - 0 snap last week
2) Jonathan Casillas - 1 snap
3) Nate Ebner - 0 snaps
4) Chris White - 0 snaps
5) Tavon Wilson - 3 snaps
6) Logan Ryan - 4 snaps
7) Brandon Bolden - 0 snaps
8) Don Jones - 0 snaps

I know there are some who will receive more positional snaps during the year like Ryan & Bolden, but it feels like this season the team is placing more emphasis on players maintaining a single role on special teams.

Is it different this year or just my imagination???

I think he just lucked into a couple good special teamers who might work in the defense too. Adding Don Jones and Casillas, if we can carry them makes a pretty awesome unit.

The only one i question is Bolden. Is he that good? He must be, they sure don't want to use him at RB.

 

[Fencer]

Last week's game had a new philosophy for Downs 1-3, I think, in which BB deliberately tried to show the same look -- including the same personnel -- on almost every down. If you look at the snap counts, almost all the substitutions on defense were at DT (not very relevant to your point either way), plus Butler talking a significant number of snaps that might otherwise have gone to Arrington or Chung.

I'm guessing this was something special for Manning's Broncos, and in other games we'll see him go deeper into the Patriots' defensive bench.