One of the best ways to gauge a teams value in a player is by examining their snaps counts. In the regular season, more playing time typically equals more value but in the preseason, there are a lot more variables involved.
Let’s examine 12 specific situations from preseason Week 2, where a player’s, or group of players, snaps counts impact how the Detroit Lions likely view them.
Battle for the backup QB spot
Josh Johnson got the start and saw 33 offensive snaps, while David Fales received 34 in the second half. While they split basically even reps on the field, Fales thrived while Johnson struggled. Yes, Johnson has only been with the team for a week, but Fales just made this competition a lot more interesting.
Ty Johnson leads the RB group in snaps
The Lions continue to take it slow with the starters and veteran skill position players, Kerryon Johnson, C.J. Anderson and Nick Bawden (fullback) each received only eight snaps.
That opened the door for Ty Johnson to lead the group with 17 snaps, while his primary competitor Zach Zenner received 12. Mark Thompson and Justin Stockton received nine and 13 respectively.
Game performances dictated WR reps
The Lions are exploring all options for their final two (or three) wide receiver spots and snap counts here equal opportunities to prove they belong. With the top three receivers resting, it appeared that the coaching staff was giving players more reps based on how they were performing on the field.
Here’s how they were divided up:
- Andy Jones – 35 snaps (52-percent)
- Brandon Powell – 31
- Travis Fulgham – 29
- Chris Lacy – 27
- Tom Kennedy – 17
- Deontez Alexander – 16
- Jon Duhart – 16
- Tommylee Lewis – 10
There is a clear separation between the top four listed — the likely contenders for the 53-man roster — and the bottom four.
Lions settling in on a starting OL
The Lions are locked in at offensive tackle and center, with Taylor Decker, Rick Wagner and Frank Ragnow all receiving 14 snaps. Starting guards Graham Glasgow and Joe Dahl (25 snaps) got an extra two series with the second-team offensive tackles and center.
Second and third team OT
With Tyrell Crosby out the Lions shifted Kenny Wiggins to second-team right tackle and he saw 36 snaps (54-percent).
Andrew Donnal stayed at tackle for both second and third-team reps, leading all offensive players with 53 snaps (79-percent) — 25-percent more than any other player.
Opposite Donnal on the third team was converted defensive lineman Matt Nelson (17 snaps) not expensive undrafted free agent Ryan Pope, who received zero offensive snaps. He wasn’t injured — he played two special teams snaps — but he has only seen the field on offense for one snap this preseason and that was a kneel down in Week 1.
This speaks volumes about how the team feels about Pope.
Second and third team IOL
On the interior offensive line, Luke Bowanko took over at center (36 snaps) while Beau Benzschawel (34) and Oday Aboushi (25) came in at guard. On the third team, Leo Kolomatangi (25) and Micah St. Andrew (17) rounded out the third team.
Like at receiver, Benzschawel and Bowanko getting nearly 10 more reps than Aboushi is worth noting, and when it comes down to cut time, Aboushi looks to be firmly on the roster bubble.
Kevin Strong leads the DL in snaps again
Strong logged 47 snaps (60-percent) on defense, at least 10 more than another defensive lineman. It’s going to be hard to cut this man.
A’Shawn Robinson, the only other 3-technique active, saw 28 snaps, while nose tackles Fred Jones and PJ Johnson saw 37 and 33 snaps respectively. Jones got the start over Johnson, something that happened all week in practices as well and the undrafted rookie appears to be ahead of the seventh-round pick on the depth chart.
EDGE rushers get even splits
Romeo Okwara got the start at down defensive end and received 31 snaps (40-percent). Jonathan Wynn saw 36 snaps, while Mitchell Loewen logged 22, shifting between down defensive end and inside at the 3-technique.
At JACK linebacker, Devon Kennard got the start with 20 snaps, while his primary reserve, Eric Lee, also saw 20 snaps. The remaining snaps at the position were split between the down defensive ends and other linebackers like Anthony Pittman and Malik Carney.
Linebacker splits
Jahlani Tavai (21 snaps) started at MIKE, Christian Jones (20) at WILL, with Jarrad Davis resting. When Davis returns, he is expected to take over at MIKE, shifting Tavai to WILL and Jones to the bench.
They were replaced by Jalen Reeves-Maybin (25) and Anthony Pittman (47) on the second-team. Reeves-Maybin was stellar at MIKE and is going to be a contributor on this defense.
On the third team, Pittman and Carney (26) split reps between JACK and MIKE, while Miles Killebrew (39) played primarily at WILL.
Starters set at CB, reserve spots are up for grabs
Darius Slay and Rashaan Melvin are the clear starters and each received 26 snaps. Slot corner Justin Coleman saw 19 snaps, while his backup Jamal Agnew saw 17, including some time on the outside with the second-team.
Lining up opposite Agnew on the second-team was Amani Oruwariye who finished with 29 snaps.
After those five, Mike Ford (31) and newly signed Johnathan Alston (35) led the way, matching reports from this week’s joint practices that they were producing solid results. Andre Chachere (21) wasn’t far behind.
Will Harris leads the defense in snaps
Third-round pick Harris put himself on the radar with a scoop and score that earned him Lions Wire’s player of the game. He totaled 50 snaps (64-percent) leading the entire defense. After leading the special teams in snaps in Week 1, he saw 15 special teams snaps, just two off this week’s lead.
Harris’ primary competition for a roster spot, Tavon Wilson, was absent from the game and didn’t see the field in any situation. He could be getting some veteran rest, but he also missed some time at practices in Houston this week as we noted on our projected injury report.
Andrew Adams (38) also received a lot of snaps this week with starters Quandre Diggs (22) and Tracy Walker (20) only playing the first few series.
Charles Washington and Dee Virgin lead special teams snaps
Both Washington and Virgin received 17 special teams snaps, the most on the team, and it looks to be the best way for them to potentially make the roster — they each only saw 10 snaps on defense.
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