Whether you're a seasoned football analyst or just flocking to the fandom, understanding player snap counts gives fans an insightful view of how a team like the Detroit Lions is making tactical decisions on the gridiron. Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offered a compelling look at the Lions' player utilization, featuring intriguing debuts and some eyebrow-raising snap counts.
Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire takes us on a deep dive into the numbers. The Lions ran 85 offensive plays to the Buccaneers' mere 48, a testament to Detroit's dominance and control over the game, although it ultimately resulted in a loss. This uneven number of plays provided a rich dataset to analyze player participation and impact on both sides of the ball.
On the defensive side, three players stood out by not missing a single snap: Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, and Carlton Davis. In a game marked by limited defensive opportunities, these players showcased their endurance and importance to the Lions' secondary.
In the linebacker corps, Derrick Barnes led the group with 45 snaps, stepping up when Alex Anzalone exited early due to a concussion. Jack Campbell followed with 35 snaps, while Malcolm Rodriguez and Jalen Reeves-Maybin contributed 19 and 2 snaps, respectively.
Aidan Hutchinson continued his dominant role at EDGE, playing 90% of defensive snaps. He was closely followed by Levi Onwuzurike, who logged 36 snaps, stepping in for the injured Marcus Davenport. Hutchinson delivered a career day, racking up significant sacks and even causing a fumble, as noted by Jeremy Reisman from Pride of Detroit.
DJ Reader’s Lions debut was nothing short of productive, as he participated in 25 snaps at nose tackle—a significant feat for someone coming off an injury.
Offensively, quarterback Jared Goff was the ironman, playing all 85 snaps despite enduring ten hits. The Lions’ running back rotation saw Jahmyr Gibbs out-snapping David Montgomery 53 to 30. Montgomery struggled to find gaps, only managing 35 yards on 11 carries, while Gibbs impressed with 84 yards from the same number of attempts.
Tim Patrick also had a notable debut; the newly-promoted wide receiver played 33 snaps, more than the seasoned Kalif Raymond's 31 snaps. Patrick caught two passes for 12 yards and received high praise from Coach Dan Campbell. In summing up Patrick's performance, Jeremy Reisman from Pride of Detroit cited Campbell's endorsement, nudging us to anticipate an even greater role for Patrick moving forward.
Beyond the initial impacts, Campbell highlighted the potential of Patrick’s catch radius and physicality, particularly in the red zone where the Lions struggled, managing only one touchdown in seven trips. This suggests Patrick could soon become a core offensive weapon, possibly at the expense of snaps for Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond.
According to the Detroit Free Press, despite minimal yardage, Patrick’s strategic involvement is expected to convert him from a practice squad asset to a 53-man roster staple.
In the trenches, the offensive line showed remarkable endurance, with all starters playing every single snap. The unit's resilience was critical in giving Goff the time needed to execute plays despite Tampa Bay's relentless pressure.
Overall, Week 2’s snap counts gave a layered understanding of how the Detroit Lions are deploying their roster. From key defensive players exceeding expectations to offensive strategies evolving with new talents like Tim Patrick, each number and decision is a piece in the puzzle that paints the complete picture of the Lions’ approach to the game this season.
What other sites are saying about this topic
Lions snap count notes: Big rep debuts for Tim Patrick and DJ Reader from Jeff Risdon, Lions Wire
Lions snap count observations: DJ Reader, Tim Patrick get full load in debuts from Jeremy Reisman, Pride Of Detroit
Tim Patrick's 'good showing' in Detroit Lions debut could lead to expanded role from Detroit Free Press
Lions WR Tim Patrick’s role to increase after ‘positive’ showing vs. Bucs from Jeremy Reisman, Pride Of Detroit