Julian Edelman isn’t worried about his 58 percent snap count vs. Dolphins
The New England Patriots’ 21-11 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday came in a different fashion than fans are used to.
New England left Week 1 as the top rushing team and Cam Newton’s 15 rush attempts played a huge factor in it. Bill Belichick’s plan to run the ball aggressively and play excellent defense worked out — giving Newton and the running backs plenty of opportunities.
As for the wide receiver corps, the opportunities just weren’t as available. Julian Edelman and N’Keal Harry were the only receivers on the team to grab receptions throughout the entire game. Edelman, who’s been a staple for the Patriots over the past decade, was less impactful than he’s used to being.
The 34-year-old totaled five receptions for 57 yards — playing only 58 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. He was asked about it by reporters on Thursday and had a very simple answer.
“I am just happy to be out there playing and trying to contribute to my team,” he said, transcribed by WEEI. “When they asked to use me, I’ll be out there to go. I don’t really think about percentage of snaps that I take, I just worry about the ones that I do to go out and try and get my assignment and make a play. That’s what I’ll be thinking about.”
New England heads to Seattle to take on the Seahawks on Sunday night and they’ll need more production from the wide outs. Pete Carroll’s team will be much more difficult than Miami and the versatility will be necessary to put points on the board with Russell Wilson.
Edelman’s injury history and age likely play a factor, but he’ll have to become more relevant to beat some of the high-scoring teams that are coming soon on the schedule.
