Week 8 Snap Count Observations for the Lions

Breaking down the Lions' snap counts for every player against the New York Giants

© Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Lions came away victorious in Week 8 against the New York Giants. 

Due to injuries and the Quandre Diggs trade, the Lions once again had to shuffle around some playing time for a few individuals.

OFFENSE (63 total snaps)

Quarterback:

Matthew Stafford - 63 (100%)

Running backs:

Ty Johnson - 25 (40%)

Tra Carson - 19 (30%)

J.D. McKissic - 16 (25%

Paul Perkins - 6 (10%)

FB Nick Bawden - 15 (24%)

Tight ends:

T.J. Hockenson - 42 (67%)

Jesse James - 22 (35%)

Logan Thomas - 7 (11%)

Wide receivers:

Marvin Jones - 55 (87%)

Kenny Golladay - 52 (83%)

Danny Amendola - 42 (67%)

Marvin Hall - 14 (22%)

Offensive linemen:

Frank Ragnow - 63 (100%)

Taylor Decker - 63 (100%)

Rick Wagner - 63 (100%)

Joe Dahl - 57 (90%)

Graham Glasgow - 41 (65%)

Kenny Wiggins - 28 (44%)

Observations

The biggest question going into the week was how the running backs were going to split carries after the injury to Kerryon Johnson. 

Carson actually started the game, but it was rookie Ty Johnson who led the team in snaps at running back. 

It appears that the Lions will use a running back-by-committee approach going forward, unless a trade comes to fruition before today's NFL trade deadline (4 p.m. EST). 

Per usual, Hockenson continues to dominate the tight end snaps with a healthy Amendola. 

The better Amendola plays, the less James sees the field. 

It's almost as if Lions offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is largely moving away from two-tight end sets in favor of the receiver-heavy passing game.

Lastly, the guard rotation continues. This week, it was Glasgow who saw his snap count decrease the most in favor of Wiggins.

DEFENSE (74 total snaps)

Defensive linemen:

Trey Flowers - 45 (61%)

Da’Shawn Hand - 40 (54%)

A’Shawn Robinson - 38 (51%)

Romeo Okwara - 35 (47%)

Damon "Snacks" Harrison - 31 (42%)

John Atkins - 21 (28%)

Linebackers:

Jarrad Davis - 66 (89%)

Devon Kennard - 64 (86%)

Christian Jones - 49 (66%)

Jahlani Tavai - 36 (49%)

Cornerbacks:

Justin Coleman - 74 (100%)

Rashaan Melvin - 74 (100%)

Mike Ford - 45 (61%)

Safeties:

Will Harris - 61 (82%)

Tavon Wilson - 61 (82%)

Tracy Walker - 42 (57%)

C.J. Moore - 23 (31%)

Miles Killebrew - 9 (12%)

Observations

A few days after the Diggs trade, it was the safeties that were obviously going to see the biggest shakeup in terms of playing time. 

It also didn't help that starter Tracy Walker left the game prematurely with a knee injury. 

With Diggs gone and Walker out, it was Harris and Wilson that saw big playing time Sunday against the Giants. 

Even Killebrew, who hadn't seen a defensive snap in almost a year and a half, got in on the action. 

Making his 2019 debut, Hand played plenty as well. 

He is a movable chess piece that should see similar snap counts moving forward.

At the cornerback position, both Coleman and Melvin played every defensive snap. Neither performed at the level they are accustomed to, though. 

Ford was the only other corner to see playing time on defense, as the Lions went safety-heavy.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Killebrew - 20 (77%)

Dee Virgin - 19 (73%)

Jalen Reeves-Maybin - 17 (65%)

Steve Longa - 16 (62%)

Moore - 16 (62%)

Harris - 16 (62%)

Bawden - 15 (58%)

P Sam Martin - 15 (58%)

Jamal Agnew - 12 (46%)

Thomas - 11 (42%)

Wiggins - 9 (35%)

LS Don Muhlbach - 9 (35%)

Jones - 8 (31%)

Ty Johnson - 8 (31%)

James - 7 (27%)

K Matt Prater - 6 (23%)

Ragnow - 6 (23%)

Decker - 6 (23%)

Dahl - 6 (23%)

Glasgow - 6 (23%)

Coleman - 6 (23%)

Ford - 6 (23%)

Tavai - 6 (23%)

OT Tyrell Crosby - 6 (23%)

Okwara - 5 (19%)

McKissic - 4 (15%)

Perkins - 4 (15%)

Wilson - 4 (15%)

Robinson - 3 (12%)

Flowers - 3 (12%)

Davis - 3 (12%)

Amendola - 2 (8%)

Walker - 1 (4%)

Kennard - 1 (4%)

Carson - 1 (4%)

Hockenson - 1 (4%)

Golladay - 1 (4%)

Jones - 1 (4%)

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