After starting the season 1-1 with glaring holes in defensive execution, the Detroit Lions made some significant changes to their personnel, some of which helped them get back on track, leading to a 31-24 win over the New York Jets in Week 3.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s look at the snap counts from this game and see what they mean for the depth chart hierarchy and what we can ascertain moving forward.<\/p>\n
Jared Goff: 65 (100%)Josh Dobbs: Did Not Play<\/p>\n
After a bumpy start to the game, Goff settled in quickly and continued his high level of play. While you\u2019d like to see the offense sharp from start to finish, it\u2019s hard to argue with the offense putting up 31 points in all three games so far this season.<\/p>\n
Jahmyr Gibbs: 45 (69%)Sione Vaki: 20 (31%) \u2014 15 special teams snaps (65%)Jacob Saylors: 2 (3%) \u2014 15 (65%)<\/p>\n
Gibbs was once again a human highlight reel in this game, but Aaron Glenn\u2019s Jets exposed a possible weakness: pass protection. Glenn\u2019s repeated A-gap blitzes were a problem for Gibbs, and likely why Vaki saw his snaps increase, as he was terrific in pass protection. Vaki\u2019s ability to contribute in the run and pass game proved to teams that he\u2019s not just a one-trick player that will tip the offensive play call.<\/p>\n
Vaki talked with Pride of Detroit after the game and discussed his growth since the beginning of the season:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe preparation going into these past two weeks, going out there and letting loose, and not being afraid to mess up. Being able to believe in myself, supported by (running backs) coach (Tashard) Choice and the boys in the room, has helped push me forward and has been a real confidence builder.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vaki went on to discuss how he tries to be the aggressor in pass protection:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely a conscious choice. Watching the film of (Jets) Demario Davis, being the great linebacker that he is, we knew he was going to try and run through our faces, and I just knew I had to respond by stuffing my face in there. There\u2019s still some things to clean up, but today\u2019s game did feel good.\u201d<\/p>\n
And for those worried that threatening the blitz could be a way for defenses to get Gibbs off the field, the Lions did respond by running some 21 personnel, with both Gibbs and Vaki on the field at the same time. A nice counterpunch by offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.<\/p>\n
Jameson Williams: 53 (82%)Amon-Ra St. Brown: 48 (74%)Isaac TeSlaa: 31 (48%)Tay Martin: 2 (3%) \u2014 15 (65%)Tom Kennedy: 0 (0%) \u2014 8 (35%)<\/p>\n
With the Lions deploying some heavier sets against the Jets\u201413 personnel and Jumbo packages saw upticks in usage\u2014the Lions wide receivers saw their opportunities scaled back a tick. Snap distribution remains very similar to past weeks, but it wouldn\u2019t be surprising if this is St. Brown\u2019s lowest snap count this season.<\/p>\n
Sam LaPorta: 60 (92%)Brock Wright: 38 (58%) \u2014 10 (43%)Jackson Meeks: 10 (15%) \u2014 2 (9%)Tyler Conklin: DNP (INACTIVE<\/a>)<\/p>\n As mentioned above, the Lions deployed a fair amount of 13 personnel in this game, with the wrinkle being that they split Meeks out wide to stretch the Jets\u2019 Base defense. There will be games moving forward that the Lions will want a more balanced TE3 like Conklin on the field, but this new wrinkle with Meeks illustrates the versatility this group has.<\/p>\n LT Penei Sewell: 65 (100%)LG Christian Mahogany: 65 (100%) \u2014 5 (22%)C Juice Scruggs: 65 (100%) \u2014 5 (22%)RG Tate Ratledge: 65 (100%) \u2014 5 (22%)RT Blake Miller: 65 (100%) \u2014 5 (22%)T Larry Borom: 15 (23%) \u2014 5 (22%)G\/T Miles Frazier: 0 (0%) \u2014 5 (22%)C Seth McLaughlin: DNPLG Ben Bartch: DNP (INJURED<\/a>)<\/p>\n With their preferred starting five healthy again, the offensive line played very well in this game, slowing down a Jets defense near the top of all defensive rankings entering Week 3. Overall, the Lions gave up just eight pressures and two sacks, but the offensive line accounted for only five pressures and was not to blame for either sack.<\/p>\n As previously mentioned, the Lions leaned on their Jumbo sets in this game, utilizing Borom as a sixth offensive lineman for nearly a quarter of offensive snaps.<\/p>\n 3T Alim McNeill: 48 (73%) \u2014 3 (13%)3T Skyler Gill-Howard: 33 (50%) \u2014 2 (9%) \u2014 1 offensive snap (2%)DT Tyleik Williams: 30 (45%) \u2014 3 (13%)DL Levi Onwuzurike: 11 (17%)3T Mekhi Wingo: DNP (INACTIVE<\/a>)<\/p>\n The defense made a lot of personnel adjustments in this game, with the first clear change being the scaling back of McNeill\u2019s snaps. While 73% is still a big percentage, that\u2019s about the spot he\u2019s been at in the past when he\u2019s been his most productive. His seven pressures and a sack illustrate this was a smart decision.<\/p>\n With McNeill scaling back a bit, that opened up the opportunities for his backup, rookie Skyler Gill-Howard, to increase his workload, and he rewarded them with three pressures and a half-sack (he split with Aidan Hutchinson).<\/p>\n Gill-Howard spoke with Pride of Detroit following the game and discussed his first NFL sack:<\/p>\n \u201cThe guard (Jordan Meridith), he was the second one because the first (Dylan Parham) got hurt\u2014I knew I could beat him laterally, so that\u2019s what I did; I took an inside counter, and while I got a little past the quarterback, the D-line did a good job of forcing him up, allowing me to spin out and get it\u2014and of course, Hutch was right there.