Lions-Colts snap counts: Detroit gets a good look at Miles Killebrew, Storm Norton

Sometimes it’s not how you play, but how often (and when) you play. Of course, it always matters how you perform on the field, but we can often get a good idea of what coaches think about a player’s performance by how they use them in the game.

This is especially true in the preseason, where coaches are mixing and matching to find the winning formula and get the best looks at their roster.

With that in mind, let’s look at the Detroit Lions’ snap distribution for their game against the Indianapolis Colts.

(Please note, our source for snap counts is not 100 percent reliable. For example, the site we use, nflgsis.com, claims Taylor Decker had a single snap, while Eric Ebron had four. We omitted obvious errors like that.)

Offense:

Quarterbacks
Jake Rudock: 37 snaps (56%)
Brad Kaaya: 25 (38%)
Matthew Stafford: 4 (6%)

Running backs
Dwayne Washington: 22 (33%) — 4 special team snaps (12%)
Zach Zenner: 17 (26%) — 7 (21%)
Matt Asiata: 13 (20%) — 12 (35%)
Tion Green: 11 (17%) — 11 (32%)
Ameer Abdullah: 2 (3%)
Mike James: 1 special teams snap (3%)

Tight ends
Michael Roberts: 29 (44%) — 8 (24%)
Khari Lee: 23 (35%) — 9 (26%)
Robert Tonyan: 16 (24%) — 11 (32%)
Cole Wick: 8 (12%) — 6 (18%)
Darren Fells: 4 (6%)

Wide receivers
Jared Abbrederis: 29 (44%) — 8 (24%)
Kenny Golladay: 28 (42%) — 1 (3%)
Jace Billingsley: 26 (39%) — 11 (32%)
Noel Thomas: 24 (36%) — 4 (12%)
Dontez Ford: 22 (33%) — 12 (35%)
TJ Jones: 14 (21%) — 7 (21%)
Michael Rector: 9 (14%) — 4 (12%)
Marvin Jones Jr.: 4 (6%) — 1 (3%)
Golden Tate: 4 (6%)

Offensive tackles
Storm Norton: 48 (73%) — 5 (15%)
Greg Robinson: 38 (58%) — 4 (12%)
Joe Dahl: 34 (52%) — 5 (15%)
Nick Becton: 28 (42%) — 3 (9%)
Rick Wagner: 17 (26%) — 1 (3%)

Guards/centers
Graham Glasgow: 39 (59%) — 3 (9%)
Laken Tomlinson: 37 (56%) — 5 (15%)
Brandon Thomas: 28 (42%) — 1 (3%)
Leo Koloamatangi: 25 (38%) — 1 (3%)
Travis Swanson: 18 (27%) — 2 (6%)
Matt Rotherham: 13 (20%) — 1 (3%)

Observations:

The Lions’ first-team offense barely got any looks outside of the offensive line. The skill players were essentially in for four snaps and gone. However, there are plenty of other interesting things to see here.

First is the distribution at running back. Although he was the third running back in, Dwayne Washington saw a heavy load of snaps and was ahead of both Tion Green and Matt Asiata. Considering he was also the starting kick returner, that has to bode well about his chances to make the roster as the fourth back.

At wide receiver, you can see the Lions are getting a good look at Jared Abbrederis and Jace Billingsley to see if they’re worthy of a roster spot. Interestingly, TJ Jones was in early, but left quickly. He’s solidly with the first team right now, but there’s a lot of football to be played before cut day.

On the offensive line, nothing in particularly sticks out. The Lions obviously wanted to get a good look at Greg Robinson, so he played the entire half. Graham Glasgow played for a good chunk of the game and proved he needed the reps.

Defense:

Defensive end
Alex Barrett: 40 (56%) — 6 (18%)
Jeremiah Valoaga: 37 (51%) — 7 (21%)
Pat O’Connor: 32 (44%) — 7 (21%)
Anthony Zettel: 25 (35%) — 1 (3%)
Brandon Copeland: 15 (21%) — 6 (18%)
Kerry Hyder: 5 (7%)

Defensive tackle
Ego Ferguson: 28 (39%) — 2 (6%)
Bruce Gaston: 28 (39%) — 1 (3%)
Jeremiah Ledbetter: 27 (38%) — 6 (18%)
Khyri Thornton: 24 (33%) — 3 (9%)
Akeem Spence: 17 (24%)
A’Shawn Robinson: 17 (24%)

Linebackers
Jalen Reeves-Maybin: 34 (47%) — 18 (53%)
Steve Longa: 29 (40%) — 15 (44%)
Antwione Williams: 27 (38%) — 13 (38%)
Paul Worrilow: 22 (31%) — 14 (41%)
Thurston Armbrister: 15 (22%) — 7 (21%)
Tahir Whitehead: 14 (19%)
Jarrad Davis: 14 (19%)

Cornerbacks
Jamal Agnew: 39 (54%) — 9 (26%)
Teez Tabor: 31 (43%) — 4 (12%)
DJ Hayden: 28 (39%) — 2 (6%)
Adairius Barnes: 20 (28%) — 11 (32%)
Josh Thornton: 20 (28%) — 8 (24%)
Tramain Jacobs: 20 (28%) — 5 (15%)
Quandre Diggs: 14 (19%) — 4 (12%)
Johnson Bademosi: 12 (17%) — 8 (24%)
Nevin Lawson: 11 (15%) — 1 (3%)

Safety
Miles Killebrew: 58 (81%) — 6 (18%)
Charles Washington: 47 (65%) — 4 (12%)
Alex Carter: 33 (46%) — 8 (24%)
Glover Quin: 6 (8%)

Observations

Miles Killebrew played from essentially the start of the game to the finish. It’s clear that the Lions want him to get as much work as possible, anticipating him to have a larger role with the team going forward. Starting strong safety Tavon Wilson is still in a no-contact jersey in practice and has the lawsuit relating to physical assault still pending.

Elsewhere, the Lions got a good look at their rookies. Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Jamal Agnew, Teez Tabor, Alex Barrett and Jeremiah Valoaga all led their respective position groups in snaps.