Detroit Lions Week 7 snap count observations: Attempts to stack the box failed vs. Vikings

Here’s a look at the Detroit Lions’ Week 7 snap counts against the Minnesota Vikings and some observations about them.

Offense:

Quarterbacks

Matthew Stafford: 76 (100%)

Running backs

Ty Johnson: 49 (64%) — 9 special team snaps (30%)
J.D. McKissic: 19 (25%) — 9 (30%)
Kerryon Johnson: 11 (14%)
Nick Bawden: 7 (9%) — 17 (57%)

Tight ends

T.J. Hockenson: 51 (67%)
Jesse James: 28 (37%) — 5 (17%)
Logan Thomas: 12 (16%) — 16 (53%)

Wide receivers

Marvin Jones Jr.: 73 (96%)
Kenny Golladay: 62 (82%)
Danny Amendola: 54 (71%)
Marvin Hall: 14 (18%)

Offensive tackles

Taylor Decker: 76 (100%) — 5 (17%)
Rick Wagner: 76 (100%)
Tyrell Crosby: 0 (0%) — 5 (17%)

Guards/centers

Frank Ragnow: 76 (100%) — 5 (17%)
Joe Dahl: 61 (80%) — 5 (17%)
Graham Glasgow: 58 (76%) — 5 (17%)
Kenny Wiggins: 33 (43%) — 12 (40%)

Observations:

• After Kerryon Johnson went down, it was Ty Johnson who took over most of the playing time. That’s an interesting development, considering Ty only played in two offensive snaps last week against the Packers.
• T.J. Hockenson saw a big increase in playing time this week. His 51 snaps are the most he’s had in a game since his big rookie debut in Week 1. Obviously, his statistical output didn’t come anywhere near matching that game against the Cardinals.
• With Rick Wagner dealing with knee issues, he was taken off special teams duties. Taylor Decker, who had been off special teams since his back injury, took his spot.
• Danny Amendola also saw a big spike in playing time. His 71 percent participation rate was the highest since joining the Lions and a big jump from last week’s 33 percent. Amendola made the most of it, pulling in eight catches for 105 yards.

Defense:

Defensive end

Romeo Okwara: 45 (62%) — 8 (27%)
Trey Flowers: 34 (47%) — 6 (20%)

Defensive tackle

A’Shawn Robinson: 50 (68%) — 6 (20%)
Kevin Strong: 44 (60%) — 1 (3%)
John Atkins: 41 (56%)
Damon Harrison Sr.: 31 (42%)

Linebackers

Jarrad Davis: 71 (97%) — 7 (23%)
Devon Kennard: 69 (95%) — 1 (3%)
Jahlani Tavai: 60 (82%) — 9 (30%)
Christian Jones: 56 (77%) — 11 (37%)
Jalen Reeves-Maybin: 2 (3%) — 18 (60%)
Miles Killebrew: 0 (0%) — 25 (83%)

Cornerbacks

Justin Coleman: 65 (89%) — 6 (20%)
Rashaan Melvin: 55 (75%)
Darius Slay: 18 (25%)
Mike Ford: 4 (5%) — 22 (73%)
Dee Virgin: 0 (0%) — 25 (83%)
Jamal Agnew: 0 (0%) — 15 (50%)

Safety

Tracy Walker: 62 (85%)
Quandre Diggs: 55 (75%)
Will Harris: 23 (32%) — 22 (73%)
Tavon Wilson: 18 (25%) — 9 (30%)
C.J. Moore: 0 (0%) — 18 (60%)

Observations:

• Maybe it’s just me, but if you’re paying a guy $90 million—like the Lions are with Trey Flowers—maybe he should be playing a tad more than 50 percent of the snaps. If you were to tell me that Romeo Okwara would get more playing time than Trey Flowers in any game this season, I would’ve been shocked.
• The Lions very clearly tried to stack the box against the Vikings. Just look at those linebacker numbers. Jarrad Davis, Devon Kennard, Jahlani Tavai and Christian Jones were all in on more than three-quarters of snaps this week. Combine that with five defensive linemen playing over 45 percent of snaps, and the Lions tried to throw everything they could at Dalvin Cook. It clearly didn’t work.
• Likely due to injuries to both Darius Slay and Vikings receiver Adam Thielen, the Lions sported just two corners for most of the day. The same went for the safeties, as Detroit tried to sell out on the front seven.

Special teams

Sam Martin: 14 (47%)
Don Muhlbach: 8 (27%)
Matt Prater: 5 (17%)