\u201d<\/p>\n Gill-Howard also saw one snap on offense on a goal-line run that resulted in a Gibbs touchdown. Although the play went in the opposite direction of Gill-Howard\u2019s block, it looks like a precursor to something the Lions could build on moving forward.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know coach (Dan) Campbell. You\u2019ve seen those types of plays throughout his tenure here. He told me during training camp that he was going to put something in and we came up with \u2018that\u2019 for now, and we\u2019ll see what happens in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n EDGE Aidan Hutchinson: 64 (97%) \u2014 1 (4%)Rush End DJ Wonnum: 44 (67%) \u2014 3 (13%)Big End Tyler Lacy: 19 (29%) \u2014 5 (22%)Rush End Derrick Moore: 9 (14%)Rush End Eric O\u2019Neill: 1 (2%) \u2014 13 (57%)Big End Ahmed Hassanein: DNP (INACTIVE<\/a>)<\/p>\n While McNeill saw his reps scaled back a bit, the Lions ramped Hutchinson\u2019s up, as he only took two defensive snaps off all game. Despite facing what looked like constant double teams, Hutchinson still managed five pressure and the half-sack mentioned above.<\/p>\n Typically, when the Lions deploy three-linebacker sets, they lean on a Big End (Tyler Lacy) to work opposite Hutchinson, but that wasn\u2019t the case on Sunday. Wonnum saw his snaps increase in multiple formations beyond what we have seen from a rush end in the past. Wonnum also rewarded the team for the move, delivering three pressures and two sacks.<\/p>\n MIKE Jack Campbell: 66 (100%) \u2014 3 (13%)SAM Derrick Barnes: 57 (86%) \u2014 1 (4%)SAM Trevor Nowaske: 33 (50%) \u2014 17 (74%)WILL Malcolm Rodriguez: 19 (29%) \u2014 7 (30%)WILL Amen Ogbongbemiga: 0 (0%) \u2014 17 (74%)MIKE Jimmy Rolder: 0 (0%) \u2014 15 (65%)WILL Devin White: DNP (INACTIVE<\/a>)<\/p>\n Campbell continues to play every defensive rep, and Barnes only misses a handful of snaps a game, but the LB3\/4 spot saw a big shakeup in this game. White, previously in a starting role, was a healthy scratch, giving Rodriguez the start at WILL. However, the big change came with Nowaske, who was deployed all over the field and was on the field for half the game.<\/p>\n Pride of Detroit spoke with Nowaske after the game and asked him if his increased usage was opponent-specific, or something that was a result of his performances in practice and games.<\/p>\n \u201cIt could be a combination of both. I know I am a good linebacker in this league. I feel like I\u2019ve done a good job in the preseason and when I\u2019ve gotten my opportunities on defense. I was kind of used all over the field today, whether it was defensive end, OLB (SAM), inside backer, or nickel. Whenever I\u2019m getting an opportunity, I want to make the most of it. I don\u2019t ask too many questions; I just go out there and do my job.\u201d<\/p>\n Nowaske made several key fourth-quarter stops, including tracking down Jets RB Breece Hall on a swing to the sideline and making a touchdown-saving tackle.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s year four now, and the game is slowing down a ton for me,\u201d Nowaske said. \u201cSo being able to dissect those plays and react a little bit faster is definitely helping me make more plays when I get those opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n NB\/CB Roger McCreary: 64 (97%) \u2014 3 (13%)CB D.J. Reed: 62 (94%) \u2014 1 (4%)CB Ennis Rakestraw: 23 (35%) \u2014 2 (9%)CB Rock Ya-Sin: 13 (20%) \u2014 13 (57%)CB Khalil Dorsey: 0 (0%) \u2014 12 (52%)NB Keith Abney: 0 (0%) \u2014 2 (9%)<\/p>\n The secondary saw some of the biggest changes as the Lions moved Ya-Sin to a reserve CB4 role and promoted McCreary to a starting role. McCreary not only started at CB2 on the outside, but also kicked inside when the team shifted to subpackage sets, bringing Rakestraw on to supplement outside snaps as CB3.<\/p>\n This group is still working through on-field and mental mistakes, but they did show some signs of improvement. It\u2019ll take time to build communication in this scheme, but baby steps forward are better than continuing to regress.<\/p>\n One final note: while Abney didn\u2019t see the field on defense, he was taking reps at free safety in warm-ups. It\u2019s not entirely clear where he fits in the pecking order, but he could be the next man up at nickel (behind McCreary) and free safety (behind Chuck Clark).<\/p>\n S Chuck Clark: 66 (100%) \u2014 3 (13%)NB\/S Christian Izien: 64 (97%) \u2014 7 (30%)S Jalen Mills: (%) \u2014 (%)S Bishop Fitzgerald: DNP (INACTIVE<\/a>)<\/p>\n With Avonte Maddox and Thomas Harper landing on injured reserve this week, the Lions shifted Izien from a starting nickel role to a starting strong safety role, the one typically occupied by Brian Branch. While this role demands an expansion of duties for Izien, it\u2019s actually not too far off from what he did at nickel. He spent a lot of time in the box\u2014where he\u2019s at his best\u2014and was used as a primary run gap filler and pass rusher, accounting for a team-leading 11 tackles (nine solo), including three tackles for loss and a pass deflection.<\/p>\n \u201cI think my \u2018box presence\u2019 gets a lot of the credit, but I think I can be a well-rounded safety,\u201d Izien said. \u201cI believe I can play deep, even though my game has stood out more in the box.\u201d<\/p>\n