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          New England Patriots

          Patriots' defensive snaps: Rob Gronkowski gets 1

          • Mike Reiss, ESPN Staff WriterJan 11, 2015, 09:15 AM ET
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              Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. You can follow Reiss on Twitter at @MikeReiss.
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          FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- A look at snaps played by New England Patriots' defenders in Saturday's win over the Ravens:

          SAFETY

          Devin McCourty -- 77 of 77

          Patrick Chung -- 64 of 77

          Duron Harmon -- 19 of 77

          Tavon Wilson -- 21 of 77

          Rob Gronkowski -- 1 of 77

          Quick-hit thoughts: Gronkowski's first snap of the season on defense came on the final Hail Mary play when the Patriots used his 6-foot-6 frame and athleticism to be part of the "knock-it-down" unit at the goal line. ... Chung came off in the dime, which is usually when Harmon -- who had the big pick at the end -- was on the field. ... Don't look now, but Wilson -- the much-maligned 2012 second-round pick -- has slowly carved out a niche in recent weeks and is playing well. ... McCourty's steady presence shouldn't be overlooked.

          CORNERBACK

          Darrelle Revis -- 77 of 77

          Brandon Browner -- 47 of 77

          Kyle Arrington -- 44 of 77

          Logan Ryan -- 30 of 77

          Quick-hit thoughts: Browner left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury and didn't return, but said after the game that he wouldn't miss any time. Ryan stepped in for him and hardly anyone noticed -- except for when he was delivering a big hit to jar a would-be completion free. Cornerbacks coach Josh Boyer must be proud. ... Arrington, playing as the primary slot option, was solid as well, further reflecting well on the players themselves and their development in the system.

          DEFENSIVE END

          Chandler Jones -- 77 of 77

          Rob Ninkovich -- 76 of 77

          Akeem Ayers -- 1 of 77

          Quick-hit thoughts: This was a game in which the Patriots played with more "heavy" personnel up front, and when the Patriots do that, the coaching staff seems to view Ayers' best fit as more as an off-the-line linebacker. The Patriots weren't going to put him on the field over Jamie Collins or Dont'a Hightower. The one snap for Ayers was obviously a season low since he joined the club.

          DEFENSIVE TACKLE

          Vince Wilfork -- 63 of 77

          Sealver Siliga -- 56 of 77

          Alan Branch -- 26 of 77

          Chris Jones -- 14 of 77

          Quick-hit thoughts: The high usage of the team's three biggest tackles (all tipping the scales at 325-plus pounds) was reflective of the stop-the-run mindset, which meant a reduced role for the 309-pound Jones, who is less of a hold-the-point tackle and more of a penetrating presence. We saw what happened on one second half play when Jones was effectively double-teamed on a run up the middle and the Patriots quickly subbed him out for more girth.

          LINEBACKER

          Jamie Collins -- 77 of 77

          Dont'a Hightower -- 77 of 77

          Quick-hit thoughts: These two have grown together since the Patriots lost Jerod Mayo to a season-ending injury Oct. 12, and one of the things that stood out from Saturday was their mental toughness to put bad plays behind them (e.g. Justin Forsett 16-yard touchdown catch looked like Collins' responsibility).