A look at the Detroit Lions’ Week 9 snap counts against the Green Bay Packers, including how the linebackers played key roles in the Lions’ bend-don’t-break defense.
Let’s take a detailed look at the Detroit Lions’ Week 9 snap counts from their 24-14 win over the GreenBay Packers , giving them a 7-1 record and a firm lead in the NFC North.
Offense
Quarterbacks
Jared Goff: 57 (100%)
Hendon Hooker: 0 (0%)
Another stellar performance from Goff as he continues to stack the accolades.
Running backs
David Montgomery: 32 (56%)
Jahmyr Gibbs: 22 (39%)
Craig Reynolds: 3 (5%) — 9 special teams snaps (41%)
Sione Vaki: INACTIVE (injured)
Montgomery was built for the rain and wind we saw in Green Bay on Sunday, so it’s no surprise he out-snapped and out-touched (20 to 12) Gibbs. While Monty was the workhorse, both opening and closing out this game, Gibbs was the more efficient runner (5.9 yards per carry) and he managed to find the end zone. Having two top-eight running backs (in success rate) is quite a benefit.
Tight ends
Sam LaPorta: 48 (84%) — 1 (5%)
Brock Wright: 34 (60%) — 8 (36%)
Shane Zylstra: 9 (16%) — 13 (59%)
LaPorta saw his snaps increase, while Wright and Zylstra’s stayed around the same percentage as last week. Some of this could have been the fact that the Lions were once again with Jameson Williams, but it was also likely matchup-based, as the Packers struggle with tight ends.
Wide receivers
Amon-Ra St. Brown: 53 (93%) — 1 (5%)
Tim Patrick: 44 (77%)
Kalif Raymond: 22 (39%) — 3 (14%)
Allen Robinson: 11 (19%)
Isaiah Williams: 3 (5%) — 3 (14%)
Jameson Williams: Suspension
While the Lions aren’t producing the ridiculous yardage output we’re used to seeing with Williams in the lineup, they were still highly efficient. St. Brown caught another seven receptions, Patrick had two, while Raymond and Robinson each had one. Efficient.
Offensive line
Penei Sewell: 57 (100%) — 4 (18%)
Graham Glasgow: 57 (100%) — 4 (18%)
Kevin Zeitler: 57 (100%) — 4 (18%)
Taylor Decker: 57 (100%)
Frank Ragnow: 57 (100%)
Dan Skipper: 4 (7%) — 4 (18%)
Kayode Awosika: 0 (0%) — 4 (18%)
Michael Niese: 0 (0%) — 4 (18%)
Colby Sorsdal: INACTIVE
Giovanni Manu: INACTIVE
Christian Mahogany: INACTIVE
Another strong performance from the offensive line. While the weather pointed to the Lions possibly using some heavier sets to establish the run game, they were highly effective without the extra offensive lineman, only using the sixth man four times.
Defense
EDGE:
Levi Onwuzurike: 49 (75%) — 3 (14%)
James Houston: 36 (55%) — 9 (41%)
Al-Quadin Muhammad: 33 (51%) — 1 (5%)
Isaiah Thomas: 8 (12%)
Josh Paschal: INACTIVE (injured)
Onwuzurike once again got the start on the edge, but he kicked inside more than in previous weeks. In this game, he was on the edge for 32 snaps, while also repping inside on 17 snaps. If the Lions do add another edge rusher at the trade deadline along with the potential return to health from Josh Paschal, Onwuzurike could get back to being a movable chess piece.
After playing just 45 snaps over the first seven games of the season, Houston saw 36 in this game alone. Unfortunately, he only produced one tackle in the box score and largely looked ineffective with his ability to get pressure.
Muhammad got the start opposite Onwuzurike and played over half the defensive snaps, but like Houston, he was underwhelming in this game and failed to have much of a positive impact. Thomas played 50% of the snaps in Week 8 but saw that percentage drop significantly against the Packers. Both Muhammad and Thomas struggled with settling the edge.
DT:
Alim McNeill: 54 (83%) — 4 (18%)
DJ Reader: 32 (49%) — 1 (5%)
Pat O’Connor: 11 (17%) — 11 (50%)
Chris Smith: 10 (15%) — 3 (14%)
Mekhi Wingo: INACTIVE (injured)
McNeill saw his snaps count jump back up this week, while Reader continues to play above snap expectations. O’Connor, like Onwuzurike, saw time both inside (eight snaps) and out (three), while Smith cleaned things up repping in both interior spots.
Linebackers
Alex Anzalone: 65 (100%) — 1 (5%)
Jack Campbell: 60 (92%) — 11 (50%)
Trevor Nowaske: 35 (54%) — 16% (73%)
Jalen Reeves-Maybin: 23 (35%) — 16 (73%)
Ben Niemann: 3 (5%) — 17 (77%)
Abraham Beauplan: 0 (0%) — 9 (41%)
Malcolm Rodriguez: INACTIVE (injured)
The Lions went into this game looking to deploy a lot of three-linebacker sets. And despite the secondary being in nickel 55% of the time, the Lions still used three linebackers over 80% of the time. They accomplished this by using fewer down-defensive linemen and bulking up their athleticism. While this likely led to more rushing lanes for the Packers, it was also a key component in their bend-don’t-break style of defense that held the Packers to just six points until the final six minutes of the game.
Cornerbacks
Terrion Arnold: 65 (100%) — 2 (9%)
Carlton Davis: 62 (95%) — 1 (5%)
Amik Robertson: 28 (43%)
Ennis Rakestraw: 8 (12%) — 6 (27%)
Kindle Vildor: 3 (5%) — 9 (41%)
Khalil Dorsey: 0 (0%) — 17 (77%)
The Lions were in nickel over 50% of the time, and while they leaned on Robertson as their primary option, they have slowly begun to give Rakestarw snaps in the slot. Davis briefly exited due to injury, but only missed three snaps and was replaced by Vildor on the outside. Vildor has been stellar on special teams of late and it appears he may also be ascending up the cornerback depth chart.
Safety
Kerby Joseph: 65 (100%) — 4 (18%)
Brandon Joseph: 41 (63%) — 5 (23%)
Brian Branch: 24 (37%)
Loren Strickland: 0 (0%) — 9 (41%)
Following Branch’s ejection, the Lions turned to Brandon Joseph, who performed well under the circumstances. Despite seeing fewer snaps than most defenders, he still managed six tackles, the third-most on the team. Strickland was active and filling in as an injury replacement on special teams.
Special teams
Jake Bates: 9 (41%)
Jack Fox: 8 (36%)
Hogan Hatten: 8 (36%)
Bates remains perfect on field goals, while Fox was flipping fields all night. Return coverage was once again stellar.